Retirement Planning Blog
Guides and explainers to help you plan how long your money will last.
How Much Do You Need to Retire? Savings Targets by Age and Spending Level
Build your own retirement savings target in three steps, see targets at different spending levels, and check what to do if you are behind.
How Long Will My Money Last? A Complete Guide to Making Your Savings Stretch
Wondering how long your savings will last? Learn which inputs matter, see real examples, and discover practical ways to make your money go further.
How Long Will My Money Last in Retirement? 5 Factors That Decide the Answer
Withdrawal rate, returns, inflation, lifespan, taxes and healthcare: the five factors that decide how long your retirement savings will last.
What If Your Money Runs Out Early? Warning Signs and Backup Plans
Why savings sometimes fall short, the warning signs to watch for, and practical backup plans if your retirement money starts to run low.
7 Ways to Make Your Retirement Savings Last Longer
Seven practical levers, from trimming spending to delaying Social Security, with real numbers showing how many years each one can add.
How Taxes on 401(k), IRA, and Roth Withdrawals Affect How Long Your Money Lasts
The balance on your statement is not all spendable. See how pre-tax, Roth and taxable accounts differ, and how taxes can shorten your timeline by over a decade.
Fixed vs. Variable Withdrawal Strategies: Which Makes Your Money Last Longer?
Should you take the same amount every year or let withdrawals move with the market? A side-by-side test of four strategies and who each one fits.
How to Use a "How Long Will My Money Last" Calculator: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Learn what to type into each field of a retirement calculator, with a worked example from start to finish and the most common input mistakes to avoid.
How Long Will My Savings Last? Using a Savings Calculator to Plan Your Withdrawals
Laid off, planning a sabbatical, or cutting back to part-time? See how a savings calculator with withdrawals shows how long your money will hold out.
How Long Will My 401(k) Last? A Calculator-Based Look at Different Balances
See how long four different 401(k) balances last under the same assumptions, and how taxes, withdrawal rules and returns change the answer.
Systematic Withdrawals Explained: How Long Will My Money Last This Way?
Compare fixed-dollar, fixed-percentage and inflation-adjusted withdrawal plans with real numbers, and see how each one holds up when markets get bumpy.
Investment Calculator with Withdrawals: Why Most Basic Calculators Get It Wrong
Growth-only calculators can be off by over a million dollars when you are spending your savings. Learn the five common mistakes and what to look for in a better tool.
The 4% Rule: Does It Still Work, and How Long Will Your Money Last Under It?
Where the 4% rule came from, how it really works, how long a portfolio lasts under it at different returns, and why people question it today.
Sequence of Returns Risk: Why Market Timing Early in Retirement Matters So Much
Two retirees with the same savings, spending and average return can end up in very different places. Learn why the order of returns matters and how to protect your plan.
How Inflation Quietly Shortens the Life of Your Retirement Savings
Inflation works in the background, but it can take years off your retirement runway. See what it does to your spending, your savings and your timeline, and how to plan around it.
What Is the 4% Rule for Retirement Withdrawals?
The 4% rule is the most popular starting point for retirement spending. Learn where it comes from, how it works, and where it falls short.