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How Long Will My Money Last?

See how long your 401(k), IRA or savings will last in retirement, and the most you can take each month for it to last.

$

What you have now

$

On top of Social Security

More options· Investment return, inflation and how long it should last
%

A year

%

Withdrawals rise by this

Age

Your money lasts

21 years 7 months

To about age 86, taking $2,000 a month, rising with prices

Most you can take to last to 95
$1,577/mo
The 4% rule would give
$1,333/mo

What this means

To make your money last to age 95, take about $1,577 a month, $423 less than now. The 4% rule is a common starting point: take 4% of your savings in the first year, then raise it with prices.

Withdrawals from a traditional 401(k) or IRA are taxed as income, and you must take required minimum distributions from age 73 (75 if you were born in 1960 or later).

Next step

Year by year

AgeTaken in the yearLeft
66$24,000$395,355
67$24,600$389,861
68$25,215$383,462
69$25,845$376,094
70$26,492$367,696
71$27,154$358,197
72$27,833$347,526
73$28,528$335,607
74$29,242$322,359
75$29,973$307,699
76$30,722$291,536
77$31,490$273,776
78$32,277$254,320
79$33,084$233,062
80$33,911$209,892
81$34,759$184,693
82$35,628$157,342
83$36,519$127,709
84$37,432$95,656
85$38,368$61,040
86$39,327$23,708
87$24,006$0

Ways to make it last longer

  • Take 10% less ($1,800 a month): lasts 24 years 10 months, to age 89.
  • Earn 1% more a year, for example with lower fees: lasts 24 years 10 months, to age 89.
  • Delay Social Security if you can: it pays more for each year you wait, up to age 70.
Assumptions in this estimate
  • The return and inflation stay the same every year. Real returns go up and down, and a fall early in retirement makes money run out sooner.
  • Withdrawals are before any tax, and taken at the start of each month.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us

How the calculator works

  1. Savings: what you have in your 401(k), IRAs and other savings.
  2. Monthly withdrawal: what you’ll take each month on top of Social Security. It rises with inflation each year, so it buys the same.
  3. Result: how long the money lasts, and the most you can take for it to last to the age you choose (95 to start with).

Example

$400,000, taking $2,000 a month from age 65, with a 5% return and 2.5% inflation:

Result
Lasts 21 years 7 months, to 86
Most you can take to last to 95 $1,577 a month
The 4% rule $1,333 a month
Taking 10% less ($1,800) Lasts 24 years 10 months

How long savings last

Taking a monthly amount that rises 2.5% a year with prices, while the rest earns 5% a year:

Savings $2,000 a month$3,000 a month$4,000 a month$5,000 a month
$250,000 12 years, 2 months7 years, 8 months5 years, 7 months4 years, 5 months
$500,000 29 years, 4 months17 years, 1 month12 years, 2 months9 years, 5 months
$750,000 40+ years29 years, 4 months19 years, 10 months15 years, 1 month
$1,000,000 40+ years40+ years29 years, 4 months21 years, 7 months

The most you can take

The most you can take in the first month, rising with prices after that, for it to last:

Savings 20 years25 years30 years 4% rule
$250,000 $1,326$1,121$985 $833
$500,000 $2,653$2,242$1,971 $1,667
$750,000 $3,979$3,362$2,956 $2,500
$1,000,000 $5,305$4,483$3,942 $3,333

The 4% rule gives less than the 30-year column because it was built to survive the worst stretches of past markets, while these figures assume the same return every year. Real returns go up and down, so a little below the most is safer.

Making your money last

  • Delay Social Security if you can: it pays more for each year you wait, up to 70. The Social Security calculator shows your benefit at each age.
  • Keep fees low: 1% a year in fees can cut years off how long your money lasts.
  • Plan for bad years: a market fall early in retirement does the most damage. Many people keep a year or two of spending in cash.
  • Know your minimum: from 73 (75 if you were born in 1960 or later), you must take a required minimum each year. The RMD calculator works it out.

Still saving? The 401(k) calculator shows what you could have by retirement.

Last updated

Frequently asked questions

How long will $400,000 last in retirement?

Taking $2,000 a month, rising with prices, and earning 5% a year, it lasts about 21 years and 7 months. To make it last 30 years, take about $1,577 a month.

What is the 4% rule?

Take 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement, then raise the amount with prices each year. In past US market data, that lasted at least 30 years in almost every period. On $400,000, it’s $16,000 a year, or about $1,333 a month.

How much can I withdraw from $1 million?

With a 5% return and 2.5% inflation, about $3,942 a month to start, rising with prices, for it to last 30 years. The 4% rule gives $3,333 a month.

Should I count Social Security?

Yes, but not in this calculator. Enter only what you need from your savings on top of Social Security and any pension.

Are withdrawals taxed?

Withdrawals from a traditional 401(k) or IRA are taxed as income. Qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free. Required minimum distributions start at 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later.