See how long a balance lasts when you withdraw a fixed amount every month while interest compounds.
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| $500,000 at 6%, $3,000/mo, 20 yrs | $268,979.55 left after 20 years |
| $200,000 at 5%, $1,000/mo, 10 yrs | $174,119.62 left after 10 years |
| $100,000 at 8%, $800/mo, 30 yrs | Runs out in month 270 (22.5 years) |
A commonly cited retirement rule of thumb is around 4% of the starting balance per year, but it depends on returns, inflation and how long the money must last. This calculator shows the arithmetic, not a recommendation.
Withdrawals happen every month regardless of market moves; a bad early sequence of returns can deplete a balance even when the long-run average return looks healthy.
No. Withdrawals are treated as fixed nominal amounts — in practice they usually need to rise with inflation, and taxes reduce the spendable amount.