Available now · 5-minute lab
What does one more working year really buy you?
Move the retirement date. See how one more year can add savings, add growth, and shorten retirement.
Move the sliders →Menu
Your retirement. What comes next.
You only get one shot. See the choices before you make them.
A plain-English retirement calculator and decision library for Gen X. No scare tactics. No 400-calculator maze. Start with one clear answer, then see which decision changes it.
✓ Private on this device✓ No arbitrary slider limits✓ Assumptions shown
“I don’t need another pile of numbers. I need to know what the numbers mean—and what I should look at next.”
Your retirement runway
Start with what you know.
Enter your age today.
Why it matters: Your age tells us how long your savings can grow before you retire.
Good to know: Use your age in whole years. We do not need your birthday for this estimate.
Enter the age when you may stop working or work much less.
Why it matters: Working longer gives you more time to save. It also gives your money more time to grow.
Good to know: This date can change. Try a few ages and compare the results.
Add the money you have already saved for retirement.
Why it matters: This is the money that can grow between now and retirement.
Good to know: Include retirement accounts and other savings you plan to use. Leave out your home unless you plan to sell it or borrow against it.
Enter how much goes into retirement savings each month.
Why it matters: New savings can also grow before you retire.
Good to know: Include money from you and your employer. If the amount changes, use a fair monthly average.
Enter what you think you will spend each month in retirement.
Why it matters: We compare your estimated income with this spending goal.
Good to know: Include housing, food, health care, taxes, travel, and fun. Do not subtract Social Security or a pension. We do that for you.
Enter the Social Security and pension income you expect each month.
Why it matters: This income pays part of your bills. Your savings must cover the rest.
Good to know: Use today's dollars. Enter 0 if you are not sure, then try another amount later.
Add other income you expect to get each month in retirement.
Why it matters: Rent, support payments, royalties, an annuity, or part-time work can help pay your bills.
Good to know: For rent, use the amount left after all property costs. Include only income you can count on for the years in your plan.
Select the ? beside any field for a plain-English explanation. Type any valid amount—we’ll flag unusual inputs, not block them.
See the assumptions behind this estimate
5% real annual growth after inflation until retirement—a moderate planning assumption, not a promise4% starting withdrawal from projected savingsToday's dollars throughout, before taxes and fees
This is not a best-case estimate. It is also not a promise. A careful mix of investments may earn less than 5% after inflation. A mix with more stocks may earn more. This first estimate does not include taxes, health-insurance dates, market swings, or different Social Security start ages.
Live estimate · updates as you typeEstimated monthly retirement income$8,158$4,558 from savings + $3,600 Social Security/pension + $0 additional income
126%of target
Your biggest levers
See what actually moves the date.
One profile powers every comparison. Change a number above and the tradeoffs update instantly.
Projected at retirement$1,367,277
Balance supporting your target$870,000
Time to make adjustments11 years
Current pathRetire at 65
126%Work 2 more yearsRetire at 67
135%Save $500 more$2,300/month
130%Spend $500 less$6,000/month
136%Start with the decision—not the calculator
What are you trying to figure out?
01Am I actually on track?
Turn balances and benefits into a retirement paycheck you can understand.
Explore this decision →02Can I retire before Medicare?See the health-insurance bridge instead of discovering it after you stop working.
Explore this decision →03What counts as retirement income?Model rentals, pensions, part-time work, annuities, and other income without hiding their limits.
Explore this decision →04When should we claim Social Security?Compare household timelines when two people retire and claim at different ages.
Explore this decision →Built for the “401(k) experiment” generation
A calm answer to a high-stakes question.
The oldest Gen Xers are already entering retirement. The youngest still have time to make meaningful changes. Both deserve something clearer than a pile of disconnected formulas.
01
Your entries stay on this device. The calculator does not save them to an account.
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Every assumption is visible. Returns, inflation, longevity and withdrawal rates are never magic.
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No hidden sales pitch. Any paid link will be clearly labeled and kept outside the calculator result.
A new interactive question every week
Retirement ideas you can move—not just read.
Each What-If Lab pairs a short explanation with sliders and a changing picture. Start with the example, then make it look more like your life.
How much can $500 less monthly spending change?Scheduled
How much rental income is really retirement income?Scheduled
Can part-time work bridge an earlier retirement?Scheduled
What can a 1% advisory fee cost over time?Scheduled
See the full weekly schedule →Retirement answers
Useful enough to read before the appointment.
High-stakes decisions deserve more than a tooltip. Each guide explains what the choice is, why it matters, what to compare, and which official source to verify before acting.
Can I retire? Start with these seven questions.
Use seven simple questions to check your income, spending, health insurance, taxes, and backup plan.
8 minute read →The Gen X retirement planning checklist
A simple Gen X checklist. Put every account in one place, save while you can, plan for family needs, and decide how savings will pay the bills.
9 minute read →Retiring before 65: how to plan the health-insurance bridge
Plan how you will get and pay for health insurance from your last day of work until Medicare starts.
7 minute read →Social Security claiming for couples: compare the household, not two individuals
Compare when each spouse starts Social Security, how you pay while waiting, and what the surviving spouse may receive.
7 minute read →Seven retirement income sources—and how to model each one honestly
List Social Security, pensions, savings, rent, annuities, work, and other income without treating them all the same.
8 minute read →Build a retirement spending plan that looks like real life
Build a retirement budget for needs, wants, surprise bills, health care, taxes, and family help.
7 minute read →Questions people actually ask
Start with a simple answer. Then check the details.
How much money do I need to retire?
Start with what you expect to spend. Subtract steady income such as Social Security, a pension, and reliable rent. Your savings must cover what is left. Then test taxes, health costs, bad markets, and a long life.
Is a 5% return assumption conservative?
Not always. A careful mix of investments may earn less than 5% after inflation. A mix with more stocks may earn more. Returns also change from year to year. A bad market early in retirement can hurt more than one that comes later.
Should rental income count toward retirement?
Yes, but use the money left after all property costs. Include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs, management, and empty months. Also test what happens if the home sits empty or is sold.
Can I retire before age 65?
Maybe. First, price health insurance from your last day of work until Medicare starts. Compare work coverage, a spouse's plan, COBRA, retiree coverage, and Marketplace plans.
Is a 1% financial-advisor fee worth it?
It depends on what you get. Turn the fee into dollars per year. Add fund and account costs. Then compare the work you receive with hourly, flat-fee, and lower-cost choices.