Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
Estimate how long a portfolio may last under regular withdrawals, or solve for a sustainable spending amount or required starting balance. Results use inflation-adjusted assumptions so spending and portfolio values stay in today's purchasing-power terms.
Scenario 1
Set your baseline retirement withdrawal assumptions. This scenario powers the current calculation outputs.
Results
52 years, 11 months
$48,000
4.80%
4.39%
Portfolio balance over time
Real values, inflation-adjusted. Dashed line shows safe withdrawal rate boundary.
Milestone table
Key withdrawal checkpoints shown in real, inflation-adjusted values.
Portfolio checkpoints
Read across each year to track remaining balance, cumulative spending, and withdrawal pressure.
- Portfolio value
- $994,944
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $48,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $972,401
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $240,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $938,188
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $480,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $895,776
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $720,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $843,200
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $960,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $778,023
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $1,200,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
- Portfolio value
- $697,227
- Cumulative withdrawn
- $1,440,000
- Annual withdrawal
- $48,000
| Year | Portfolio value | Cumulative withdrawn | Annual withdrawal (inflation-adjusted) | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $994,944 | $48,000 | $48,000 | 4.82% |
| Year 5 | $972,401 | $240,000 | $48,000 | 4.94% |
| Year 10 | $938,188 | $480,000 | $48,000 | 5.12% |
| Year 15 | $895,776 | $720,000 | $48,000 | 5.36% |
| Year 20 | $843,200 | $960,000 | $48,000 | 5.69% |
| Year 25 | $778,023 | $1,200,000 | $48,000 | 6.17% |
| Year 30 | $697,227 | $1,440,000 | $48,000 | 6.88% |
Want to understand the math?
How to interpret this result
Understand what portfolio withdrawal results can and cannot tell you, and which assumptions deserve the most attention.
A withdrawal calculation is about pressure: how much leaves the portfolio, how much remains invested, and how long the balance can survive.
Read the result in three parts:
- Portfolio duration — how long the model says the balance can support withdrawals.
- Withdrawal rate — the annual withdrawal compared with the starting portfolio.
- Milestone table — how the balance and withdrawal pressure change over time.
The result is a planning estimate, not a retirement guarantee.
What to watch
Withdrawal amount
This is the strongest lever. A small increase in monthly spending can shorten the portfolio life more than expected.
Real return
The calculator uses inflation-adjusted assumptions so the portfolio and withdrawals are measured in today’s purchasing power.
Income offset
Pension income, Social Security, or other reliable income can reduce the amount withdrawn from the portfolio.
Effective withdrawal rate
The starting withdrawal rate is only the beginning. If the portfolio falls while withdrawals continue, the effective rate rises.
Sequence risk
The calculator uses average return assumptions. Real markets do not move smoothly. Poor returns early in retirement can be much more damaging than the same average return spread evenly over time.
A simple way to use this calculator
Run your base case, then test:
- lower real returns
- higher monthly withdrawals
- no income offset
- a longer retirement horizon
If the portfolio only survives under optimistic assumptions, the plan needs more margin.
Related reading
Methodology
Want the formulas and assumptions?
FAQ
What does this calculator estimate?
It estimates how long a portfolio may last under withdrawals, or solves for a sustainable withdrawal amount or required starting balance.
Is the result guaranteed?
No. It uses average return assumptions. Real markets, taxes, spending changes, and timing risk can change the outcome.
Why use inflation-adjusted returns?
Because retirement spending is about purchasing power. Real values make the result easier to compare with today’s lifestyle costs.
What is a withdrawal rate?
It is the annual withdrawal divided by the portfolio balance. A higher rate usually means higher depletion risk.
Does this include sequence-of-returns risk?
Not directly. It uses smooth average returns. Test lower-return scenarios to add margin.
What should I test first?
Change monthly withdrawal, expected return, inflation, income offset, and retirement length. Those inputs usually matter most.