You can retire when your savings and guaranteed income (Social Security, pension) can cover your annual expenses indefinitely. The standard benchmark is the 4% rule: you need 25 times your annual gap (expenses minus guaranteed income) saved. Our calculator tells you exactly when you'll hit that target based on your savings rate and expected returns.

How much do I need to retire?

Using the 4% rule: multiply your annual expenses by 25, then subtract 25 times any guaranteed income (Social Security, pension). For example: $60,000/year expenses, $24,000 Social Security = $36,000 gap × 25 = $900,000 needed. Our calculator does this math for your specific numbers.

Can I retire early (FIRE)?

Yes. FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) requires a higher savings rate — typically 40-70% of income — and a larger nest egg since you'll fund a longer retirement. Key challenges: no Medicare until 65, no Social Security until 62, and early 401(k) withdrawal rules. Our estimator shows your path whether you want to retire at 45 or 75.

The 4% rule (Bengen, 1994) states you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, adjust for inflation annually, and have a 95%+ probability your money lasts 30 years. This means: target savings = annual withdrawal needed × 25. It's the industry baseline — our estimator lets you adjust the rate.

How accurate is this retirement calculator?

This estimator uses deterministic compound interest projections with a real return (nominal return minus inflation). It's accurate for planning purposes but doesn't account for sequence-of-returns risk, tax drag, or market volatility. The premium AI report includes Monte Carlo simulation for a more complete picture.

What happens if I delay Social Security to age 70?

Delaying Social Security from your Full Retirement Age (67) to 70 increases your benefit by 8% per year — a 24% total increase. This meaningfully reduces the nest egg you need since you receive more guaranteed income for life. Our calculator shows the exact impact on your retirement timeline.

When Can I Retire? Free Retirement Age Estimator

Your Retirement Estimator

Fill in what you know. Leave optional fields blank and we'll estimate.

About You

Current Age

Your age today

Annual Household Income (optional)

Pre-tax household income (used for SS estimate)

Your Savings

Total Savings & Investments ($)

401(k), IRA, brokerage, savings — all accounts combined

Monthly Savings Amount ($)

How much you save/invest each month across all accounts

Retirement Lifestyle

Annual Retirement Spending ($)

How much you want to spend per year in retirement (today's dollars)

Expected Investment Return (adjust)

Historical S&P 500 average ~10% nominal; 7% real (inflation-adjusted)

Income Sources — Optional (we estimate if blank)

Expected Social Security ($/month at 67)

Find yours at ssa.gov/myaccount. Leave blank to auto-estimate.

Pension Income ($/month)

Monthly defined benefit pension, if applicable

🎯 Your Projected Retirement Age

Age —

In — · —

—

Nest Egg at Retirement

—

Projected portfolio value

Target Nest Egg

—

Required (4% rule)

Annual Income Needed

—

From portfolio (after SS/pension)

Your Retirement Savings Progress

— —% of target —

What Could Change Your Retirement Date?

Four levers — pick the one that fits your life.

Get Your Free AI Retirement Plan

We've calculated your number. Now see the full picture — the math behind it, your risk factors, and a specific 3-step action plan to retire sooner.

The Big Number Explained — how we calculated age —

3 Scenario Analysis — exact impact of each lever in dollars and years

Top 3 Risk Factors — inflation, healthcare, sequence of returns

Your 3-Step Action Plan — what to do this month

Next Steps — which tools go deeper on your biggest gaps

Premium upgrade ($9.99): Monte Carlo simulation, year-by-year projection table, tax-optimized withdrawal strategy, healthcare bridge plan, FIRE-specific analysis

Get Your Retirement Timeline Emailed to You

We'll send your retirement age, key milestones, and a personalized weekly tip to keep you on track.

How Retirement Math Works

The four concepts that determine your number

📐 The 4% Rule

Withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation annually, and your money has a 95%+ chance of lasting 30+ years. Your target: 25× your annual gap (expenses minus guaranteed income).

📈 Compound Growth

At 7% real returns, money doubles roughly every 10 years. A 35-year-old investing $1,500/month from zero will have ~$1.8M by 65. Starting 5 years earlier adds $800K — that's the power of time.

🏛 Social Security Strategy

Claiming at 70 vs. 62 can increase your monthly benefit by 76%. Delaying to 70 from your FRA (67) adds 8%/year — a guaranteed, inflation-adjusted raise. Every year delayed is worth it if you can afford to wait.

🔥 FIRE — The Fast Track

Saving 50%+ of income compresses a 40-year career into 10-20 years. The math is brutal: at 10% savings rate you need 40+ years; at 50% savings rate, just 17 years. Your savings rate matters more than your income.

Common Retirement Questions

How do I know when I can retire?

You can retire when your savings and guaranteed income (Social Security, pension) can sustain your annual expenses indefinitely. The standard test: savings ≥ 25 × annual withdrawal needed (4% rule). Our calculator does this math in real-time — enter your numbers and you'll have an answer in under 2 minutes.

What if I haven't started saving yet?

You can still retire — it'll just take longer or require a higher savings rate. Enter $0 for current savings and see your timeline. The calculator will show how much to save monthly to hit your goal by various ages. Starting at 40 with aggressive saving is still workable.

Can I retire early (before 65)?

Yes, but three things change: (1) you need to fund a longer retirement, so you need a bigger nest egg; (2) Social Security isn't available until 62 at minimum; (3) Medicare doesn't kick in until 65, so you need a healthcare bridge. The FIRE movement is built around this — aggressive saving, lower spending, and creative healthcare solutions like ACA marketplace plans.

What is a realistic investment return to assume?

The S&P 500 has returned about 10% nominally and 7% real (inflation-adjusted) over long periods. We default to 7% real return in our calculation — conservative enough for planning but realistic for a diversified equity portfolio. Adjust to 5-6% if you're more conservative or closer to retirement. Don't assume more than 8% for a balanced portfolio.

Why should I delay Social Security to 70?

Every year you delay past FRA (67) increases your benefit by 8% — a total 24% increase from 67 to 70. This is a guaranteed, inflation-adjusted return that no investment can match risk-free. The breakeven age (when lifetime benefits from delayed claiming exceed early claiming) is around 80-83. If you expect to live past 82-83, waiting until 70 maximizes lifetime income.

Is the 4% rule still valid?

The 4% rule (Bengen, 1994) remains the industry baseline but has nuances. For longer retirements (35-40 years), many planners use 3.3-3.5%. For shorter retirements (20-25 years), 4.5-5% may be sustainable. It also assumes a diversified 60/40 portfolio. The premium AI report includes Monte Carlo analysis for a more robust assessment of your specific situation.