- Enter your current age and intended retirement age.
- Add the balance already invested and the amount you expect to contribute each month.
- Use long-term return and inflation assumptions that fit your portfolio.
- Review both the future balance and its inflation-adjusted equivalent.
Retirement Calculator
Estimate how much your retirement account could hold at your planned retirement age. Enter today’s balance, ongoing monthly saving, and a return assumption to compare the future nominal balance with its value in today’s purchasing power.
Planning assumptions
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$
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Result
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Projected retirement balance
Years invested—
Total contributed—
Investment growth—
Value in today’s dollars—
FV = P(1 + r/12)12t + PMT × ((1 + r/12)12t − 1) ÷ (r/12)
The real-value estimate divides the future value by (1 + inflation)t.
What the result means
The headline is the projected account value at retirement before taxes. The real-value line translates that amount into today’s purchasing power, which is usually more useful for planning expenses.
Returns are modeled at a steady rate. Actual markets, contribution timing, taxes, and account fees will change the outcome.
At age 35, starting with $120,000 and adding $1,200 monthly until age 65 at 6.5%, the projected balance is about $2.17 million. With 2.5% inflation, that is roughly $1.03 million in today’s dollars.
How does increasing my monthly retirement contribution change the projection?
Each additional contribution earns returns for the months remaining, so earlier increases generally have more impact than the same increase made close to retirement.
Why is the inflation-adjusted retirement balance lower?
It expresses the future balance in today’s purchasing power, accounting for the assumed rise in prices over the saving period.
Can I enter a retirement age below my current age?
No. The retirement age must be greater than the current age because the projection needs a positive investment period.
Does this retirement estimate include taxes or account fees?
No. Enter a return assumption that is net of expected fees, and separately consider the taxes that may apply to withdrawals.
Should I use an average market return for every year?
The calculator uses one constant annual rate for a planning estimate; real annual returns vary and sequence risk is not represented.