Finance & Business
401(k) Calculator
Calculate your potential retirement savings with our 401(k) calculator. Plan your contributions, understand employer matching, and visualize your retirement nest egg.
Enter your details to calculate your potential 401(k) retirement savings
Related to 401(k) Calculator
The 401(k) calculator uses compound interest principles and considers multiple factors to project your retirement savings. It takes into account your current age, retirement age, salary, existing 401(k) balance, contribution percentage, employer matching, and expected investment returns to estimate your future retirement nest egg.
Contribution Calculations
The calculator determines your annual contributions based on your salary and contribution percentage. It then adds your employer's matching contribution, which is calculated as a percentage of your contribution up to the specified match limit. For example, if your employer offers a 50% match up to 6% of your salary, and you contribute 6%, your employer will add an additional 3% of your salary to your account.
Investment Returns
The calculator compounds your investment returns annually based on your expected rate of return. It applies this return rate to your entire balance, including your contributions, employer match, and previous earnings. The compounding effect can significantly impact your final balance over long periods.
Salary Growth
The calculator factors in annual salary increases, which affect both your contributions and your employer's matching amounts. This helps provide a more realistic projection of your retirement savings as your career progresses.
The calculator provides a comprehensive breakdown of your projected retirement savings, helping you understand the various components that contribute to your final balance. The results include your total contributions, employer match total, and investment gains, giving you a clear picture of how your money grows over time.
Final Balance
This represents your projected 401(k) account value at retirement. It's the sum of your current balance, all future contributions (both yours and your employer's), and investment returns. This number helps you assess if you're on track to meet your retirement goals.
Growth Chart
The line graph shows how your balance grows over time. The steepening curve illustrates the power of compound interest, where your money grows not just from contributions but also from returns on previous gains. This visual representation helps you understand the long-term impact of consistent investing.
1. What is a good contribution percentage for my 401(k)?
Financial experts typically recommend contributing at least enough to get your full employer match, as this is essentially free money. A common target is to save 15% of your gross income for retirement, including both your contributions and your employer's match. However, the ideal percentage depends on your age, retirement goals, and other financial circumstances.
2. How does employer matching work?
Employer matching is when your company contributes additional money to your 401(k) based on your contributions. A common matching formula is 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. This means if you contribute 6% of your salary, your employer will add an additional 3%, bringing the total contribution to 9% of your salary.
3. What rate of return should I expect?
While past performance doesn't guarantee future results, many financial planners use 7% as a conservative estimate for long-term average annual returns, accounting for inflation. This is based on historical stock market performance. However, actual returns can vary significantly year to year, and your portfolio's specific asset allocation will impact your returns.
4. Should I max out my 401(k) contributions?
Maxing out your 401(k) can be a powerful way to build retirement savings, especially given the tax advantages. However, it's important to balance this with other financial goals and needs. Consider factors like emergency savings, high-interest debt, and other investment opportunities before deciding to maximize your contributions.
5. What is the scientific source for this calculator?
This calculator is based on standard financial mathematics and compound interest formulas widely accepted in the financial industry. The calculations follow the principles outlined in the Journal of Financial Planning and adhere to guidelines from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The compound interest formula used is A = P(1 + r)^t, where A is the final amount, P is the principal, r is the annual interest rate, and t is the time in years. The calculator also incorporates modern portfolio theory concepts regarding long-term investment returns and risk-adjusted growth projections, as documented in academic research by Nobel laureates Harry Markowitz and William Sharpe.