Retirement planning is not something to put off. The earlier you model it, the more clearly you can see whether your current savings rate will get you where you want to go — and what needs to change if it will not. ZhanPlan's Savings & Retirement planner gives you this picture in seconds.
What Inputs You Need
On the Savings page, enter:
- Current Age — your age today
- Retirement Age — when you want to retire (default is 65, but use your actual target)
- Current Retirement Savings — the total amount you have saved in 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, and other retirement accounts today
- Monthly Contribution — how much you contribute to retirement accounts each month (including employer match)
- Expected Annual Return — the average annual investment return you expect (historically 7% for diversified stock portfolios, after inflation)
What ZhanPlan Calculates
Based on your inputs, ZhanPlan shows you:
- Projected Balance at Retirement — how much you will have if you maintain your current contributions
- Monthly Withdrawal in Retirement — how much monthly income your projected balance can support (using a 4% safe withdrawal rate)
- Years Until Retirement — time remaining at your current age
- Projected Growth — a chart showing how your balance grows year by year
Understanding the 4% Rule
The 4% withdrawal rate is a widely used retirement planning guideline. It suggests that if you withdraw 4% of your retirement balance in year one and adjust for inflation each year after, your portfolio has a high probability of lasting 30 years.
If your projected balance at retirement is $800,000, the 4% rule gives you $32,000 per year, or about $2,667 per month, in retirement income.
This is a planning baseline — not a guarantee. Social Security, pensions, and other income sources would be in addition to this number.
Use 6% as your expected return if you want a more conservative estimate. The historical average for a diversified portfolio is closer to 7-10% before inflation, but planning conservatively leaves you ahead rather than behind.
What to Do If You Are Behind
If your projected retirement balance is lower than your target:
- Increase monthly contribution — even $50 more per month makes a significant difference over decades due to compounding
- Adjust retirement age — retiring two years later can significantly change the outcome
- Optimize returns — review whether your retirement accounts are invested appropriately for your timeline; cash or bonds at 35 will produce far less than a diversified stock portfolio
- Reduce retirement spending target — reconsider what monthly income you actually need
ZhanPlan updates the projection in real time as you adjust these inputs, so you can immediately see the impact of each change.
Connecting Savings to Net Worth
Your retirement and savings account balances on the Savings page should align with the retirement asset entries on your Net Worth page. Keeping both up to date ensures your net worth accurately reflects your total financial position, including the wealth you are building for the future.
Should I include my employer 401(k) match in the monthly contribution?
Yes. The employer match is real money going into your retirement account each month. Include it in your monthly contribution number — it is part of the return you are getting on your retirement savings.
What if I have multiple retirement accounts — 401(k), Roth IRA, brokerage?
Add up the current balances across all accounts for the Current Retirement Savings field. For monthly contributions, add up all contributions across all accounts. The planner works on totals, not individual accounts.
How accurate are retirement projections?
They are a starting point, not a prediction. Markets fluctuate, tax laws change, and your income and contributions will likely change over time. Use the projection as a directional indicator — am I building enough wealth to retire when I want? Review and update it annually.