Should I use real or nominal returns?

Using a real (inflation-adjusted) return of around 5-7% keeps results in today's dollars, which is easier to reason about. If you use a nominal return like 9-10%, remember the final figure will be in inflated future dollars.

Retirement Calculator

Project what your savings will grow to, find your FIRE number using the 4% rule, and see whether you're on track - in about 30 seconds.

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Your FIRE number: 25× annual spending

The widely used 4% rule says that withdrawing 4% of a diversified portfolio in your first year of retirement - then adjusting for inflation - has historically lasted at least 30 years. Flip it around and your target nest egg is 25 times your planned annual spending. Spend $50,000 a year and you need about $1.25 million; spend $30,000 and you need $750,000. Spending, not income, sets your target.

What moves the needle

Three levers dominate: your savings rate, your time horizon, and investment fees. Starting ten years earlier can matter more than doubling your contribution later, because the earliest dollars compound the longest. Use an after-inflation return (5-7% is a common planning range) so the results are in today's dollars.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 4% rule?

A guideline from the Trinity study: a 4% initial withdrawal rate, inflation-adjusted each year, has historically survived at least 30-year retirements. It's a planning benchmark, not a guarantee.

How much should I have saved by age?

A rough benchmark: 1× salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8-10× by retirement. But your real target depends on planned spending - that's what this calculator uses.

Real or nominal returns?

Use a real (after-inflation) return like 5-7% and the results stay in today's dollars. If you enter a nominal 9-10%, the output is in future, inflated dollars.