An almanac for later life
How could today's savings and a steady monthly contribution grow by the age you plan to retire? See the answer in future money and in today's money, under the return and inflation you choose.
At 67, your savings could be about $897,597, which is about $407,303 in today's money.
Point at the chart, or focus it and use the arrow keys, to read any age.
| Age | Paid in | Balance | In today's money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 36 | $47,200 | $49,364 | $48,160 |
| 37 | $54,544 | $59,343 | $56,483 |
| 38 | $62,035 | $69,971 | $64,975 |
| 39 | $69,676 | $81,283 | $73,639 |
| 40 | $77,469 | $93,318 | $82,480 |
| 41 | $85,418 | $106,114 | $91,502 |
| 42 | $93,527 | $119,712 | $100,710 |
| 43 | $101,797 | $134,156 | $110,108 |
| 44 | $110,233 | $149,492 | $119,702 |
| 45 | $118,838 | $165,766 | $129,496 |
| 46 | $127,615 | $183,031 | $139,496 |
| 47 | $136,567 | $201,338 | $149,706 |
| 48 | $145,698 | $220,744 | $160,132 |
| 49 | $155,012 | $241,306 | $170,779 |
| 50 | $164,513 | $263,088 | $181,653 |
| 51 | $174,203 | $286,153 | $192,760 |
| 52 | $184,087 | $310,569 | $204,104 |
| 53 | $194,169 | $336,408 | $215,693 |
| 54 | $204,452 | $363,745 | $227,533 |
| 55 | $214,941 | $392,660 | $239,629 |
| 56 | $225,640 | $423,235 | $251,988 |
| 57 | $236,553 | $455,557 | $264,617 |
| 58 | $247,684 | $489,719 | $277,522 |
| 59 | $259,037 | $525,816 | $290,711 |
| 60 | $270,618 | $563,951 | $304,190 |
| 61 | $282,431 | $604,229 | $317,966 |
| 62 | $294,479 | $646,763 | $332,048 |
| 63 | $306,769 | $691,670 | $346,442 |
| 64 | $319,304 | $739,073 | $361,157 |
| 65 | $332,090 | $789,104 | $376,199 |
| 66 | $345,132 | $841,897 | $391,579 |
| 67 | $358,435 | $897,597 | $407,303 |
The calculator adds your monthly contribution at the end of each month and grows the balance at the monthly equivalent of the yearly return you enter. If you choose a yearly rise, the contribution goes up by that percentage every year, as it might with pay rises.
Future money is the balance as it would appear on a statement. Today's money divides it by (1 + inflation) for every year that passes, so you can compare it with prices now. Over 30 years at 2.5% inflation, prices roughly double, which is why the two lines drift apart.
Today's money = future balance ÷ (1 + inflation)years
Worked example: a 35-year-old with $40,000 saved who adds $600 a month, rising 2% a year, and assumes a 5% return with 2.5% inflation, would reach about $897,597 by 67, or about $407,303 in today's money. The last figure in the summary shows what each 1% withdrawn per year would give in today's money; it does not suggest any particular withdrawal rate.
The projection ignores taxes, fees and the ups and downs of real markets, and it assumes the same return every year. Treat it as a way to compare assumptions, and change the return to see how much the result depends on it.
Four more calculators about the years after work, each showing its working.
Your yearly spending divided by a withdrawal rate you choose, and how close your savings are.
How long a portfolio lasts at rates from 3% to 7%, and why the order of returns matters.
The years until work becomes optional, worked out from your savings rate.
The point where today's savings, left alone, could grow to your target by retirement.
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Check a link with WebTraceCheckYour own assumption. This site makes no forecast: the 5% filled in is only an example. Many people try a cautious, a middle and a hopeful figure and compare the three, because over decades a single percentage point changes the result a great deal.
A million in 30 years will buy far less than a million today. Dividing by inflation turns the future figure into what it would be worth at today's prices, which is easier to compare with your current spending.
No. Depending on the account, contributions, growth or withdrawals may be taxed, and funds charge fees. Lowering the return you enter is a simple way to allow for fees.
No. The figures stay on this page and are never sent anywhere. Only your currency choice and light or dark theme are remembered, in this browser's local storage.