When Can I Retire?
This early retirement calculator runs a year-by-year projection of your portfolio and pinpoints the exact age your savings cross your FIRE number. Adjust contributions and return assumptions to see how small changes dramatically shift your retirement timeline.
Your Situation
Real return: 3.9%
Year-by-year portfolio projection
The orange line is your growing portfolio. The dashed teal line is your FIRE number. They meet at your retirement age.
How this calculator works
Each year the simulation runs:
The loop stops when balance ≥ FIRE number. Using the test case (savings $120K, contribution $2,000/mo = $24K/yr, 5% real return, FIRE $1,250,000, age 30): the balance crosses $1,250,000 in year 22, giving a retirement age of 52.
All figures use real (inflation-adjusted) returns, so the dollar amounts stay in today's purchasing power. If you set a 5% real return, that already accounts for roughly 3% inflation — you don't need to adjust separately.
The FIRE number is computed as annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate. With $50K expenses and 4% WR, the FIRE number is $1,250,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate when I can retire?
This early retirement calculator runs a year-by-year simulation: starting from your current portfolio, it adds your annual contributions and applies your expected return each year until the balance reaches your FIRE number. The age at which this happens is your projected retirement age. Adjust the sliders to see how contributions, return assumptions, or target expenses shift that projection.
How much do I need to retire early?
Your retirement number equals your expected annual expenses divided by your withdrawal rate. With a 4% withdrawal rate and $50,000/year in expenses, you need $1,250,000. The earlier you retire, the longer your portfolio must last — planners targeting retirement before 50 often use 3–3.5%, requiring a larger portfolio but providing significantly greater long-term safety.
Why use a real return instead of nominal?
A nominal return includes inflation; a real return removes it. Using a real return keeps all figures in today's purchasing power, so you don't need to separately inflate your expense targets over time. This calculator separates nominal return and inflation into two sliders so you can see the real return explicitly — at 7% nominal and 3% inflation, your real return is approximately 3.9%.
How accurate is this retirement projection?
The projection assumes a constant annual return, which real markets don't deliver. Sequence-of-returns risk — poor returns in the early years of retirement — can significantly affect outcomes. Treat the result as a planning target, not a guarantee. Stress-test your scenario by setting a lower return rate (try 4–5% nominal) to see a more conservative estimate.
What if the calculator says I can never retire?
If the simulation reaches age 100 without hitting your FIRE number, the calculator shows '100+'. The two most powerful levers are your monthly contribution and your target annual expenses in retirement. Increasing contributions by $500/month or reducing your expense target by 10% can often shift the projected retirement age by five or more years.