About the Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
This calculator turns a nest egg into a sustainable paycheck: the level, inflation-adjusted monthly amount you can withdraw so the money lasts exactly through your retirement. It's the mirror image of the longevity calculator.
How it’s calculated
The withdrawal is an annuity payout using a real (inflation-adjusted) return over the retirement period, so its buying power stays level as the balance is spent down to zero.
Example calculation
A $1,000,000 nest egg earning 5% with 2.5% inflation can support about $3,950 a month for 30 years, in today's dollars.
Frequently asked questions
Does this preserve my principal?
No — it spends the balance down to zero over the period. For a never-touch-the-principal approach, use the 4% Rule calculator, which draws only the returns.
What about a bad market early on?
A poor return in the first few years hurts more than a late one (sequence-of-returns risk). Building in a margin, or being flexible in down years, helps.
Retirement projections are estimates based on the assumptions you enter and do not guarantee future outcomes. Contribution limits and tax rules change over time — verify current figures and consider speaking with a financial professional.