What this means
Your spending sets the target
Divide annual retirement spending by the annual percentage you plan to withdraw. Lower spending or a lower withdrawal percentage changes the required portfolio. This is a target-setting rule, not evidence that a rate will be sustainable.
Keep the numbers in today’s money
Enter a return after inflation, and a monthly contribution that stays constant in real terms. That means increasing nominal contributions as prices rise. The calculation uses an effective annual real return, converted into a monthly growth rate.
A milestone is not a retirement plan
The first target crossing does not model future withdrawals, market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, taxes, fees, pensions, or lifespan. Try a lower return or higher spending to see how sensitive the target date is.
Good questions
Does reaching the target mean I can safely retire?
No. This calculator estimates a milestone under constant assumptions. It does not test whether your savings last through retirement.
Why might the target never be reached?
Your starting savings, contribution, and assumed real return may not build enough assets within the selected horizon. The tool reports that directly instead of inventing a retirement date.