I want to save for retirement
Retirement can feel far away, but small steps now make a big difference. This page shows if you are on track and how to grow your savings. It takes about 20 minutes.
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Check if you are on track
Start with the big picture. Type your age, savings, what you put in each year and when you want to retire.
Am I saving enough to retire when I want?
Check my retirement plan →Tip: Starting earlier matters more than starting big. Time lets growth do much of the work.
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See how your 401(k) could grow
A 401(k) is a retirement account through your job, often with money added by your employer. Type your salary, your percent and any employer match.
How much will my 401(k) be worth when I retire?
Grow my 401(k) →Tip: If your employer matches what you put in, try to put in at least enough to get the full match.
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Add a Roth IRA
An IRA is a retirement account you open yourself. With a Roth IRA you pay tax now, and qualified money you take out later is tax-free. Type your yearly amount.
How much could my Roth IRA grow by retirement?
See my Roth IRA →Tip: There are yearly limits and income rules for a Roth IRA. Check the current limits before you add money.
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See the power of compound growth
Compound growth means you earn returns on your returns. Type a starting amount, a monthly amount and a rate to watch it grow.
How much will my money grow with compound interest?
Watch my money grow →Tip: Try a lower rate too. Planning with careful numbers means fewer bad surprises.
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Remember that prices go up
Inflation means a dollar buys less in the future. Type an amount and the years to see what it will really be worth.
How much will things cost in the future with inflation?
Check inflation →Tip: A goal that sounds big today may feel smaller in 30 years. Plan in future dollars.
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Dream about retiring early
FIRE means financial independence, retire early. Type your spending and savings to see how much you need to stop working and how soon.
How much do I need to stop working, and how soon?
Find my FIRE number →Tip: Many people use about 25 times their yearly spending as a rough target. It is a guide, not a promise.
Questions people ask
How much do I need to retire?
It depends on how much you will spend each year. A common rough guide is to save about 25 times your yearly retirement spending, which links to the idea of taking out about 4% a year. Social Security and any pension can lower the amount you need.
What is the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA?
A 401(k) is offered through your job and often comes with an employer match. An IRA is an account you open on your own. Both have yearly limits and tax rules, and many people use both.
Should I choose a Roth or traditional account?
With a Roth you pay tax now and qualified withdrawals are tax-free later. With a traditional account you often get a tax break now and pay tax later. Which is better depends on your tax rate now compared with later.
Is it too late to start saving for retirement?
It is rarely too late to start. People 50 and older can often put in extra each year, called catch-up contributions. Saving more, working a little longer or spending less in retirement can all help.