Retirement Withdrawal Calculator

Estimate how long your retirement savings may last under different withdrawal strategies.

Your Retirement Profile

Retirement Portfolio Value

Annual Withdrawal Amount

In today's dollars

Expected Annual Return

Conservative estimate: 5–7% for diversified portfolio

Inflation Rate

Historical average ~3%

Current Age

Used to estimate depletion age

Your Withdrawal Rate4.0%

Within the widely-cited 4% safe withdrawal guideline.

Portfolio Lasts

49 yrs

Depleted At Age

114

Total Lifetime Withdrawals

$1.96M

inflation-adjusted

Portfolio Value Over Time

Safe Withdrawal Rate Comparison

2%Conservative— $20,000/yr

60+ yrs

3%Moderate-Low— $30,000/yr

60+ yrs

4%Moderate— $40,000/yr

49 yrs

5%Aggressive— $50,000/yr

32 yrs

6%High Risk— $60,000/yr

25 yrs

Based on your portfolio value of $1.00M with 6% return and 3% inflation.

Key Concepts

Safe Withdrawal Rate

The percentage of a portfolio withdrawn annually while maintaining a high probability the portfolio lasts 30+ years. Research commonly cites 4% as a starting guideline.

The 4% Rule

Based on historical research (Bengen, 1994), withdrawing 4% in year one — adjusted for inflation annually — had a high success rate over 30-year retirements using diversified portfolios.

Sequence of Returns Risk

Poor investment returns early in retirement can permanently damage a portfolio even if long-term averages are positive. This is why early years matter most.

Inflation Impact

Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. A 3% inflation rate means the same lifestyle costs roughly twice as much after 24 years — making inflation adjustment critical in retirement planning.

Learn More

The FIRE Movement: A Complete Guide to Financial Independence

Retirement Planning by Age: Your Complete Roadmap

Social Security Benefits Explained: How to Maximize Your Retirement Income

Key Terms to Know

FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early)4% Rule Safe Withdrawal Rate

Understanding This Calculator

What this calculator does

This calculator estimates how long your retirement portfolio lasts given a starting balance, withdrawal amount, and expected return, modeling the risk of running out of money.

How to use the results

1.Enter your portfolio balance at retirement and your annual withdrawal amount (or rate).
2.Set the expected annual return and inflation rate.
3.The result shows the years your portfolio lasts and the balance over time.

Worked example

A $1M portfolio, $50,000/year withdrawal (5%), 6% return, 3% inflation: the portfolio lasts roughly 25–30 years. Dropping withdrawals to $40,000 (4%) extends it well past 30 years.

Important assumptions & limitations

•Assumes a constant return; real returns vary year to year, and a bad early sequence can deplete the portfolio faster (sequence-of-returns risk).
•Does not account for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from tax-deffavored accounts starting at age 73.
•Withdrawals are assumed in real (inflation-adjusted) dollars if inflation is set above zero.

Frequently asked questions

Learn More About Retirement Planning

Interested in retirement planning, financial independence, and long-term wealth building? Explore additional educational resources at StackedTomorrow.com for additional beginner-friendly guides and educational resources.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. Projections are estimates based on simplified assumptions and do not account for taxes, Social Security income, required minimum distributions, market volatility, or healthcare costs. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making retirement planning decisions.

Mike Starr

Founder, FinanceWizardTools · M.S. Organizational Management