Retirement Planner — Am I On Track to Retire?
Enter your age, current savings, monthly contributions, and planned retirement expenses. Get an instant gap analysis, year-by-year projection, and AI-powered advice — personalised to your numbers.
Your retirement details
401k, IRA, pension — total combined
Including employer 401k match
Used to calculate your required nest egg (25× annual)
On track to retire at 65
Projected surplus: $425,796
Projected at 65
$1.63M
Required nest egg
$1.20M
Surplus
$425,796
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Based on the 4% rule (25× annual expenses). For educational purposes only. Consult a financial advisor for personalised retirement planning.
How much do you need to retire?
The most widely used retirement rule of thumb is the 4% rule: at retirement, your savings should be large enough that withdrawing 4% per year covers your living expenses — and the remaining 96% continues to grow, sustaining withdrawals indefinitely. This means your required nest egg is approximately 25× your annual expenses.
If you plan to spend $4,000/month ($48,000/year) in retirement, you need approximately $1,200,000 saved. Social Security income reduces this: if you expect $1,500/month from Social Security, your expenses drop to $2,500/month, requiring only $750,000.
The 4% rule — is it still valid?
| Monthly expenses | Annual expenses | Required nest egg (25×) | With $1,500/mo SS |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $24,000 | $600,000 | $375,000 |
| $3,000 | $36,000 | $900,000 | $562,500 |
| $4,000 | $48,000 | $1,200,000 | $750,000 |
| $6,000 | $72,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,125,000 |
| $8,000 | $96,000 | $2,400,000 | $1,500,000 |
Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the 1994 Trinity Study. SS = Social Security income offset.
How does starting age affect retirement savings?
| Start saving at | Monthly contribution | Balance at 65 (7%) | Total contributed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25 | $500/mo | $1,324,000 | $240,000 |
| Age 30 | $500/mo | $924,000 | $210,000 |
| Age 35 | $500/mo | $638,000 | $180,000 |
| Age 40 | $500/mo | $430,000 | $150,000 |
| Age 45 | $500/mo | $281,000 | $120,000 |
Starting at 25 vs 45 produces 4.7× more wealth from the same $500/month — the power of compound time.
2026 retirement account contribution limits
401(k) — Under 50
$23,500/year
$1,958/month maximum
401(k) — Age 50+
$31,000/year
$7,500 catch-up contribution
Roth IRA — Under 50
$7,000/year
$583/month maximum
Roth IRA — Age 50+
$8,000/year
$1,000 catch-up contribution
2026 IRS limits per Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Roth IRA income limits: phase-out $150K–$165K single, $236K–$246K married.
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Official resources and further reading
SSA — Social Security Retirement Benefits
Official Social Security Administration guide to retirement benefits — full retirement age by birth year, early retirement reduction, delayed retirement credits, and the my Social Security portal to check your estimated benefit.
IRS — Retirement Plans for Self-Employed and Small Businesses
The IRS official retirement plans resource centre — 401(k) contribution limits, IRA eligibility, SEP-IRA and SIMPLE IRA rules, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and all 2026 contribution limits.
DOL — Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future
The U.S. Department of Labor's official retirement savings guide — the 4% rule, asset allocation by age, the role of Social Security, and a step-by-step worksheet for calculating your retirement savings target.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire at 65?
Using the 4% rule, you need 25× your annual retirement expenses. If you plan to spend $4,000/month ($48,000/year), you need $1,200,000 saved. Social Security income reduces this — if you receive $1,500/month from Social Security, you only need to fund $2,500/month from savings, reducing your required nest egg to $750,000.
What is a good monthly retirement contribution?
A common guideline is to save 15% of your gross income for retirement, including any employer 401(k) match. For someone earning $80,000/year, that is $12,000/year ($1,000/month). If you are starting later (35+), consider increasing to 20–25% to compensate for the shorter compounding window.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule (from the 1994 Trinity Study) states that a retiree can withdraw 4% of their portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation annually, with a high probability the portfolio will last 30 years. It implies a nest egg of 25× annual expenses. Some financial planners now use 3.5% (28.5× expenses) for 40+ year retirements.
What if I am behind on retirement savings?
The most powerful levers to close a retirement gap are: (1) increase monthly contributions — even $200/month more at age 40 adds roughly $110,000 by age 65 at 7%. (2) Delay retirement by 2–3 years — gives the portfolio more time to grow and reduces the withdrawal period. (3) Reduce planned retirement expenses — a 10% reduction in spending reduces your required nest egg by 10%. The retirement AI advisor can calculate the exact impact of each change on your specific numbers.
Does Social Security count toward my retirement savings?
Social Security provides guaranteed income that directly reduces how much your portfolio needs to cover. The average Social Security benefit in 2026 is approximately $1,800/month. Check your personal estimated benefit at my.ssa.gov. Subtract your monthly Social Security from your planned monthly expenses before calculating your required nest egg — this significantly reduces the savings target for most people.