“When can I retire?” is a question many lawyers avoid because the real answer is “it depends” — on your savings, your spending, your timeline, and investment returns you can’t control. Fair enough.
But we can get a general sense of the path you’re on with just a few basic numbers. To make this as easy as possible, we’ve created the calculator below. If you’re on track, good. If you’re not, you’ll have an idea of what changes need to be made.
About the math
This calculator uses two basic financial planning principles. First, the so-called 4% rule: that when appropriately invested, you might reasonably expect to withdraw 4% of your nest egg per year, adjusted for inflation, without running out over a 25-to-30-year retirement. That’s why the target nest egg is 25× your desired annual spending.
Second, standard compound growth: your existing savings grow at the assumed annual return, and new contributions compound on top of them. Drag that slider lower or higher if you want to see how your plan holds up under either more conservative or more aggressive return assumptions.
This is back-of-the-envelope math. It ignores taxes, Social Security, the kids’ college, the inevitable messy middle. That’s fine. It’s not a plan. It’s the frame that tells you whether you’re in the ballpark — or nowhere close.
What the number actually means
If you’re short, it’s not the math that’s wrong. It’s some combination of your timeline, your target, your return assumption, and how much you’re saving. Three of those are a lot easier to change than the fourth.
If you’re overfunding comfortably, be careful what you’re assuming. A 12% return over thirty years is not a plan — it’s a hope. The whole point of this tool is to stress-test the hope.
If you can’t do this yourself, call me.
Retirement Calculator Disclosures & Assumptions: This retirement calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is based on the assumptions and information you input. The results are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment performance, and are not guarantees of future outcomes. This tool does not account for taxes, fees, inflation, market volatility, or changes in personal circumstances, all of which may materially impact results. It should not be considered personalized investment advice or a recommendation, and you should consult a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.
*Timothy Corriero, represented under the tradenames “Juris Wealth” and “The JD Investor”, is an Investment Advisor Representative of Gemmer Asset Management LLC (“GAM”), an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that maintains its principal place of business located in Walnut Creek, California. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The JD Investor does not provide investment advisory services. It is a website/blog dedicated to educating and informing investors. See disclosures. Please refer to GAM’s Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) or visit adviserinfo.sec.gov for additional information.
