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Free Retirement Calculators (2026)

Q: How much should I have saved for retirement by age 40?

A common benchmark is three times your annual salary by age 40. At a $75,000 salary, that is about $225,000 across all retirement accounts. The benchmark rises to six times salary by 50 and eight times by 60. These are guides; your actual number depends on your spending and when you plan to retire.

Q: What is the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals?

The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in your first retirement year, adjust that amount for inflation each year, and your savings will likely last at least 30 years. Backward, it means your target nest egg is your desired annual income divided by 0.04, or 25 times annual spending.

Q: Can I retire with $1 million?

Under the 4% rule, $1 million generates $40,000 per year before tax, plus Social Security. That is comfortable in low-cost areas with a paid-off home and tight for couples in expensive cities. The real question is your annual spending, which is the number that determines whether any nest egg is enough.

Q: What are the 2026 401(k) contribution limits?

The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, plus a $8,000 catch-up for those 50 and older, for a total of $32,500. IRA and Roth IRA limits are $7,500 with a $1,100 catch-up. HSA self-only limits are $4,400 with a $1,000 catch-up at age 55 for those 55 and older.

Q: When can I start withdrawing from my IRA without penalty?

Traditional IRA withdrawals before age 59.5 generally incur a 10% penalty plus income tax, with exceptions for first-time home purchases, education and disability. Roth IRA contributions can be withdrawn anytime tax-free; earnings are penalty-free after 59.5 and once the account is five years old.

Plan retirement with 401(k), savings, pension, Social Security and FIRE calculators. See whether you are on track and exactly what to change if you are not.

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The retirement number starts with one question: how much do you plan to spend each year in retirement? Most planners target replacing 70% to 80% of pre-retirement income, assuming a paid-off home and lower expenses. Multiply that annual spending by 25 under the 4% rule to get your target nest egg. The retirement savings calculator compares that target against what your current savings and contributions will actually produce, and reports the gap in dollars, which is the number that turns worry into action.

2026 Retirement Account Contribution Limits

Account	2026 limit	Age 50+ catch-up	Total at 50+
401(k) / 403(b)	$24,500	$8,000	$32,500
Traditional IRA	$7,500	$1,100	$8,600
Roth IRA	$7,500	$1,100	$8,600
SEP-IRA	25% of compensation	-	$72,000
SIMPLE IRA	$17,000	$4,000	$21,000
HSA (single)	$4,400	$1,000	$5,400

The HSA is the only triple-tax-advantaged account: contributions reduce income, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for medical costs are tax-free. If you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan, max it out before other savings.

The 4% Rule Explained: Is It Still Valid in 2026?

The 4% rule comes from the Trinity Study of historical US market data: withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation each year, and the portfolio has historically lasted at least 30 years. It remains the standard planning benchmark, but it assumes a balanced portfolio and a 30-year horizon. For longer retirements, lower expected returns or the need for more certainty, many planners now use 3% to 3.5%. The retirement calculator uses 4% by default and shows the monthly income it supports, so you can stress-test your own assumptions.

Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: The 2026 Decision Guide

Roth contributions are after-tax and qualified withdrawals are tax-free forever; traditional contributions are deductible now and withdrawals are taxed later. The decision hinges on your tax rate today versus in retirement. Early-career workers in low brackets usually do better with Roth. High earners near retirement usually prefer traditional. Many savers use both, which creates tax flexibility: draw from traditional accounts in low-income years and Roth in high-income years. Income limits phase out direct Roth contributions for singles above roughly $150,000 and couples above $236,000, with a backdoor Roth as an alternative.

Retirement Savings Benchmarks by Age

Age	Savings target (multiple of salary)	Example at $75,000 salary
30	1x	$75,000
40	3x	$225,000
50	6x	$450,000
60	8x	$600,000
67	10x	$750,000

These Fidelity-style milestones are planning guides, not rules. Your actual target depends on Social Security, pensions, planned spending and life expectancy. Run the calculator with your real numbers.