Quick answer
Retirement timing starts with the spending gap.
A simple starting point is to estimate the annual spending your portfolio would need to support, subtract reliable retirement income, and divide the remaining amount by a withdrawal-rate assumption to create a portfolio target. Then model how long your current portfolio and contributions could take to reach it. The result is a planning scenario, not a retirement date prediction.
Related: net worth projection · monthly investment goal · compound interest
Live retirement timeline
Planning scenario only. The result changes with every assumption and does not model taxes, inflation, healthcare, Social Security timing, sequence risk, or market volatility.
01 — FormulaThe math underneath
Target portfolio = (annual spending − reliable retirement income) ÷ withdrawal rate
WealthClock then grows your current portfolio month by month using the return assumption you enter and adds your ongoing contributions until the portfolio reaches that target. If the target is already met, the estimate is “Now” under this simplified scenario.
02 — Reality checkWhat this does not include
- Does not model sequence-of-returns risk, inflation, healthcare, taxes, changing spending, or Social Security timing.
- The return and withdrawal rates are assumptions, not promises; small changes can move the estimated timeline materially.
- Use the result as a planning range and question generator—not a retirement date.
How to use it
Run several scenarios: conservative, middle, and optimistic. The wide gap between those outputs is often more useful than any single answer.
03 — Stress-test the timelineOne retirement date is not the answer
The useful part is seeing how the estimated timeline changes when you alter spending, contributions, return assumptions, retirement income, or the withdrawal rate. A range of scenarios is more informative than one precise-looking date.
A more conservative growth assumption can push the target farther away and expose how dependent the plan is on market performance.
Include irregular costs and healthcare rather than modeling only a comfortable baseline budget.
See how saving more—or less—before retirement changes the estimated years to target.
FAQRetirement-check questions
Does the estimated timeline mean I can retire on that date?
No. It only shows when this simplified portfolio model reaches the target under the assumptions entered. Real retirement planning includes many variables this calculator does not model.
Is 4% always the right withdrawal rate?
No. It is a historical rule of thumb. Time horizon, asset mix, fees, taxes, flexibility, and market conditions all matter.
Why include other retirement income?
Reliable pensions or other retirement income can reduce the amount your portfolio must support. Count only income you reasonably expect to be available during the modeled retirement period.
04 — Beyond the ratioWhat a simple retirement check cannot see
A years-to-target estimate is only one layer. It does not know when market losses arrive, whether spending changes, how long retirement lasts, what taxes apply, or how Social Security, pensions, insurance, debt, housing, and healthcare fit together.
Losses early in retirement can be more damaging when withdrawals continue.
A plan that can reduce withdrawals may behave differently from a fixed-dollar plan.
Pensions and other income can reduce the amount the portfolio must provide.
Use the timeline as a question generator—not a retirement decision. A qualified fiduciary, tax professional, or benefits specialist may be needed for a full plan.
Keep going
This calculator is for education only. It is not financial, investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice.