How long will $1 million last in retirement?

With a 5% return and 2% inflation, $4,000 a month (rising with inflation) lasts a little over 30 years. At $6,000 a month it lasts about 18. Your pension and returns change this a lot, so enter your own numbers.

What return should I assume in retirement?

Use what your actual portfolio might earn after fees. Many retirees hold more bonds, so 4 to 6% is common. Then set the market swings under "More options" to match how much you hold in stocks.

Does this include inflation?

Yes. Your spending rises with inflation every year, and results show in today's money by default.

What if my pension starts later?

Add it under "Other income" with its start age. Until then your savings pay for everything. After that, the pension covers part of your spending.

How long will my money last?

Already retired or close to it? Enter your savings and what you spend each month. See the age your money runs out, or what is left, with a steady return and across 1,000 market scenarios.

On trackYou're on trackYour money lasts until age 95 in 100% of market scenarios and in 100% of real market periods since 1871. With steady returns, $1,492,899 would be left in today's money.See the full results

Your plan

Quick start: pick the closest, then adjust

Today

Your age

yrs

Invested savings

Monthly contribution

Retirement

Retire at age

yrs

Money must last until age

yrs

How you'll spend in retirement

Monthly spending

Amount is in today's moneyIt will be raised by inflation until you retire.

Other income and one-offs

Income (per month, today's money: pension, part-time work, rent)

$fromto

One-off amounts (inheritance, house sale, big purchase)

Assumptions

Annual returnbefore inflation and fees

A global stock fund has averaged around 7% a year before inflation over long periods; bonds less.

Inflation

Your money

Lasts past 95

with a steady return. About $1,492,899 would be left at 95, in today's money.

It lasts in 100% of market scenarios. When it doesn't, the money typically runs out around 89 and 5 months.

Results

On track

You're on track

Your money lasts until age 95 in 100% of market scenarios and in 100% of real market periods since 1871. With steady returns, $1,492,899 would be left in today's money.

Savings at 63

$750,000

215% of the $349,213 needed

Monthly spending at retirement

$3,800

then rises with inflation

Market scenarios that last

100%

100% of real periods since 1871

Initial withdrawal rate

6.1%

above the common 3.5–4% guideline

Earliest age you could retire with this spending: 63Assumes steady returns. Check the scenarios column in "Your options" before you pick an age.

Your savings over time

In today's money

Savings Money you put in Middle half of market scenarios Income starts or one-off amount

Your options

On track

What would change the outcome. Amounts in today's money.

Spending in retirement
With steady returns you could spend up to $5,705 a month and still last until 95, $1,905 more than you plan.
If returns are lower than you expect
- At 6.0% a year instead of 7.0%, your money still lasts until 95.
- At 5.0% a year instead of 7.0%, your money still lasts until 95.

Compare retirement ages

The same plan if you stop working earlier or later.

Retire at	Savings then	You could spend	Steady returns	Scenarios
63your plan	$750,000	$5,705/mo	Lasts, $1,492,899 left	100%
64+1 yr	$781,463	$6,037/mo	Lasts, $1,656,838 left	100%
65+2 yrs	$814,247	$6,394/mo	Lasts, $1,814,177 left	100%
66+3 yrs	$848,405	$6,779/mo	Lasts, $1,965,181 left	100%
68+5 yrs	$953,665	$7,646/mo	Lasts, $2,249,194 left	100%

Today's money. "You could spend" is the monthly amount that lasts exactly until 95 with steady returns, including other income. "Scenarios" is the share of market scenarios in which your plan lasts.

Details

Random market scenarios

100%

of 1,000 scenarios last until age 95. Each one replays your plan with returns that swing from year to year (a typical swing of ±12% around your 6.8% after fees), and inflation that drifts around your 2.5%.

Savings at 63 in poor markets (1 in 10): $750,000
When it fails, money runs out around: age 89 and 5 months

Real market history

100%

of 121 real periods last until age 95. Each period starts your plan in a different year from 1871 and uses what US stocks and government bonds actually returned after inflation, for a 60% stocks mix, minus your fees.

Worst year to start: 1889, and it still lasts.

A high share means your plan has room for bad years. These are illustrations, not forecasts. Change your investment mix under "More options".

On track · 100% of scenarios

Getting a realistic answer

Enter what you actually spend, including the irregular things: car, roof, gifts, travel. Add your pension or Social Security with the age it starts. If you plan a big one-off expense or expect an inheritance, add it under "One-off amounts".

Set "Money must last until age" generously. A 65-year-old couple has a good chance that one of them reaches 90, and a real chance of 95.

Questions people ask

How long will $1 million last in retirement?: With a 5% return and 2% inflation, $4,000 a month (rising with inflation) lasts a little over 30 years. At $6,000 a month it lasts about 18. Your pension and returns change this a lot, so enter your own numbers.
What return should I assume in retirement?: Use what your actual portfolio might earn after fees. Many retirees hold more bonds, so 4 to 6% is common. Then set the market swings under "More options" to match how much you hold in stocks.
Does this include inflation?: Yes. Your spending rises with inflation every year, and results show in today's money by default.
What if my pension starts later?: Add it under "Other income" with its start age. Until then your savings pay for everything. After that, the pension covers part of your spending.

Keep going

For education only, not personal financial advice. Your inputs stay in your browser.