Project your balance at retirement with contribution acceleration, employer match, and catch-up contributions.
Your profile
Income
The S&P 500 has averaged ~10% annually over the long term. We default to 7% as a conservative estimate after inflation.
Contributions
Maximize to IRS limitAutomatically contribute the maximum allowed for your age each year, including applicable catch-up. Acceleration is not applicable when this is enabled.
Year 1 contribution estimate
Your contribution—
Employer contribution—
Total year 1 contribution—
Acceleration
Not applicable when maximizing to IRS limit — the IRS limit is already the maximum possible contribution each year.
Catch-up contributions
Catch-up at age 50+
Super catch-up at age 60–63
Balance at retirement
—
Total contributions
—
employee + employer
Total growth
—
investment returns
Catch-up boost
—
vs. no catch-up
Field guide
What each input means and how to find it
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Your profile
Current age
Your age today. The calculator projects your savings from now until retirement.
Retirement age
The age at which you plan to stop working. Common targets are 62 (earliest Social Security eligibility), 65 (Medicare eligibility), or 67 (full Social Security benefit for most people).
Current balance
Total already saved in your 401(k). Find this on your most recent account statement or your plan provider's website.
Income
Annual salary
Your total gross pay before taxes. Amounts above the IRS compensation limit are capped for contribution calculations only.
Example: if you earn $5,417/month, enter $65,000.
Annual salary increase
How much you expect your salary to grow per year. The default 2.5% reflects average cost-of-living adjustments.
Annual rate of return
Average yearly investment growth expected. The default 7% is a conservative long-term estimate for a diversified portfolio. Past returns do not guarantee future results.
Contributions
Maximize to IRS limit
Contribute the full IRS maximum each year — the only way to guarantee catch-up contributions are fully utilized regardless of salary or contribution rate.
Your contribution
How much of your paycheck goes into your 401(k). Catch-up contributions only apply once your contribution reaches the standard IRS limit ($24,500 in 2026).
Example: $3,900/year = 6% of $65,000 — below the $24,500 standard limit, so catch-up does not apply.
Employer match (%)
The rate your employer matches your contributions. Always contribute enough to capture the full match — it's free money.
Example: 50% match = employer adds $0.50 per $1 you contribute.
Employer match up to
The salary % ceiling your employer matches against.
Example: 50% match up to 6% of salary → max employer contribution is 3% of salary.
Acceleration
Annual contribution increase
Percentage points added to your contribution rate each year until the cap is reached.
Example: start at 6% with 1%/yr → 7% year 2, 8% year 3.
Acceleration cap
The highest contribution rate you want to reach. IRS limits always apply regardless.
Catch-up contributions
Catch-up at age 50+
Allows workers to contribute above the standard limit starting in the year they turn 50 (ages 50–59 and 64+). Only applies once contributions exceed the standard IRS limit.
Super catch-up at 60–63
A higher catch-up from SECURE 2.0 starting in the year a worker turns 60, through age 63. Replaces the standard catch-up. Confirm with your plan administrator.