Full Retirement Nest Egg Planner
Get your retirement readiness score, year-by-year projection, and personalized action plan — all calculated privately in your browser.
🏷️ Updated for 2026 tax law
👥 Spouse / Partner Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
A common rule of thumb is to save 10–15 times your final annual salary by retirement. However, the exact amount depends on your desired lifestyle, expected Social Security benefits, healthcare costs, and retirement age. Our calculator provides a personalized estimate based on your specific inputs.
The 4% rule suggests that in your first year of retirement, you can withdraw 4% of your total savings, then adjust that amount for inflation each year. This strategy has historically survived 30+ years in most market conditions. Your required nest egg = Annual Expenses ÷ 4%.
Yes. Social Security is a significant income source for most retirees. As of 2026, the average monthly benefit is approximately $1,900. Including it reduces the amount you need to save personally. Use our Social Security Estimator (Tab 4) for a detailed estimate.
Our "How Do You Compare?" section shows Vanguard's 2025 data for your age group. For example, the median 401(k) balance for ages 35–44 is approximately $38,000. Use this as a benchmark, but remember that your personal goals may differ from the average.
401(k) vs Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA
Compare tax treatment, contribution limits, and long-term growth across account types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose Roth if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement. Choose Traditional if you want the upfront tax deduction and expect a lower tax bracket in retirement. Income limits may restrict Roth IRA contributions.
For 2026, the 401(k) employee limit is $23,500 ($30,000 if age 50+). IRA limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if age 50+). Solo 401(k) total limit is $70,000 including employer contribution.
FIRE Early Retirement Calculator
Calculate how many years until financial independence using the 4% safe withdrawal rule.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The 4% rule states that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation. Your FIRE number = Annual Expenses × 25. This has historically supported 30+ year retirements.
Lean FIRE targets ~$40,000/year expenses ($1M nest egg). Standard FIRE targets ~$70,000/year ($1.75M). Fat FIRE targets ~$120,000/year ($3M). Choose based on your desired lifestyle.
Social Security Benefit Estimator
Estimate your monthly Social Security benefit based on average indexed earnings and claiming age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Claiming at 62 gives ~70% of your full benefit. Waiting until 67 (FRA) gives 100%. Delaying to 70 gives 124%. The "best" age depends on your health, life expectancy, and financial need. Break-even is typically around age 78-80.
SSA uses your highest 35 years of inflation-adjusted earnings to calculate your AIME, then applies the PIA formula (90%/32%/15% across three bend points) to get your Primary Insurance Amount at Full Retirement Age.
Roth Conversion Tax Calculator
Estimate the tax impact of converting Traditional IRA funds to Roth IRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Roth conversion moves money from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You pay income tax on the converted amount now, but future withdrawals are tax-free. This can be beneficial if you expect higher tax rates in retirement.
Spreading conversions over multiple years can keep you in a lower tax bracket. Use our calculator to compare the tax impact of different strategies. High earners often use "year-by-year" conversions during low-income years.
Saved Retirement Scenarios
Your saved scenarios are stored locally in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server.
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No saved scenarios yet
Use the "Save Scenario" button on any calculator tab to save your results here.
Savings Trend
Save 2+ scenarios to see your trend chart.
RMD Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
Calculate your mandatory annual withdrawal from tax-deferred retirement accounts starting at age 73.
Leave blank to use 6% default, or match your Tab1 return rate
Frequently Asked Questions
A Required Minimum Distribution is the minimum amount you must withdraw annually from tax-deferred retirement accounts (Traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) starting at age 73. The SECURE 2.0 Act raised the starting age from 72 to 73 in 2023.
SECURE 2.0 reduced the penalty from 50% to 25% of the shortfall. If corrected within 2 years, the penalty drops to 10%. You must also pay income tax on the withdrawn amount.
Roth IRAs do NOT have RMDs during the owner's lifetime. However, Roth 401(k)s do have RMDs unless rolled into a Roth IRA. Beneficiary accounts have different rules.
Early Withdrawal Penalty Calculator (Before 59½)
Calculate the true cost of withdrawing retirement funds early — 10% penalty plus income tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you withdraw from a tax-deferred retirement account before age 59½, you typically pay a 10% penalty on top of ordinary income tax. This means a $10,000 withdrawal could cost $1,000 in penalties plus $2,200+ in taxes (depending on your bracket).
Yes. Common exceptions include: qualified higher education expenses, first-time home purchase (up to $10,000 from IRA), medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of AGI, substantially equal periodic payments (72(t)), disability, and death. See the full list in your results.
Yes. Roth IRA contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn at any time without penalty or tax, since they were already taxed. However, earnings withdrawn before 59½ and before the 5-year rule may be subject to penalty.
72(t) SEPP Calculator — Substantially Equal Periodic Payments
Calculate penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement accounts using IRS-approved 72(t) methods. Avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty before age 59½.
Frequently Asked Questions
Section 72(t) of the IRS code allows you to take Substantially Equal Periodic Payments from retirement accounts before age 59½ without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. You must continue payments for at least 5 years or until age 59½, whichever is longer.
If you modify the payment schedule before the required period ends, the 10% penalty is retroactively applied to ALL prior distributions, plus interest. This is why 72(t) should be carefully considered.
The RMD method produces the lowest initial payments but they change yearly. Fixed Amortization and Annuitization produce higher, fixed payments. Most people choose Fixed Amortization for predictability and higher cash flow.
Pension vs Lump Sum Calculator
Compare taking a monthly pension vs. a one-time lump sum payout. See which option may provide more value over your lifetime.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your situation. Pension provides guaranteed lifetime income with no investment risk. Lump sum offers flexibility, inheritance potential, and investment upside — but also market risk. Consider your health, other income sources, and risk tolerance.
Yes, significantly. A pension with 2-3% COLA can be worth 40-60% more over a 25-year retirement than a pension without COLA, because inflation erodes purchasing power over time.
Both pension payments and lump sum distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income. However, a lump sum gives you more control over WHEN you take taxable income (e.g., Roth conversion strategies in low-income years).