Plan your path to financial independence with tools for 401k projections, Social Security, FIRE calculations, and pension planning.
Retirement planning is one of the most important financial exercises you will ever undertake. The decisions you make today about savings rates, investment allocations, and retirement accounts will determine your quality of life for decades. Whether you are targeting traditional retirement at 65 or pursuing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), our calculators help you model different scenarios and build a concrete plan.
The 4% rule, based on the Trinity Study, suggests that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually (adjusted for inflation) has historically sustained a 60/40 stock/bond portfolio for at least 30 years with a 95% success rate. This means you need approximately 25× your annual spendingsaved to retire. Our retirement calculators help you work backward from your target lifestyle to determine how much you need to save each month.
Tax strategy is a critical part of retirement planning. 401(k) and Traditional IRA contributions reduce your taxable income today, while Roth accounts provide tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement. HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) offer a triple tax advantage: deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. Maximizing these accounts can save hundreds of thousands in taxes over your working career.
The common guideline is to save 25× your annual expenses (the '4% rule'). If you spend $50,000/year, you need $1.25 million. This assumes a 4% annual withdrawal rate, which historically has sustained a portfolio for 30+ years. However, factors like healthcare costs, inflation, and lifestyle changes can affect this number.
You can start at age 62 (with reduced benefits — about 30% less), at your Full Retirement Age (66-67 depending on birth year) for full benefits, or delay until age 70 for maximum benefits (about 24-32% more than FRA). Delaying is often worth it if you are healthy and can afford to wait.
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is a movement focused on aggressive saving and investing to reach financial independence much earlier than traditional retirement age. FIRE adherents typically save 50-70% of their income and aim to retire in their 30s-40s. Our FIRE calculator helps you determine your target number.
Review the employer match formula, vesting schedule, cash-flow needs, debt cost, tax treatment, and current IRS contribution limits. There is no single contribution percentage that fits every household.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are tax-deductible now but taxed on withdrawal. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax but grow and are withdrawn tax-free. Choose Roth if you expect higher taxes in retirement (younger, growing income). Choose Traditional if you are in a high tax bracket now and expect lower income in retirement.
Calculator methods and editorial structure reviewed July 11, 2026. Results are estimates; verify regulated rates, eligibility rules, and professional decisions with the cited primary source.