Two phases, one plan
Retirement planning has two halves that most calculators treat in isolation. Accumulation is the build-up: your contributions, your employer’s match, and growth compounding over your working years. Decumulation is the spend-down: drawing an income that has to keep pace with inflation while what’s left keeps working. This calculator links them, so you see not just the pot you retire with but whether it actually carries you through.
The two phases
Build-up: each year, balance × (1 + return) + (your % + matched %) × salary, with salary rising annually.
Draw-down: each year, subtract your income need (grown by inflation, less any pension), then grow what remains — until your plan-to age or the pot hits zero.
What makes this calculator different
- It tells you if the money lasts. Not just a pot size — an actual year-by-year drawdown that either survives to your plan-to age or names the age it runs out.
- Sustainable-income solver. It works out the income, in today’s money, your plan can truly support — the honest number to plan around, right next to the one you wish for.
- Real-world levers. Employer match, salary growth, separate pre/post-retirement returns, inflation-linked income, and other income like a pension or Social Security.
- Today’s money throughout. Headline figures are shown in real terms, with an exportable projection and a shareable link.
Frequently asked questions
Will my retirement savings actually last?+
That’s the whole point of this calculator. It grows your pot until retirement, then draws your desired income (rising with inflation) out of it year by year while the remainder keeps growing. If the pot reaches zero before your plan-to age, it tells you exactly when — and if it lasts, it shows how much is left over.
What is “the income your plan supports”?+
It’s the steady annual income, in today’s money, that your projected pot plus any other income could fund right up to your plan-to age — no more, no less. Comparing it to the income you want is the fastest way to see whether you’re on track, and by how much.
How does the employer match work?+
Employers typically match your contributions up to a limit — say, dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of salary. This calculator adds the employer’s contribution on top of yours, capped at the lower of your contribution rate and the match limit. It’s effectively free money, so contributing at least enough to get the full match is almost always worthwhile.
Why are there two different return rates?+
Many people shift toward more conservative investments as they approach and enter retirement, trading some growth for stability. Separate pre- and post-retirement return assumptions let you model that. If you’d rather assume the same approach throughout, just set them equal.
Why does inflation matter so much here?+
Over a multi-decade retirement, inflation quietly erodes purchasing power: an income that’s comfortable at 65 may fall short at 85 if it doesn’t rise. This calculator grows your withdrawals with inflation and reports figures in today’s money, so the numbers reflect real buying power rather than flattering nominal totals.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only and assumes constant returns and inflation, which real life never provides — sequence-of-returns risk, tax, and changing circumstances all matter. It is not financial, investment, or tax advice. Consider a qualified financial planner for decisions this important.