What is a US Retirement Savings Calculator?
A US retirement savings calculator projects how much your current retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA) will grow over time and whether they will be sufficient to fund your retirement lifestyle. It combines Social Security estimates with personal savings projections to give you a complete retirement income picture.
US Retirement Accounts Summary
401(k)/403(b): $23,500/year (2025) · IRA/Roth IRA: $7,000/year · HSA (HDHP): $4,300 single/$8,550 family
SEP-IRA (self-employed): 25% of compensation up to $70,000 · SIMPLE IRA: $16,500
- The retirement savings hierarchy: (1) 401k to full employer match. (2) HSA to maximum if eligible (triple tax benefit). (3) Roth IRA to maximum. (4) 401k to maximum. (5) Taxable brokerage if more savings capacity remains.
- Fidelity benchmarks: Save 1× salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, 10× by 67.
- Catch-up contributions: Age 50+ can contribute $7,500 extra to 401k and $1,000 extra to IRA annually. SECURE Act 2.0 adds a "super catch-up" of $11,250 for ages 60–63 starting 2025.
How much do I need to retire in the US?
The classic rule: accumulate 25× your planned annual retirement spending (based on the 4% withdrawal rate). For $60,000/year retirement spending: target = $1.5M. Subtract expected annual Social Security benefit × 25 from this target. If Social Security will provide $24,000/year, your portfolio needs to fund $36,000/year: target portfolio = $900,000. Use the SSA's my Social Security portal (ssa.gov) to get your personalised Social Security benefit estimate.
What is the best asset allocation for retirement savings?
Standard guidance: stock percentage = 110 or 120 minus age (more aggressive than the old "100 minus age" rule given longer lifespans). At 30: 80–90% stocks, 10–20% bonds. At 55: 55–65% stocks, 35–45% bonds. At 70: 40–50% stocks, 50–60% bonds. For simplicity, target-date funds (2050 Fund for someone retiring around 2050) automatically adjust allocation as you age — they are the optimal default for most investors who do not want to manage their allocation.
How does a Roth conversion ladder work for early retirees?
A Roth conversion ladder allows early retirees to access traditional 401k/IRA funds before age 59½ without the 10% penalty. Each year, convert a portion of traditional IRA to Roth IRA (paying income tax on the converted amount). Exactly 5 years later, those converted funds can be withdrawn from the Roth tax-free and penalty-free. Planning conversions of $50,000–$80,000/year (staying in the 12–22% bracket) during early retirement creates a tax-efficient income stream for the years before Social Security and 59½ access.
Last Updated: March 2026 · For US audiences