Find out when you can stop working — based on your real numbers, not guesswork. Includes a FIRE mode for early retirement planning.
When can I retire?
Set your inputs and hit Calculate to see when you can retire.
This calculator uses simplified compound growth assumptions and the 4% safe withdrawal rule (25x annual spending). It does not account for taxes, Social Security, pensions, healthcare costs, market volatility, or changes in income or spending over time. Actual results will vary. This tool is for educational purposes and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified advisor before making retirement decisions.
The most common rule of thumb is the 25x rule: multiply your desired annual spending in retirement by 25 to get your target nest egg. This is based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate — the idea that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio each year without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. So if you want to spend $50,000 per year in retirement, you'd need roughly $1.25 million saved.
But the real answer depends on your lifestyle, where you live, your health, whether you'll have additional income (Social Security, pension, rental income), and how early you want to retire. That's why a personalized retirement calculator beats any rule of thumb — it accounts for your specific numbers.
Enter your current age, savings, monthly contributions, expected annual return, and your target retirement spending. The calculator projects when your portfolio will be large enough to sustain your lifestyle using the 4% rule. Switch to FIRE mode for additional metrics including your savings rate, Coast FIRE age (when you could stop saving and still retire on time), and lean vs. fat FIRE thresholds based on different spending levels.
Meet Sarah, age 28. She has $15,000 saved, contributes $500/month to her investment accounts, and expects a 9% average annual return. She wants to spend $40,000 per year in retirement (needing a $1,000,000 portfolio). Our calculator shows she'll hit her goal by age 52 — meaning she could potentially retire 13 years early. If she bumps her contributions to $800/month, that drops to age 48. Small changes in savings rate have a massive impact on your retirement timeline.
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It's a movement focused on aggressive saving and investing — typically 50–70% of income — to build enough wealth to retire decades before the traditional age of 65. There are several variations: Lean FIRE (retiring on a minimal budget), Fat FIRE (retiring with a comfortable or luxury lifestyle), and Coast FIRE (saving enough early that compound growth alone will fund your retirement, even if you stop contributing). Our FIRE mode calculates all of these thresholds for you.
The 4% rule comes from the 1994 Trinity Study, which found that a 4% withdrawal rate survived most 30-year periods in US market history. It's still a useful starting point, but some financial planners now suggest 3.5% for more conservative planning, especially if you're retiring early and need your money to last 40–50 years instead of 30. Our calculator uses the 4% rule as a baseline but you can adjust your target spending to model more conservative scenarios.
Financial advisors generally recommend saving 15–20% of your gross income for retirement. But if you're starting late or want to retire early, you may need to save more. The most important thing is to start — even $200/month invested consistently in a broad market index fund can grow to over $150,000 in 20 years. Use this calculator to find the monthly contribution that gets you to your goal, then set up automatic investments so you never miss a month. Our DCA calculator can show you exactly how those contributions compound over time.
The S&P 500 has returned roughly 10% per year on average over the past century (about 7% after inflation). A diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds might return 7–9% depending on your allocation. We recommend using 7–8% as a realistic projection for a growth-oriented portfolio. Being conservative with your return estimate is better than being optimistic — it's always nicer to end up with more than expected.
It depends on your age and risk tolerance. If you're under 40, it's wise to plan as if Social Security may provide reduced benefits. If you're closer to retirement, you can check your estimated benefits at ssa.gov and factor them in as supplemental income. Either way, building a portfolio that can support you independently gives you the most flexibility and security.
Once you know your retirement target, use the portfolio tracker to monitor your current net worth, or explore Roth IRA vs. 401(k) to make sure your money is in the right accounts.