ATLASHow long will my savings last in retirement?
Savings of $500,000 with a yearly withdrawal of $25,000, rising with inflation, would last about 23 years under the default assumptions below.
Updated November 3, 2026 · Source: ATLAS calculator; the assumptions are yours
Enter your savings and what you plan to withdraw each year. The calculator shows how many years the money could last under the return and inflation you assume.
Your savings would last about 23.4 years
Assumptions, not forecasts.
Year by year
| Year | Start balance | Withdrawal | End balance | End balance in today's money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $500,000 | $25,000 | $494,000 | $481,951 |
| 2 | $494,000 | $25,625 | $487,110 | $463,638 |
| 3 | $487,110 | $26,266 | $479,278 | $445,057 |
| 4 | $479,278 | $26,922 | $470,450 | $426,205 |
| 5 | $470,450 | $27,595 | $460,569 | $407,076 |
| 6 | $460,569 | $28,285 | $449,575 | $387,667 |
| 7 | $449,575 | $28,992 | $437,406 | $367,975 |
| 8 | $437,406 | $29,717 | $423,997 | $347,994 |
| 9 | $423,997 | $30,460 | $409,278 | $327,720 |
| 10 | $409,278 | $31,222 | $393,179 | $307,150 |
| 11 | $393,179 | $32,002 | $375,624 | $286,280 |
| 12 | $375,624 | $32,802 | $356,534 | $265,103 |
| 13 | $356,534 | $33,622 | $335,828 | $243,617 |
| 14 | $335,828 | $34,463 | $313,420 | $221,816 |
| 15 | $313,420 | $35,324 | $289,220 | $199,696 |
| 16 | $289,220 | $36,207 | $263,133 | $177,253 |
| 17 | $263,133 | $37,113 | $235,061 | $154,481 |
| 18 | $235,061 | $38,040 | $204,901 | $131,376 |
| 19 | $204,901 | $38,991 | $172,546 | $107,933 |
| 20 | $172,546 | $39,966 | $137,883 | $84,146 |
| 21 | $137,883 | $40,965 | $100,795 | $60,012 |
| 22 | $100,795 | $41,990 | $61,157 | $35,524 |
| 23 | $61,157 | $43,039 | $18,843 | $10,678 |
| 24 | $18,843 | $18,843 | $0 | $0 |
Educational calculator. The numbers you enter, including the return and inflation, are assumptions and not forecasts. Real markets do not move in a straight line.
How it works
The calculation
Each year the withdrawal is taken at the start of the year and the rest grows by the return you enter. If you tick the inflation box, the withdrawal rises by the inflation rate every year to keep the same buying power.
What it leaves out
It uses a fixed return every year, which real markets never deliver. It also ignores taxes, fees, pensions, other income and one-off costs.
Why the order of returns matters
The same average return can give very different results when poor years come first. Try a lower return to see how sensitive the answer is.
Worked example
Savings of $500,000 with a yearly withdrawal of $25,000, rising with inflation, would last about 23 years under the default assumptions below.
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Questions about this calculator
How long will 500,000 last in retirement?
It depends on the yearly withdrawal, the return and inflation. The worked example on this page shows one case; change the numbers in the calculator to test yours.
How much return should I enter?
Enter a value you want to test, not a prediction. The default of 4% is a neutral assumption; try lower and higher values to see the range.
Does the calculator include inflation?
Yes. You enter the inflation rate and can choose whether withdrawals rise with it.
Does it include pensions, taxes or Social Security?
No. Subtract income from other sources from your yearly withdrawal and consider taxes separately.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an educational tool and the results depend entirely on the assumptions you enter.
Educational example only. ATLAS does not give personal investment advice. Disclaimer