Current Savings · Monthly Contributions · Growth Projection
Compound interest is often called the eighth wonder of the world. With a 7% average annual return, your money roughly doubles every 10 years. Starting early matters enormously — someone who begins saving $300/month at age 25 will have significantly more at 65 than someone who starts $500/month at 35, despite contributing less total money.
The 4% rule states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year, adjusting for inflation each subsequent year, with a high probability of not running out of money over a 30-year retirement. For a $1M portfolio, that's $40,000 in year one. This rule works best with a balanced stock-bond portfolio (60/40 or similar).