RETIREMENT · EMPLOYER PLANS

401(k) Retirement Planner

Project your 401(k) to retirement age and convert it to monthly income using the 4% withdrawal rule. See what percentage of your pre-retirement income your 401(k) alone can replace.

LAST REVIEWED · APR 08, 2026 · BY A. CHEN, CFP®
You need
$1,891,985
401(k) Plan DetailsReset
Current age
35 yrs
2070
Retirement age
65 yrs
5075
Current 401(k) balance
$50,000
$0$3M
Annual contributionYour deferrals
$12,000
$0$31K
Employer matchAnnual match amount
$4,000
$0$20K
Expected return
7%
1%12%
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How the 401(k) retirement planner works

This planner takes your current 401(k) balance, adds annual contributions and employer match, and grows the total at your expected rate of return until retirement. Then it converts the projected balance into monthly income using the 4% withdrawal rule.

Income replacement targets

Most financial planners recommend replacing 70–80% of pre-retirement income. Your 401(k) is typically one leg of a three-legged stool: employer plans, Social Security, and personal savings.

What 4% withdrawal means

The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation each year, with a high probability of not running out over 30 years. On a $1M portfolio, that’s $40,000/year or $3,333/month.

Methodology. Projects current 401(k) balance with annual contributions and employer match at the given return rate. Converts final balance to monthly income via the 4% annual withdrawal rule (balance × 0.04 / 12). Income replacement calculated as annual withdrawal divided by estimated pre-retirement income.

Sources

  • 4% safe withdrawal rule (Trinity Study, 1998)
  • IRS 401(k) contribution limits for 2026
  • Fidelity income replacement target: 80% of pre-retirement income
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Frequently asked questions

Is my 401(k) enough for retirement? +
Probably not on its own. Most people need Social Security, personal savings, and possibly a pension to reach 70–80% income replacement. This calculator shows what your 401(k) alone provides.
What’s a good income replacement percentage? +
Aim for 70–80% combined from all sources. Some expenses drop in retirement (commuting, saving for retirement itself) while others rise (healthcare, travel).
Should I contribute more than the match? +
Yes, if you can. The match is the minimum; financial planners recommend saving 15% of income total (including match) for a comfortable retirement.
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