WiseCalcs

Retirement calculator

Enter your current age, retirement age, current savings, monthly contribution, and expected annual return. The calculator projects your nest egg at retirement and splits it into what you paid in and what growth added.

Use it to see roughly how big your retirement savings could grow with regular contributions.

USD
USD
%

Savings at retirement

$874,826

Total paid in
$230,000
Investment growth
$644,826

The result updates as you type. The headline is the projected nest egg; the others show total contributions and the investment growth on top. This projection is an estimate only. It does not replace financial or retirement planning advice; actual results depend on returns, fees, taxes, inflation, and changes to your contributions.

How does it work?

Contributions are assumed monthly and constant; returns compound monthly. Real markets vary, and inflation reduces future purchasing power. Treat it as a planning estimate.

Retirement projection formula

FV=P(1+r)n+C (1+r)n−1rFV = P(1+r)^n + C\,\frac{(1+r)^n - 1}{r}
FV
Projected savings at retirement.
P
Savings already invested.
C
Monthly contribution.
r
Monthly return (annual ÷ 12).
n
Months until retirement.

From 30 to 65 with 20,000 saved, 500 a month, at 6% a year, the projection is around 770,000 — most of it investment growth.

Expert tips

  • This projection is an estimate only. It does not replace financial or retirement planning advice; actual results depend on returns, fees, taxes, inflation, and changes to your contributions.

Method & sources

Current savings compound monthly at the return you enter. Contributions are monthly, constant, and added throughout. Growth is the projected total minus everything paid in.

Sources

Where this method comes from — use these references to understand the formula, assumptions, and limits.

How we calculate

  • Current savings compound monthly at the return you enter.
  • Contributions are monthly, constant, and added throughout.
  • Growth is the projected total minus everything paid in.
  • Returns are nominal; inflation and taxes are not modelled.

Limitations

  • This projection is an estimate only. It does not replace financial or retirement planning advice; actual results depend on returns, fees, taxes, inflation, and changes to your contributions.

Rounding

Money is shown as whole units. The calculation uses full precision.

What this calculator does

Retirement saving combines a starting balance, regular contributions, and compounding returns over many years. This calculator grows your current savings and your monthly contributions at the return you choose, to the retirement age you set.

How to use it

  1. Enter your current age and retirement age.
  2. Enter your current savings and monthly contribution.
  3. Enter the expected annual return.
  4. Read the projected nest egg and how much is growth.

A worked example

From 30 to 65 with 20,000 saved, 500 a month, at 6% a year, the projection is around 770,000 — and most of it is investment growth, not contributions.

The power of starting early

Because returns compound, money invested early has decades to grow. Starting a few years sooner, or raising the contribution, can change the result far more than chasing a slightly higher return.

Common mistakes

  • Using an optimistic return and treating it as guaranteed.
  • Ignoring inflation, which lowers future purchasing power.
  • Forgetting fees and taxes that reduce real returns.

When it's useful

Planning how much to save, comparing retirement ages, or seeing how a higher contribution changes the outcome.

FAQ

How is the nest egg projected?
Current savings compound monthly, and contributions are added as a monthly annuity, both growing to your retirement age at the return you enter.
What return should I assume?
A long-run diversified portfolio is often modelled at around 5–7% nominal, but markets vary. Use a conservative figure for planning.
Does it account for inflation?
No. The projection is in nominal money. Use an inflation calculator to see the value in today's terms.
Why is so much of it growth?
Over decades, compounding returns can exceed total contributions, especially when you start early and stay invested.
Are fees and taxes included?
No. Both reduce real returns, so the actual outcome is usually lower than a gross projection.
Can I share a calculation?
Yes. Use Share to copy a link that reopens the calculator with the same figures.

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<iframe src="https://wisecalcs.com/embed/en/retirement" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p>Calculator from <a href="https://wisecalcs.com/en/investments-retirement/retirement">WiseCalcs</a></p>