The scariest unknown in retirement isn’t how big your nest egg is — it’s whether it outlasts you. This calculator spends your savings down year by year at the lifestyle you choose, accounting for Social Security and inflation, and tells you the age your money would run low.
It’s set up for someone retiring at 65 with $500,000, spending $45,000 a year. Change the balance, spending, and other income to see how the runway shifts.
What determines how long it lasts
Three things dominate: how much you spend, how much guaranteed income you have, and the returns your remaining balance earns. Spending is the lever you control most directly — trimming it even modestly can add many years, because you’re both withdrawing less and leaving more invested to grow.
Inflation quietly works against you, raising the dollar cost of the same lifestyle each year. The calculator shows everything in today’s money and inflates your withdrawals automatically, so the depletion age you see is realistic rather than rosy.
Sequence-of-returns risk
Two retirees with identical average returns can have very different outcomes if the order differs. A few bad market years right after you retire — while your balance is largest and you’re withdrawing from it — does lasting damage, because there’s less left to recover when markets rebound.
That’s why early retirees often keep a cash buffer to avoid selling investments in a downturn, and stay flexible on spending in weak years. The same nest egg lasts far longer when withdrawals flex with the market.
Making your money last longer
The highest-leverage moves are spending a little less, delaying Social Security for a bigger lifelong check, and keeping a year or two of expenses in cash so you’re never a forced seller. Part-time income early in retirement is especially powerful — it cuts withdrawals exactly when they hurt most.
Use the what-if chips above to test these on your own numbers; small, permanent changes often add a decade to the runway.
Frequently asked questions
How long will $500,000 last in retirement?
It depends on your spending and other income. Spending $45,000 a year with Social Security alongside, $500,000 can last well into your 80s or beyond. Enter your own figures above to see the projected age it runs low.
What withdrawal rate makes my money last?
A starting balance withdrawn at about 4% a year (adjusted for inflation) is generally designed to last 30+ years. Lower rates last longer; higher rates risk running out sooner. You can adjust the rate in the assumptions.
What is sequence-of-returns risk?
It’s the danger that poor market returns early in retirement — when your balance is largest and you’re drawing from it — permanently shorten how long your money lasts, even if average returns are fine. Cash buffers and flexible spending reduce it.
How can I make my retirement savings last longer?
Spend a bit less, delay Social Security for a larger benefit, keep a cash buffer to avoid selling in downturns, and consider part-time income early on. Each move meaningfully extends the runway.