How Long Will My Money Last? Retirement Withdrawal Calculator

How this calculator works

Each year it takes out your withdrawal, raised by inflation so your spending power holds steady, then grows what is left at your return. When the balance can no longer cover a full year, the money has run out.

It also works backward: the second figure is the largest first-year withdrawal that would last to the age you chose, at the same return and inflation.

The 4% rule, in plain terms

The "4% rule" comes from research on historical U.S. markets: someone who took 4% of their savings in the first year of retirement, then raised that dollar amount with inflation each year, usually had money left after 30 years. It is a starting point, not a promise. It was built on past returns, assumes no advisory fees, and ignores taxes.

What this simple version leaves out

Bad markets early. The same average return can end very differently depending on when the bad years arrive. Losses in the first five years of withdrawals do the most damage. This is called sequence-of-returns risk.
Taxes. A dollar from a traditional IRA or 401(k) is taxable. If your withdrawal has to cover the tax too, you need to take out more.
Income that keeps coming. Social Security and pensions reduce how much you need from savings. Enter only the part savings must cover.
Spending that changes. Many retirees spend more early on and less later, with health costs rising late in life.

The full Retirement Check handles all four: it runs 1,000 market paths, adds Social Security, pensions and 2026 taxes, and shows your chance of the money lasting.

See the whole picture

This estimate ignores taxes, Social Security and market swings. The free Retirement Check includes all three and shows your odds across 1,000 market paths.

Run the free Retirement Check

Common questions

What is a safe withdrawal rate in retirement?

Many planners start around 4% of savings in the first year, raised for inflation after that, for a retirement of about 30 years. Retiring earlier, paying higher fees or needing money to last longer usually means a lower starting rate. Your own number depends on your other income, taxes and how you invest.

Is $1 million enough to retire?

At a 4% starting withdrawal, $1 million supports about $40,000 a year from savings before tax. Whether that is enough depends on what Social Security and any pension add, what you spend, and taxes. Enter your numbers above, or run the full Retirement Check for the complete picture.

Does this include Social Security?

No. Enter only what your savings must cover after Social Security and pensions. The full Retirement Check adds those income sources automatically.

What return should I use?

Use a return after fees that fits how you invest. A mix of stocks and bonds has historically earned more than cash but with ups and downs. Lower returns are the more cautious choice. This tool assumes the same return every year, which real markets never deliver.

Why does a bad market early matter so much?

When you sell investments to pay the bills during a downturn, those shares are gone before the recovery. Early losses shrink the base that later growth works on. That is why two people with the same average return can see very different results.

How long will my money last in retirement?