Retirement Calculator
Project your 401k or IRA balance at retirement. Includes employer match and monthly compound growth.
Retirement Savings Benchmarks
| Age | Fidelity Benchmark | Example ($80k salary) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1× annual salary | $80,000 |
| 40 | 3× annual salary | $240,000 |
| 50 | 6× annual salary | $480,000 |
| 60 | 8× annual salary | $640,000 |
| 67 (retirement) | 10× annual salary | $800,000 |
Source: Fidelity Investments guidelines. Assumes consistent saving and ~7% average annual return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I save for retirement?
A common guideline is to save 15% of your gross income for retirement, including any employer match. Fidelity recommends having 1× your salary saved by age 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, and 8× by 60. Starting early matters enormously — saving $500/month from age 25 at 7% return produces $1.3M by age 65, while starting at 35 produces only $610k.
What is a 401k employer match?
An employer match is free money added to your 401k based on your contributions. A common match is '50% up to 6%' — the employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, up to 6% of your salary. If your salary is $60,000 and you contribute 6% ($3,600/year), your employer adds $1,800. Always contribute enough to capture the full match.
What is a realistic rate of return for retirement savings?
Historically, the S&P 500 has returned roughly 10% annually before inflation, or about 7% in real (inflation-adjusted) terms. A diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds typically returns 6–8% historically. Target-date retirement funds use similar assumptions. For conservative planning, using 6–7% is prudent. Remember: past performance doesn't guarantee future returns.
What is the 2025 401k contribution limit?
For 2025, the IRS 401k employee contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if age 50+ with catch-up contributions). For IRAs, the limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+). SIMPLE IRA limit: $16,500. These limits are indexed to inflation and typically increase slightly each year.
What is the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals?
The 4% rule states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year 1 and adjust for inflation thereafter, with a high probability of the portfolio lasting 30+ years. To use it in reverse: if you need $60,000/year in retirement, you need $60,000 / 0.04 = $1,500,000 saved. This is a guideline, not a guarantee — actual sustainability depends on sequence of returns and spending flexibility.