Analyze whether your current retirement savings pace will meet your goals. Compare your projected savings against your estimated needs and discover how much more you need to save each month to close the gap.
Most working Americans suspect they're not saving enough for retirement. Far fewer have actually calculated the specific gap between their current trajectory and their target. The "shortfall calculation" — comparing projected savings at retirement against the savings needed to fund desired retirement income — surfaces the gap explicitly. The result is often sobering but actionable: knowing you need to save $400 more per month is much more useful than vague anxiety about retirement readiness.
The math has two sides. On the asset side: current savings, ongoing contributions, expected returns, and time horizon together produce a projected retirement portfolio. On the need side: desired retirement income, expected retirement length, and post-retirement returns determine the portfolio size needed at retirement to sustain that income. The difference between projected and needed is the shortfall (or surplus, for the lucky few).
This calculator runs both projections and computes the gap. It also estimates how much additional monthly contribution would close the gap if started today. Use it for an honest reality check — many savers in their 30s and 40s discover their current pace produces only 60-70% of needed retirement assets. Better to learn that at 40 (still time to adjust) than at 60 (very late). The calculator output is a planning starting point; pair with the broader retirement-savings and retirement-income calculators for full planning.
Age 40, retire at 65 (25 years). $250K saved. $1,500/month contributions. 7% pre-retirement, 5% retirement, 3% inflation. Desired income $80K/year for 25-year retirement. Projected: ~$1.9M at retirement Need: ~$2.6M (in future dollars) Shortfall: ~$700K Additional monthly to close: ~$650/month Tight but not catastrophic — this saver is on track for ~73% of needs. Increasing contribution by $650/month closes the gap. Delaying retirement to 67 also helps substantially.
Age 50, retire at 67 (17 years). $80K saved. $800/month. 6% return, 4% retirement, 3% inflation. Desired income $50K/year for 25-year retirement. Projected: ~$430K Need: ~$1.4M Shortfall: ~$970K Additional monthly to close: ~$2,800/month — likely unrealistic. Realistic options: dramatically reduce desired retirement income to ~$25K/year (which fits projected portfolio), or work much longer (until 75), or some combination. Late starters face hard choices that aggressive saving alone can't fix.
Age 30, retire at 65 (35 years). $50K saved. $1,200/month. 8% return, 5% retirement, 3% inflation. Desired income $70K/year for 25-year retirement. Projected: ~$3.3M at retirement Need: ~$2.9M Shortfall: NEGATIVE $400K (projected surplus) This person is well ahead of pace. They can: maintain current pace and enjoy more retirement income, reduce contributions and enjoy more current lifestyle, retire earlier, or pursue more ambitious retirement goals. The early start plus consistent saving plus equity-heavy allocation produces strong outcomes.
Use this calculator at major life transitions (job change, marriage, kids, divorce, inheritance) and annually as part of financial planning review. The calculator surfaces gaps that vague worry can't address — specific shortfall numbers enable specific corrective action.
Pair with retirement-savings, retirement-income, 401(k), IRA, and Roth-vs-Traditional calculators for full planning.
Critical insight: most Americans face some shortfall. The question is whether the gap is small (closeable with modest adjustments), moderate (requires meaningful sacrifice), or large (requires structural lifestyle change). Catching the problem at 35 is dramatically easier to fix than at 55.
Project your retirement savings growth and see if you are on track.
Estimate how much monthly income your retirement savings can provide.
Estimate your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer matching and investment growth.
Compare Social Security benefits by claiming age from 62 to 70.
Compare taking a lump sum payout versus an annuity over time.
Compare Traditional vs Roth IRA growth and tax implications over time.
Projected Savings
$1,327,990
Amount Needed
$2,862,854
Shortfall
$1,534,864
Extra Monthly Needed
$1,258
| Age | Contributions | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | $6,000.00 | $7,000.00 | $113,000.00 |
| 37 | $6,000.00 | $7,910.00 | $126,910.00 |
| 38 | $6,000.00 | $8,883.70 | $141,793.70 |
| 39 | $6,000.00 | $9,925.56 | $157,719.26 |
| 40 | $6,000.00 | $11,040.35 | $174,759.61 |
| 41 | $6,000.00 | $12,233.17 | $192,992.78 |
| 42 | $6,000.00 | $13,509.49 | $212,502.27 |
| 43 | $6,000.00 | $14,875.16 | $233,377.43 |
| 44 | $6,000.00 | $16,336.42 | $255,713.85 |
| 45 | $6,000.00 | $17,899.97 | $279,613.82 |
| 46 | $6,000.00 | $19,572.97 | $305,186.79 |
| 47 | $6,000.00 | $21,363.08 | $332,549.87 |