Retirement & 401(k) Calculator
Project your retirement savings, including contributions and employer match.
Your numbers
A diversified portfolio has historically averaged ~7% after inflation.
Projected balance at retirement (35 years)
- Years to retirement
- 35
- Total contributions
- $335,000.00
- Investment growth
- $1,245,913.99
- Projected balance
- $1,580,913.99
A retirement projection answers a question most people avoid until it's late: will I have enough? The math is encouraging once you see how three forces — your contributions, your employer's match, and decades of compounding — stack on top of each other.
The three engines of retirement growth
- Your contributions — the money you put in each month.
- Employer match — free money your employer adds, often up to a percentage of your salary.
- Compounding returns — growth on your balance that compounds year after year.
The Retirement Calculator combines all three to project your balance at retirement age.
Capture the full employer match first
If your employer matches contributions — say, 50% of the first 6% you contribute — that's an instant 50% return on those dollars, before any market growth. Not contributing enough to get the full match is leaving free money on the table. It's almost always the highest-return move available, so prioritize it.
Why starting early wins
Because returns compound, the dollars you invest in your 20s and 30s do far more work than the same dollars invested later — they simply have more time to multiply. A worked example shows it starkly: contributing $500/month plus a $250 match from age 30 to 65 at a 7% return can grow to well over $1 million, with the large majority of that being growth rather than what you put in.
What the projection assumes
A projection is a model, not a promise. Real markets don't return a smooth percentage every year — they rise and fall. Use a realistic long-run return (a diversified portfolio has historically averaged around 7% after inflation), and revisit the projection as your salary, contributions, and goals change.
How to grow your retirement faster
- Always get the full employer match — it's free money.
- Increase your contribution rate by 1% each year, or whenever you get a raise.
- Start now — time is the most powerful and least recoverable variable.
- Use tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA) so more of the growth stays yours.
- Keep fees low, since they compound against you over decades.
The bottom line
Retirement savings grow from contributions, employer match, and compounding — and the earlier you start, the more compounding does the heavy lifting. Capture your full match, raise your contribution over time, and model your trajectory in the Retirement Calculator. For benchmarks by age, see our guide on how much to save for retirement by age.
Frequently asked questions
How does this retirement calculator work?
It grows your current savings plus your monthly contributions (including any employer match) from your current age to your retirement age, compounding monthly at your assumed annual return, to project your final balance.
Why is the employer match so important?
An employer match is free money — if your employer matches 50% of your contributions, that’s an instant 50% return before any market growth. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match; it’s usually the highest-return move you can make.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
A common target is 15% of income (including the employer match) toward retirement. At minimum, contribute enough to get the full match. Increase your rate by 1% each year or whenever you get a raise.
What return rate should I assume?
A diversified portfolio has historically averaged around 10% per year before inflation, or roughly 7% after. Using ~7% gives a more realistic, inflation-aware projection. Markets vary year to year, so treat it as a long-run average.
Why does starting early matter so much?
Because returns compound, money invested in your 20s and 30s has decades to multiply. Starting ten years earlier often beats contributing far more later — time is the most powerful variable in retirement saving.
Is a 401(k) or Roth IRA better?
They’re complementary. A 401(k) offers an employer match and pre-tax contributions; a Roth IRA grows tax-free and is withdrawn tax-free in retirement. A common approach: contribute enough to the 401(k) for the full match, then fund a Roth IRA.
How much do I need to retire?
A rough guideline is 25× your annual expenses (the basis of the 4% rule), or about 10× your final salary. Your real number depends on your lifestyle, other income like Social Security, and when you retire.
Does this projection account for inflation?
It shows a nominal balance. To estimate real purchasing power, use an inflation-adjusted return (e.g., ~7% instead of ~10%). Remember that a large future balance will buy less than the same amount does today.