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Savings Growth Projection

Contributions vs Returns

Financial Milestones

Smart Insights

Personal Information

Current Finances

Market Assumptions

Retirement Goals

Risk Tolerance

Conservative
Moderate
Aggressive

Balanced approach with moderate growth potential and manageable risk.

Income Sources

Total monthly: $0

SourceTypeMonthly AmountStart AgeEnd AgeActions

Monthly Expenses

Total monthly: $0

ExpenseCategoryMonthly AmountAnnualActions

Year-by-Year Projection

AgeYearContributionsInvestment ReturnsTotal BalanceReal Value

Scenario Comparison

All Scenarios
Best Case
Average Case
Worst Case

Retirement Balance Over Time

AgeYearStarting BalanceWithdrawalReturnsEnding BalanceStatus
Educational tool, not financial advice. RetireWise gives you a simplified, directional estimate to help you think about retirement planning. It cannot account for your full personal, tax, and market situation. Please review the assumptions below and consult a qualified financial advisor before making major decisions.

Assumptions Behind the Numbers

  • Fixed, constant rate of return. Your "Expected Annual Return" is applied every single year with no variation. Real markets go up and down from year to year (volatility) — this tool does not model that, nor the risk of a downturn early in retirement ("sequence of returns" risk).
  • Constant inflation rate. Inflation is assumed to compound steadily at the single rate you enter. It is used to (a) grow your desired retirement income in withdrawal projections and (b) discount future balances back to "today's dollars" for the real-value figures shown.
  • Flat monthly contributions. Your monthly contribution amount is assumed to stay the same in nominal dollars every year until retirement — it does not automatically increase with salary raises or promotions unless you update it yourself.
  • Withdrawal rate / "safe withdrawal rate". The withdrawal-rate field (e.g. 4%) is a common rule-of-thumb starting point, not a guarantee. It estimates how much you could withdraw annually without running out of money, but actual safe rates depend on market conditions, your time horizon, and how your money is invested.
  • No taxes. Contributions, growth, and withdrawals are shown gross — income tax, capital gains tax, and account-type rules (e.g. tax-deferred vs. tax-free accounts) are not modeled.
  • No fees. Investment/fund expense ratios, advisory fees, and transaction costs are not subtracted from returns.
  • Fixed life expectancy. Your money is modeled to last only until the "Life Expectancy" age you enter. Living longer than planned is one of the biggest retirement risks and isn't automatically buffered for.
  • No Social Security, pensions, or other guaranteed income unless you add them yourself under Income & Expenses.
  • Currency and formatting. All figures are shown in a single currency ($) with no conversion or region-specific adjustment.

How to Get the Most Out of This Tool

  • Use conservative, realistic assumptions rather than optimistic ones — a lower expected return and a slightly higher inflation rate give you a more cautious (and safer) plan.
  • Revisit and update your numbers at least once a year, or after any major life change (new job, salary change, marriage, having children, relocating).
  • Look at both the nominal and "real" (inflation-adjusted) values — the real value tells you what your projected savings could actually buy in today's terms.
  • Try the Scenario Analysis tab to stress-test your plan against lower returns or higher inflation, rather than relying on a single projection.
  • Treat the Withdrawal Simulation as a starting point for a conversation with a financial professional, especially as you get closer to retirement.
  • Remember that a single savings/withdrawal number can't capture everything — healthcare costs, long-term care, market downturns, and family circumstances can all meaningfully change the picture.
This calculator is provided for general educational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice, and results should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any retirement decision. Past or assumed investment returns are not guarantees of future performance.