Pension Calculator

Estimate the pension pot and yearly income your contributions could provide.

Current age	35 years
Retirement age	67 years
Current pension pot	$30,000
Total contributions per month (you + employer)	$500
Expected return	5 %
Annual charges	0.5 %
Withdrawal rate in retirement	4 %

Current age

years

Retirement age

years

Current pension pot

Total contributions per month (you + employer)

Expected return

Annual charges

Withdrawal rate in retirement

Pension pot at retirement

$543,127

At a 4% withdrawal rate that pays about $21,725 a year before tax. Figures are in future money; inflation will reduce what they buy.

Your pot over time

Year 32Balance $543,127Paid in $222,000Point at the chart, or Tab to it and use ← →

BalancePaid in

Pot by year

Year	Paid in	Pot
1	$36,000	$37,473
2	$42,000	$45,282
3	$48,000	$53,442
4	$54,000	$61,970
5	$60,000	$70,881
6	$66,000	$80,194
7	$72,000	$89,925
8	$78,000	$100,095
9	$84,000	$110,722
10	$90,000	$121,827
11	$96,000	$133,432
12	$102,000	$145,559
13	$108,000	$158,232
14	$114,000	$171,475
15	$120,000	$185,314
16	$126,000	$199,776
17	$132,000	$214,889
18	$138,000	$230,682
19	$144,000	$247,185
20	$150,000	$264,431
21	$156,000	$282,453
22	$162,000	$301,287
23	$168,000	$320,967
24	$174,000	$341,534
25	$180,000	$363,025
26	$186,000	$385,484
27	$192,000	$408,954
28	$198,000	$433,480
29	$204,000	$459,109
30	$210,000	$485,892
31	$216,000	$513,879
32	$222,000	$543,127

About the Pension Calculator

Enter your age, the age you plan to retire, your current pot, total monthly contributions (yours and your employer's), the expected return, yearly charges and a withdrawal rate. The calculator projects the pot at retirement and the yearly income it could pay, with a year-by-year table.

A defined-contribution pension grows with contributions and investment returns, minus charges. At retirement the pot can buy an annuity or be drawn down. Charges compound too: 1% a year can take a quarter of the final pot over 40 years.

The formula

Pot = growth of current pot + growth of monthly contributions, at (return − charges)

Worked example

Age 35, retiring at 67, 30,000 saved, 500 a month going in, 5% return, 0.5% charges

32 years growing at 4.5% after charges
Pot at retirement: about 543,127
At a 4% withdrawal rate: about 21,725 a year before tax

Things to keep in mind

Figures are in future money; inflation will reduce what they buy. Use a return after inflation to think in today's money.
Tax relief, salary increases and the state pension aren't included.

Questions people ask

Should I include employer contributions?

Yes: add yours and your employer's together.

What about the state pension?

Add it separately; it's paid on top of a private pension.

How much difference do charges make?

Compare 0.5% and 1.5% here: over 30 years the gap is often tens of thousands.