Retirement calculator with fees, inflation and income scenarios
Enter savings, yearly contributions, ages, return, fees and inflation. HitEquals shows the projected retirement balance, today's-dollar equivalent and first-year income at your chosen planning withdrawal rate.
Inputs used by this calculator
Retirement Calculator uses the fields below. The starting values reproduce the page example; replace them with values from the same units and time period before using the result.
| Input | Starting example | Accepted value | How it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current age | 35 | 18 to 99 | Supplies the current age quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Planned retirement age | 67 | 19 to 100 | Supplies the planned retirement age quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Current retirement savings ($) | 100,000 | 0 to 1000000000000 | Supplies the current retirement savings ($) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Annual contribution ($) | 12,000 | 0 to 1000000000 | Supplies the annual contribution ($) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Expected annual return (%) | 7 | -99 to 100 | Supplies the expected annual return (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Annual fees (%) | 0.25 | 0 to 20 | Supplies the annual fees (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Expected inflation (%) | 2.5 | -20 to 100 | Supplies the expected inflation (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Desired annual spending in today's dollars ($) | 60,000 | 0 to 1000000000 | Selects the unit or conversion path used by Retirement Calculator. |
| Planning withdrawal rate (%) | 4 | 0 to 100 | Supplies the planning withdrawal rate (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
What the retirement projection calculates
The engine compounds the current account once per year, subtracts the entered fee rate from the return scenario and adds the annual contribution at year-end.
Growth and inflation formulas
Nominal dollars describe the future account statement. Dividing by cumulative inflation expresses that same projection in approximate present purchasing power.
balance_t=balance_(t−1)×(1+return−fee)+contributionreal balance=nominal balance÷(1+inflation)^yearsfirst-year withdrawal=balance×withdrawal rateWorked planning example
Start with $100,000 at age 35 and model 32 annual contributions through age 67. The year-by-year table separates the running balance from the cumulative cash contributed.
Why fees matter
The Department of Labor explains that fees paid from a retirement account reduce its investment returns. A small annual percentage can compound into a material difference over decades.
Contribution limits and taxes
IRS limits and eligibility rules change by plan type and year. This calculator accepts a scenario amount but does not decide whether a contribution is permitted, deductible or taxable.
How to use scenarios responsibly
Compare conservative, middle and optimistic return assumptions. Real markets vary from year to year, and retirement outcomes also depend on taxes, withdrawals, longevity and asset allocation.
Inputs the projection separates
| Input | Role |
|---|---|
| Return | Nominal growth scenario before entered fees |
| Fees | Annual drag on modeled return |
| Inflation | Converts future dollars to today's purchasing power |
| Withdrawal rate | Illustrates first-year retirement income |
| Desired spending | Creates an income gap comparison |
Frequently asked questions
Are investment returns guaranteed?
No. The rate is a constant scenario and real returns vary.
When are contributions added?
This model adds one contribution at the end of each projection year.
Are fees included?
Yes. The annual fee percentage reduces the modeled return.
What are today's dollars?
They divide the future amount by assumed cumulative inflation.
Does this enforce IRS limits?
No. Check current plan-specific IRS rules and eligibility.
Does the result include Social Security?
No. It projects only the savings inputs entered here.
What to keep in mind
This is a deterministic scenario, not a forecast or investment recommendation. It excludes taxes, contribution timing within each year, employer matching and variable market returns.
Results are rounded for display in US format, with money in dollars and cents; CSV exports keep full calculation precision. This is a calculation summary, not an official certificate.