What is savings rate?

Percentage of income saved for retirement. (Annual Savings / Annual Income) × 100. Best predictor of retirement success.

How much should I save for retirement?

15-20% of gross income minimum. 50%+ for early retirement (FIRE). Higher rate = faster independence.

Benchmarks: 1x salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8-10x by 60. But savings rate matters more than milestones.

Max 401(k) match first (free money), then max Roth IRA ($7,000/year), then contribute more to 401(k).

Daily fluctuations cause emotional decisions. Selling during downturns hurts returns. Check contributions instead.

Safely withdraw 4% annually in retirement without depleting savings. $1M = $40K/year income.

Annual expenses × 25. If you spend $60K/year, you need $1.5M saved. Use calculator to project timeline.

Input current savings, monthly contributions, expected returns (7%), and age. Shows projected balance at retirement.

Loading Why I Stopped Checking My Roth IRA Balance (And Started Checking This Instead)

I checked my balance 847 times in one year. It didn't change my future. Here's the one number that actually predicts your retirement success.

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