Definitions

Current age
Your current age.

Age of retirement
Age you wish to retire. This calculator assumes that the year you retire you do not make any contributions to your retirement savings. So if you retire at age 65, your last contribution happened when you were actually age age 64.

Annual contribution
The amount you will contribute to your retirement savings each year. This calculator assumes that you make your contribution at the beginning of each year.

Pre-retire rate of return
This is the annually compounded rate of return you expect from your investments before taxes. The actual rate of return is largely dependant on the type of investments you select. For example, for the last thirty years the average annual rate of return for domestic equity stocks has been about 10%. Savings accounts at a bank pay as little as 2%. For the purposes of this calculator taxation is not factored into the results.

Post-retire rate of return
This is the rate of return expected during retirement. It is often lower than the return earned before retirement due to more conservative investment choices to help insure a steady flow of income. For example, a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds may earn two to three percent less each year, but would be less susceptible to dramatic stock market fluctuations.

Current tax rate
Your current marginal tax rate you expect to pay on your taxable investments.

Retirement tax rate
The marginal tax rate you expect to pay on your investments at retirement.

Is this savings tax deferred?
Check this box if you retirement savings is being deposited into a tax deferred account. This includes an IRA, 401(k), Variable Annuity or other tax deferred investment.

Increase annual contribution?
Check this box if wish to have your annual contribution increased each year to keep up with inflation.