What is the 4% rule?
Bengen's rule: a 30-year retirement can safely withdraw 4% of the initial portfolio, inflation-adjusted, with a ~95% success rate historically.
Calculate how much you need to retire comfortably. See projected savings growth, estimated monthly income, and whether you're on track for retirement.
Target Corpus = Annual Expenses × 25 (the 4% Safe Withdrawal Rule). Monthly Saving = FV × r / ((1+r)^n − 1).
If you expect to spend $60,000/year in retirement, target $1.5M. Starting at 30 with a 10% return, that requires ~$625/month for 35 years.
Bengen's rule: a 30-year retirement can safely withdraw 4% of the initial portfolio, inflation-adjusted, with a ~95% success rate historically.
Multiply your desired annual retirement spend by 25. For $50,000/year: $1.25M.
7% real (10% nominal minus 3% inflation) is standard for a globally-diversified 80/20 portfolio.
The average US benefit is ~$1,900/month. Subtract expected benefits from your annual spend before calculating your target corpus.
Yes — but a 40-year retirement needs a 3.25–3.5% withdrawal rate for safety, meaning ~28–30× annual spend.
They use different assumptions: inflation (2% vs 6%), return (6% vs 10%), tax treatment, Social Security inclusion, and whether returns are nominal or real. Always check the assumption panel — a 2% shift in real return can double or halve the corpus.
Yes — the projection uses inflation-adjusted (real) returns, so the corpus shown reflects today's purchasing power. To model higher inflation, subtract your inflation assumption from your expected nominal return before entering it.
The 4% rule (Bengen, updated Trinity study) supports a 4% inflation-adjusted withdrawal for 30 years with ~95% historical success. For 40+ year retirements use 3.25–3.5%.
FIRE Number = annual expenses × 25 (Lean/Regular FIRE) or × 33 (Fat FIRE with 3% withdrawal). Example: $40,000/year lifestyle → $1M FIRE Number.
Any calculator that lets you set (1) a sub-4% withdrawal rate, (2) a separate pre- and post-retirement return, and (3) real returns (net of inflation). Our tool supports all three.