Do I Have Enough to Retire?
Find out for sure with our free calculator. Model your actual income, expenses and savings to see if you have enough to retire.
Check Your Retirement Readiness - Free
Key Factors That Determine If You're Ready
1. Your Total Retirement Savings
Your 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, taxable investment accounts, cash, anything you're saving for retirement. The real question isn't "how much do I have?" but "how long will it last?"
Our free calculator can help you model different withdrawal rates to see exactly when you'd run out of money.
2. Social Security Benefits
Timing has a huge impact on your retirement readiness. Claiming benefits at age 62 vs 70 can result in 76% less each month.
Model different claiming ages for yourself and your spouse to maximize your total household income.Learn more about Social Security timing →
3. Your Expected Expenses
The big lie is that spending remains constant throughout retirement. It rarely does. You may spend more in your "go-go years" (60s-70s) and then less in your "slow-go years" (70s-80s).
You can model age-based spending adjustments in our calculator to get a realistic projection, not just a flat line.
4. Other Income Sources
Pension, rental income, part time job, annuities - any guaranteed income stream you have that you don't have to dip into your savings.
Add them all up to get a complete picture of your retirement cash flow.
5. Major Financial Events
Selling your house and downsizing? Paying for kids' college or grandkids' weddings? Buying an RV to travel full-time? One-time events can have a big impact on whether you have enough. Model them to see the real impact on your retirement timeline.
Common "Do I Have Enough?" Scenarios
Scenario 1: "I want to retire at 62"
Challenge: You need your savings to last 30+ years, but you're claiming Social Security at 62 and receiving reduced benefits.
What to model: Will your savings bridge the gap until age 70 when Social Security maxes out? Or should you work part-time until 65 to preserve your nest egg?
Scenario 2: "I have $500k saved - is that enough?"
Answer: Depends entirely on your expenses and other income. Someone with a pension and low expenses could be fine. High-spending individual with no other income might need double that.
What to model: Input your actual expenses and see exactly how long $500k will last with your specific situation.
Scenario 3: "We're married - do we have enough?"
Challenge: Coordinating two Social Security claiming strategies, possibly different retirement dates, and planning for survivor benefits.
What to model: Test different scenarios where one spouse claims early while other delays, or both delay to see which maximizes lifetime benefits.
Scenario 4: "I have a paid-off house worth $400k"
Consideration: Your house is wealth, but you can't spend it unless you sell it or take out a reverse mortgage.
What to model: Scenario 1: Keep house (lower expenses but no housing costs). Scenario 2: Sell at 70 and downsize (inject $200k+ into savings). Which gives more security?
How Our Calculator Answers "Do I Have Enough?"
See a year-by-year projection of your account balance from now until age 95+
See exactly when you run out (if you do) so you know how to adjust your plan
Instantly model "what if" scenarios - what if I delay retirement 2 years? What if I cut spending by 10%?
Test Social Security timing for both spouses and see the dollar impact
Include major financial events like selling your house, paying for kids, or buying that RV
Free to start - no credit card required. Get your answers today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a safe withdrawal rate in retirement?
Traditional "4% rule" says you can withdraw 4% of your initial retirement savings each year (inflation-adjusted). This could be too aggressive for early retirement or too conservative if you have guaranteed income. Our calculator shows you how different rates affect YOUR situation.
How much do most people need to retire?
Common rules of thumb: 10-12x your annual income or enough to replace 70-80% of pre-retirement income. But that's just a guideline. High expenses could need 15x, someone with a pension and low expenses could need 5x. The only way to know YOUR number is to model YOUR situation.
Should I count my home equity in retirement savings?
Your home equity is real wealth but you can't spend it unless you sell it, downsize, or get a reverse mortgage. Best to model retirement both with and without accessing home equity to see your options. Our calculator lets you add a "sell house" event at any age to see the impact.
What if the calculator shows I don't have enough?
Don't panic - you have options! You can: (1) Delay retirement 1-3 years, (2) Spend less (10-20% less), (3) Work part-time in early retirement, (4) Delay Social Security until 70 for higher benefits, (5) Plan to downsize your home. The calculator helps you test each option to see what works.
Does the calculator account for inflation?
Yes. When you model retirement, you should be thinking in today's dollars. If you spend $60k/year today, you'll need the inflation-adjusted equivalent in the future. Our calculator helps you plan in terms you can understand - today's purchasing power.
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