Asset duration
The calculator applies the monthly return, subtracts the fixed month-end withdrawal, and finds the first month with no assets remaining.
Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
How much could you withdraw,
and how long could it last?
Work out how long your retirement assets could last at a fixed monthly withdrawal, or find a monthly amount for a chosen period. The estimate assumes a constant return.
01
How long could your assets last
Withdrawal duration
How long could your assets last
at this monthly amount?
Estimate when retirement assets may run out using a fixed monthly withdrawal and expected return.
02
How much could you withdraw
Monthly withdrawal amount
How much could you withdraw
each month for this period?
Calculate a monthly amount that leaves the ending balance close to zero after the chosen period.
How it works
Choose the duration
or the monthly amount.
Monthly withdrawal amount
It solves for a monthly amount that brings assets close to zero at the end of the chosen period, then rounds down.
What is not included?
Inflation, taxes, fees, pension income, healthcare, and unexpected expenses are not included.
Withdrawing $2,500 monthly from $500,000
This example assumes a constant 4% annual return, applied before each month-end withdrawal.
- Retirement assets
- $500,000
- Monthly withdrawal
- $2,500
- Estimated duration
- 27 years 7 months
Under the same assumptions, spending the balance over exactly 30 years produces a calculated monthly amount of about $2,387. A real plan may need a remaining balance and emergency reserve.
Turn the calculation into a retirement plan.
Start with the monthly amount you need to withdraw
Subtract regular income, such as pension payments, from your expected monthly retirement spending to estimate the amount your assets need to cover. Enter the amount you need to withdraw rather than your entire living budget.
Expected monthly spending − regular monthly income = monthly withdrawal needed from assets
Compare more than one set of assumptions
Change one input at a time and recalculate to see how each assumption affects the result.
- Monthly withdrawal
- Reduce the withdrawal and check how much longer your assets could last.
- Withdrawal period
- Enter a longer period and compare the monthly amount available.
- Expected return
- Lower the return to explore the result when growth falls short of your expectations.
Consider the assets you want to keep at the end
The monthly withdrawal calculation aims to use almost all the assets by the end of your chosen period. If you need funds for later living costs or a separate reserve, first decide how much of your total assets to use for withdrawals. You can exclude that reserve from the retirement assets you enter.
Frequently asked questions
Does “50 years or more” mean the assets last forever?
No. It means the calculator reached its 50-year search limit. A longer horizon and changing returns still need separate review.
Does the calculator model a different return every year?
No. It assumes a constant monthly return. It does not model sequence-of-returns risk, including losses early in retirement.
Will a fixed withdrawal keep the same purchasing power?
Not when prices rise. This calculator does not increase withdrawals for inflation, so review the inflation-adjusted value calculator as well.