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Retirement Calculator
Small monthly contributions become large balances when compounding has decades to work. Enter your age, current savings, monthly contribution and expected return, and this retirement calculator projects your balance at retirement and shows how much of it is growth rather than money you paid in.
Results
Projected balance at retirement
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Total you will contribute (incl. current savings)
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Growth from investment returns
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How it works
Retirement saving works because of compound growth over long horizons. This projection compounds monthly: your current savings grow for the full period until retirement, and each monthly contribution grows from the month it is invested. The balance formula combines both: FV = P(1+r)^n + C x [((1+r)^n - 1) / r], where r is the monthly return and n is the number of months until retirement. The results split the final balance into what you actually paid in and what growth added, which is usually the most motivating number on the page: over 30-plus years, growth often exceeds total contributions. Two levers matter more than chasing high returns: starting earlier, because compounding needs time, and contributing consistently. Doubling your time horizon more than doubles the ending balance. The projection assumes a constant return, while real markets are volatile, and it ignores taxes, fees, employer matches, Social Security and inflation. To think in today's purchasing power, subtract a typical inflation rate (about 3 percent) from your return assumption; a 7 percent nominal return modeled at 4 percent gives a rough inflation-adjusted picture.
Frequently asked questions
How does the projection work?
Compound growth: your existing savings compound for the whole period, and each monthly contribution compounds from the month it is made. Longer horizons benefit disproportionately.
What return rate should I assume?
Historical US stock market returns average around 10 percent nominal and about 7 percent after inflation, but balanced portfolios return less. Many planners model 5 to 7 percent.
Does this include Social Security or employer matching?
No. Social Security, pensions, employer matches and part-time retirement income all add to your picture, and retirement withdrawals are often taxed.
Should I adjust for inflation?
Rising costs mean $1 million in 35 years buys roughly what $355,000 buys today at 3 percent inflation. To compare in today's dollars, reduce the return rate by the inflation rate.