The 'Never Work Again' Calculator

This tool uses standard, conservative financial planning principles to project your future. It assumes a 7% nominal investment return (after fees), a 3% annual inflation rate, and relies on the famous "4% rule" to determine your final target number.

The 4% rule is a widely accepted guideline that suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your total retirement portfolio in your first year of retirement, adjust for inflation each year after, and have a very high probability of your money lasting at least 30 years without running out.

Yes. Every field is currency-neutral, and the optional 'guaranteed retirement income' field works for Social Security (US), the State Pension (UK), CPP/OAS (Canada), Superannuation (Australia), or any other country's public or employer pension. Just enter your expected combined monthly amount.

Only if you enter it. Click "Add Social Security, a pension, or your own numbers" under the form to enter your expected combined monthly guaranteed income. We'll subtract it from what you need to fund yourself, so the target reflects only the gap your own savings actually need to cover.

That's entirely up to you! Halfway is built specifically for couples who like to keep their finances separate but manage their goals together. You can each save in your own 401(k)s, IRAs, or brokerage accounts while tracking your combined progress toward this shared retirement goal.

For the most robust couple's plan, this calculator uses the younger partner's age and your target retirement age to ensure the portfolio is large enough to support both of you when the younger partner stops working. If one partner retires early, the required savings might shift.

Compound interest is when your money earns money, and then those earnings earn even more money! That's why starting early is so powerful. As shown in our "Procrastination Tax" calculation, waiting just 5 years means you have to save significantly more every month to reach the exact same goal, because you lose out on 5 years of free growth.

A common benchmark is the 25x rule - multiply your expected annual expenses in retirement by 25 to get your target savings. For a couple spending $60,000 per year, that's $1.5 million. But "comfortable" varies wildly by location, lifestyle, and healthcare needs. This calculator personalizes the number based on your specific situation and desired retirement lifestyle.

Absolutely. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement shows it's possible for couples to retire in their 40s or 50s by saving 50% or more of their income and investing wisely. The key is the gap between what you earn and what you spend. Even saving 25-30% can dramatically move up your retirement date compared to the typical 10-15%.

Most financial advisors recommend each partner maxing out their own tax-advantaged accounts first (401k, IRA) since these have individual contribution limits. You can still coordinate your strategy as a team by tracking combined progress. Some couples also open a joint brokerage account for additional savings beyond retirement accounts.