How Does Our Calculator Work?
It’s simple – our calculator crunches the numbers so you can see how much you need to save every month in order to reach a specific retirement goal. Even better, it shows how a target retirement amount might stretch over a certain number of years, and also accounts for inflation. In total, our calculator compensates for:
- A default salary increase rate of about 2% per year
- A default 3% inflation rate
- A 6% rate of return before you retire
- A 5% rate of return after you retire
However, you can customize the settings of this tool to reflect different situations and meet your needs. Check the “more options” settings at the side for more control over the calculator’s parameters.
Sections and Terms
Pre-tax Income
Your pre-tax income is how much money you make every year, not every month. If you’re salaried, this is easy! If you’re an hourly worker, calculate an average yearly income by multiplying your hourly rate by 40 hours per week, then multiplying that number by 52 weeks per year.
Current Savings
Your current savings amount is any money you currently have in a savings account or tucked away for a rainy day. Our calculator uses this as the starting point for your future retirement goal.
Monthly Savings
Your monthly savings are how much money you regularly save per month. Use the slider to adjust for a percentage of your income or type in a custom number.
Monthly Retirement Spending
Many of the top brokers for IRAs agree that a good rule of thumb is to expect to spend about 70% of your pre-retirement monthly income every month after you retire. However, you can adjust the calculator’s slider to reflect a different situation if you prefer.
Other Expected Income
Have any other sources of income, like tips or inheritance? Add that in this section.
I Want to Retire At Age
This is your target retirement age, or the age at which you stop working full-time for a living.
Life Expectancy
This is how long you expect to live. In the U.S., average life expectancy is 78.7 years, so this serves as a decent place to start. However, you can set this higher if you want to be optimistic and save more money in anticipation of a longer retirement.
Investment Rate of Return
This is how much you expect your investments to earn between when you start saving and when you retire. 6% is the default average annual return rate, even among the top brokers for Roth IRAs.
Retirement Savings Score
Your retirement savings score is a final score showing you how well you’re saving to meet your retirement goal, which is defined as both a retirement amount and an amount suitable for a certain level of income for a set number of years. The better your score, the closer you are to meeting your retirement saving goals.
How Much Money Do You Need for a Comfortable Retirement?
As mentioned, it’s a good idea to bank on replacing about 70% of your monthly income before retirement. Many retired people replace this income through a combination of their savings accounts, 401(k)s, Social Security, and additional sources.
However, this amount varies from person to person. You’ll want to consider what your life might look like when you retire and the possible expenses you might run into. Keep in mind that many people spend less money when they retire through a combination of factors, including:
- having already paid off their house
- having fewer expenditures
- having lower taxes
- and so on
How to Use Our Retirement Calculator
Using our retirement calculator is quick and simple. All you have to do is enter the basic information at the top right corner of the screen; this includes your age, pre-tax income, and current savings. Then use the sliders or fill-in boxes to describe your targets.
Remember to check out the optional settings for more precise calculations.
Other Resources for Retirement
Discovering how to save for retirement successfully is a lifelong process. Feel free to check out additional retirement saving resources, including guides about investing money for retirement, how world events like the coronavirus may impact your retirement plans, and more.
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