Retirement planning
Retirement withdrawal runway
Explore how long a supplied savings balance can fund assumed monthly withdrawals, with constant returns and an explicit annual withdrawal increase.
Your inputs
Complete the fields for your selected method. Zero means intentionally zero, not unknown. Currency selection labels amounts; it does not convert exchange rates.
How this calculation works
each month applies the supplied growth and withdrawal timing; withdrawals rise once per year by the supplied annual increase
Deterministic constant-return scenario, not a safe withdrawal rate, success probability or lifetime guarantee. Real market losses and return order, longevity, taxes, spending changes, benefits and fees can alter the result. Return should be after investment fees. Annual withdrawal increase is an assumption, not forecast inflation. The test stops when savings are exhausted; not depleted means only within the chosen test horizon.
What information do I need?
Use records for the same job, equipment or accounting period. Only the fields for your selected entry method are required. An unknown amount is not zero.
Input definitions and where to find them
- Savings available at retirement start (selected currency): The balance already available at the start, not future contributions.
- First-year monthly withdrawal from these savings (selected currency): Use matching records or a clearly stated assumption for the indicated period. Prefilled figures are illustrative. An unknown value is not zero.
- Assumed effective annual return after fees (%): Supply an assumed annual rate on the selected basis. Use effective annual growth or APY unless you specifically have a nominal rate and compounding frequency. The example is not a current quote or forecast.
- Annual increase in monthly withdrawals (%): Use matching records or a clearly stated assumption for the indicated period. Prefilled figures are illustrative. An unknown value is not zero.
- Years to test (years): Use matching records or a clearly stated assumption for the indicated period. Prefilled figures are illustrative. An unknown value is not zero.
- When is each withdrawal taken?: Use matching records or a clearly stated assumption for the indicated period. Prefilled figures are illustrative. An unknown value is not zero.
Use the Where to find this value controls beside the inputs for available work-it-out helpers. Estimates remain your assumptions; a helper does not verify the source figures.
Worked example
Example amounts use US dollars (USD).
Example answer: Month savings balance is depleted is 168 month for the illustrative inputs below.
Example inputs
- Savings available at retirement start: $300,000.00
- First-year monthly withdrawal from these savings: $2,000.00
- Assumed effective annual return after fees: 4.00 %
- Annual increase in monthly withdrawals: 2.50 %
- Years to test: 40 years
- When is each withdrawal taken?: Beginning of month
- Month savings balance is depleted
- 168 month
- Full monthly withdrawals funded in tested period
- 167 months
- Total actually withdrawn within tested period
- $395,056.02
- Unfunded withdrawal in depletion month
- $1,398.85
- Balance at end of test or depletion
- $0.00
- Months actually modeled
- 168 months
- Annual withdrawal increases occur at months 13, 25 and so on. Other retirement income is excluded; enter only the spending gap to be withdrawn from these savings. Partial final withdrawals are separated from fully funded months.
These illustrative values are not recommended rates or industry averages. Replace every example input with your own figures.
Use the result well
Explore how long a supplied savings balance can fund assumed monthly withdrawals, with constant returns and an explicit annual withdrawal increase.
Keep inputs on the same scope and time basis. Calculations retain precision internally; displayed values generally round to two decimal places, with extra precision for very small values and whole-unit rounding where required. Economic comparisons describe your supplied assumptions and do not guarantee future results.
This tool provides business arithmetic. It does not approve engineering designs, establish legal or tax treatment, select equipment or certify safe operating conditions.