Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
Enter your portfolio, how much you withdraw each year, and an expected return to see how long the money lasts. If you withdraw less than it earns, the balance holds instead of shrinking.
How it works
Each year the portfolio grows by the return, then the withdrawal is subtracted, repeating until it hits zero. The well-known "4% rule" sets the annual withdrawal at 4% of the portfolio. The return is an assumption — in reality, variable returns (especially early drops) change the outcome a lot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 4% rule?
A rule of thumb that withdrawing about 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjusting for inflation, tends to last a long time. It is not a guarantee and depends on the horizon and markets.
Why does it say "lasts indefinitely"?
Because your annual withdrawal is less than what the portfolio earns, so the principal never falls. Note this simple model leaves out inflation and variable returns.
Do early returns really matter that much?
Yes. A big drop early in retirement drains the money far faster even at the same average return (sequence-of-returns risk), so leaving a margin is safer.
This calculator is an educational estimate, not individual financial advice. It ignores inflation, taxes, and return variability (sequence risk).