Project your nest egg at retirement — including your employer match — and get an instant verdict on whether you are on track, not just a final number.
This retirement and 401(k) calculator answers the question that matters most: will I have enough? Instead of just spitting out a single balance, it projects your nest egg at retirement, factors in your employer match, estimates the yearly income that pot can safely produce, and gives you an instant verdict on whether you are on track. Type any number and the result updates immediately — no "calculate" button needed.
Most retirement tools hide the most important figure of all: the employer match. A 50% match on the first 6% of pay is effectively a 50% instant return on those dollars — free money that dramatically changes the outcome. This calculator models it explicitly so you can see exactly what leaving the match on the table costs you over a career.
The verdict card then tells you whether your projected income clears the 70–80% salary-replacement target planners commonly use.
The 4% rule, from the well-known Trinity Study, suggests that withdrawing 4% of your balance in the first year of retirement and adjusting for inflation thereafter has historically lasted 30 years in most market scenarios. It is a rough planning guide, not a guarantee, but it turns an abstract pile of money into a meaningful annual income figure.
| Start age | Years invested | Balance at 65 | Income at 4% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 40 | $1,197,000 | $47,900 |
| 30 | 35 | $830,000 | $33,200 |
| 35 | 30 | $567,000 | $22,700 |
| 40 | 25 | $379,000 | $15,200 |
| 50 | 15 | $155,000 | $6,200 |
$6,000/year ($500/month) of contributions, 7% annual return, no starting balance. Illustrative only.
Always grab the full match first. It is the highest-return move in personal finance — never leave matched dollars unclaimed. Raise contributions with every pay rise so saving more never feels like a pay cut. Be realistic about returns: 7% is a long-term average, not a smooth yearly path, and markets fall as well as rise. Remember taxes: a traditional 401(k) is taxed on withdrawal, so your spendable income is a little lower than the headline figure; a Roth is taxed now and tax-free later. Mind inflation: using a real (inflation-adjusted) return keeps the final number in today's purchasing power. And this is a projection, not a promise — revisit it yearly and adjust.
A common rule of thumb is enough to replace 70–80% of your pre-retirement salary each year. Using the 4% rule, that means a balance of roughly 18–20 times the annual income you want. This calculator works it out for you and shows whether your projection clears that bar.
It suggests you can withdraw about 4% of your retirement balance in your first year, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, with a high chance the money lasts about 30 years. It is a planning guide, not a guarantee, and many people adjust it up or down based on their situation.
Almost always yes. An employer match is an immediate, risk-free return on your money — often 50% or 100% on the first few percent of salary. Skipping it is leaving guaranteed money behind, which is why this tool models it separately.
A diversified stock-heavy portfolio has historically averaged around 7% per year after inflation, but returns are volatile and the past does not guarantee the future. Use 5–6% for a conservative plan and 7–8% for an optimistic one, and revisit as you near retirement.
It shows nominal, pre-tax growth. Traditional 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as income, so spendable money is a bit lower; Roth accounts are tax-free in retirement. To see results in today's money, enter a real (inflation-adjusted) return such as 4% instead of 7%.
They are complementary. A 401(k) offers higher contribution limits and the crucial employer match, so fund it at least up to the match first. An IRA often has wider investment choices and can be used alongside it. Many people use both.