Find out how many years your savings will last in retirement. We'll show you a year-by-year projection with 4 different scenarios, the 4% rule, and tips to make it last forever.
The 4% rule states that you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings in the first year, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, and your money will last at least 30 years. It's based on the Trinity Study and is the most widely cited retirement withdrawal rule.
At 4% withdrawal ($40K/year) with 2.5% inflation, $1 million lasts 30+ years. At 5% withdrawal ($50K/year) it lasts ~20 years. At 6% ($60K/year) it lasts ~15 years. The exact number depends on market returns and inflation.
A common rule of thumb: 25x your annual expenses. If you spend $40K/year, you need $1M. If you spend $80K/year, you need $2M. The 4% rule is based on this 25x multiplier.