Retirement Plan Calculator

How this calculator calculates

This calculator calculates your estimated retirement savings total and if you will obtain enough savings to meet your spending goals during retirement. This calculator accounts for spending during retirement from the inputed retirement age to the age of 95. Totals are rounded to the nearest dollar.

A common measure of inflation in the U.S. is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). From 1925 through 2016 the CPI has a long-term average of 2.9% annually. Over the last 40 years highest CPI recorded was 13.5% in 1980. Please note that this calculator defaults to using a default 2.9% inflation rate.

Its important to remember that these calculations are hypothetical and future rates of return can’t be predicted with certainty and involve a multitude of outside factors, such as the type of investment and its risk and volatility.

Definitions

• Retirement Age: Age you wish to retire. This calculator assumes that the year you retire, you do not make any contributions to your retirement savings. So if you retire at age 65, your last contribution occurs when you are actually age 64. This calculator also assumes that you make your entire contribution at the end of each year.
• Current annual household income: Your total household income. If you are married, this should include your spouse's income.
• Annual income increase: The annual percent increase you expect in your household income.
• Retirement savings: Total amount that you currently have saved toward your retirement. Include all sources of retirement savings such as 401(k)s, IRAs and annuities.
• Percentage of income to be saved for retirement yearly: The percentage of your annual income you plan to contribute to your retirement savings. This should reflect the total you save toward your retirement. This should include any 403(b), 401(k), or 457(b) plans and your employer's contribution to these plans. It should also include any other retirement accounts such as an IRA or a Roth IRA and any retirement savings in non-retirement accounts. This calculator assumes that you make one annual contribution at the end of each year, and any withdrawals happen once per year at the end of the year.
• Yearly spend in retirement: Total amount you would like to spend yearly during retirement.
• Expected return on investments before retirement: This is the annual rate of return you expect from your retirement savings and investments. This should also be an after-tax rate of return if the majority of your retirement savings is not in a tax-deferred account such as a 403(b), 401(k), 457(b), annuity or IRA. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31st 2016, had an annual compounded rate of return of 6.6%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1, 1970 to December 31st 2016, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500®, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.3% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a financial institution may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.
  It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that Separate Account investment funds and/or investment companies may charge.
• Expected return on investments during retirement: This is the annual rate of return you expect from your savings and investments during retirement. This should also be an after-tax rate of return if the majority of your retirement savings is not in a tax-deferred account such as a 403(b), 401(k), 457(b), annuity or IRA. It is often lower than the return earned before retirement due to more conservative investment choices to help insure a steady flow of income. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31st 2016, had an annual compounded rate of return of 6.6%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1, 1970 to December 31st 2016, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500®, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.3% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a financial institution may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.
  It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that Separate Account investment funds and/or investment companies may charge.
• Effect of Marriage status on retirement savings: Married couples have a higher maximum Social Security benefit than single wage earners. If you are married, this calculator takes the higher maximum social security benefit into account.
• Social Security benefits: Social Security is based on a sliding scale depending on your income, how long you work and at what age you retire. Social Security benefits automatically increase each year based on increases in the Consumer Price Index. Including a spouse increases your Social Security benefits by 1.5 times your individual estimated benefit. Please note that this calculator assumes that only one of the spouses works. Benefits could be different if your spouse worked and earned a benefit higher than one half of your benefit. If you are a married couple, and both spouses work, you may need to run the calculation twice – once for each spouse and their respective income. This calculator provides only an estimate of your benefits.
  The calculations use the 2017 FICA income limit of $127,200 with an annual maximum Social Security benefit of $32,244 per year ($2,687 per month) for a single person and 1.5 times this amount for a married couple. To receive the maximum benefit would require earning the maximum FICA salary for nearly your entire career. You would also need to begin receiving benefits at your full retirement age of 66 or 67 (depending on your birthdate). This calculator rounds your age of full Social Security benefits to the next highest full year. If your birthdate is between 1955 and 1959 your actual full retirement age for Social Security is 66 plus two months for each year after 1954. Your actual benefit may be lower or higher depending on your work history and the complete compensation rules used by Social Security.