Available now · 5-minute lab
What does one more working year really buy you?
Move the retirement-date slider and see the three jobs an extra year can do: add contributions, add growth, and remove one year of withdrawals.
Move the sliders →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: This sets how many years your current savings can grow and how long you can keep contributing before retirement.
Good to know: Use your current whole age. Your birthday month is not needed for this first estimate.
Enter the age when you expect to stop or meaningfully scale back paid work.
Why it matters: A later date gives your savings more time to grow and adds more contributions before withdrawals begin.
Good to know: This is a planning date, not a promise. Try a few ages to see what changes.
Add the retirement money you have already built across all accounts.
Why it matters: This is the starting balance that grows between now and your planned retirement date.
Good to know: Include 401(k), 403(b), IRA and retirement-designated brokerage money. Leave out your home unless you truly plan to use its equity.
Enter the total amount added to retirement accounts in a typical month.
Why it matters: These new dollars join your existing savings and have time to grow before retirement.
Good to know: Include your own contributions and any employer match. If deposits vary, use a reasonable monthly average.
Estimate the retirement lifestyle you want to pay for each month, in today's dollars.
Why it matters: This is the target your projected retirement income is measured against. A higher target requires more savings or guaranteed income.
Good to know: Include housing, food, health care, taxes, travel and fun. Do not subtract Social Security or a pension here—we do that separately.
Enter the monthly Social Security and pension income you expect to receive.
Why it matters: This income covers part of your monthly target, so your savings do not need to provide the entire amount.
Good to know: Use today's dollars and a conservative estimate. Enter 0 if you are unsure, then test a benefit estimate later.
Add other monthly income you reasonably expect to continue during retirement.
Why it matters: Rental cash flow, alimony, annuity payments, royalties or part-time income can cover part of your retirement life, reducing what your portfolio must provide.
Good to know: For a rental, use income after mortgage payments, maintenance, vacancies and other property costs. Include only income you expect to last through the years you are planning for.
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 intentionally not a best-case estimate, but 5% after inflation is not guaranteed or universally conservative. A cautious portfolio may earn less; a stock-heavy portfolio may earn more. This first look does not yet model taxes, health-insurance timing, market swings or different Social Security claiming 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 data stays yours. Start anonymously and save only when you choose.
02
Every assumption is visible. Returns, inflation, longevity and withdrawal rates are never magic.
03
Products follow the plan. Recommendations appear only when they fit a next step—not because they pay the most.
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
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.
A plain-English framework for deciding whether your income, spending, health coverage, taxes, and backup plans are ready for retirement.
8 minute read →The Gen X retirement planning checklist
A practical retirement checklist for Gen X: consolidate the picture, use catch-up years well, plan for parents and children, and turn savings into income.
9 minute read →Retiring before 65: how to plan the health-insurance bridge
Understand the health coverage gap before Medicare, including Marketplace plans, COBRA, spouse coverage, income estimates, and enrollment timing.
7 minute read →Social Security claiming for couples: compare the household, not two individuals
A clear way for married couples to compare Social Security claiming ages, bridge income, survivor benefits, and retirement timing.
7 minute read →Seven retirement income sources—and how to model each one honestly
Learn how Social Security, pensions, portfolios, rental property, annuities, part-time work, and other recurring income fit into a retirement plan.
8 minute read →Build a retirement spending plan that looks like real life
Move beyond income-replacement rules with a retirement budget for essential, flexible, irregular, health-care, tax, and family expenses.
7 minute read →Questions people actually ask
A first answer—without pretending it is the last one.
How much money do I need to retire?
The useful target depends on planned spending minus dependable income such as Social Security, pensions, and durable additional income. The remaining gap is the job assigned to your savings. Start with that relationship, then stress-test taxes, health costs, market risk, and longevity.
Is a 5% return assumption conservative?
Not universally. This calculator uses 5% after inflation as a moderate first-look assumption. It may be too high for a cautious portfolio and lower than the long-term result of a stock-heavy portfolio. Actual returns are uneven, and poor returns early in retirement can matter greatly.
Should rental income count toward retirement?
Yes—when you use net cash flow after mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, management, vacancies, and a repair reserve. The plan should also test what happens during a vacancy or after the property is sold.
Can I retire before age 65?
Possibly, but the health-insurance bridge must be part of the plan. Compare employer or spouse coverage, COBRA, retiree coverage, and Marketplace plans through the month Medicare is expected to begin.