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How long will $1.75 million last at $60,000 a year?

More than 60 years at a steady 5% return, with the $60,000 ($5,000 a month) raised 2% a year for inflation. Below: the balance year by year, the odds in 1,000 simulated markets, what other returns do, Social Security, the tax on the withdrawal, and a calculator set to these numbers.

Short answer: About more than 60 years at a steady 5% return, with the $60,000 raised 2% a year for inflation: retiring at 60 it runs out at past 120, at 65 at past 125. That is 3.4% of $1.75 million in the first year. At 7% it lasts more than 60 years; at 3%, 35 years.

$1.75 million at $60,000 a year, year by year

Starting at 65, the money is still there at 95. The withdrawal grows 2% a year, so by year 20 it is $87,409; the balance earns 5% on what is left after each withdrawal.

$1.75 million, $60,000 a year rising 2%, 5% return, from age 65
YearAgeBalance at startWithdrawalBalance at end
165$1,750,000$60,000$1,774,500
266$1,774,500$61,200$1,798,965
367$1,798,965$62,424$1,823,368
468$1,823,368$63,672$1,847,680
569$1,847,680$64,946$1,871,871
670$1,871,871$66,245$1,895,908
771$1,895,908$67,570$1,919,755
872$1,919,755$68,921$1,943,375
973$1,943,375$70,300$1,966,730
1074$1,966,730$71,706$1,989,775
1175$1,989,775$73,140$2,012,467
1276$2,012,467$74,602$2,034,758
1377$2,034,758$76,095$2,056,597
1478$2,056,597$77,616$2,077,929
1579$2,077,929$79,169$2,098,699
1680$2,098,699$80,752$2,118,844
1781$2,118,844$82,367$2,138,301
1882$2,138,301$84,014$2,157,000
1983$2,157,000$85,695$2,174,871
2084$2,174,871$87,409$2,191,835
2185$2,191,835$89,157$2,207,812
2286$2,207,812$90,940$2,222,716
2387$2,222,716$92,759$2,236,455
2488$2,236,455$94,614$2,248,933
2589$2,248,933$96,506$2,260,048
2690$2,260,048$98,436$2,269,693
2791$2,269,693$100,405$2,277,752
2892$2,277,752$102,413$2,284,106
2993$2,284,106$104,461$2,288,626
3094$2,288,626$106,551$2,291,179
3195$2,291,179$108,682$2,291,623
3296$2,291,623$110,855$2,289,806
3397$2,289,806$113,072$2,285,570
3498$2,285,570$115,334$2,278,748
3599$2,278,748$117,641$2,269,163
36100$2,269,163$119,993$2,256,628
37101$2,256,628$122,393$2,240,946
38102$2,240,946$124,841$2,221,910
39103$2,221,910$127,338$2,199,301
40104$2,199,301$129,885$2,172,887

The odds $1.75 million lasts at $60,000 a year

Returns arrive in a random order, and a few bad years early do the most damage. In 1,000 simulated markets, this is the share in which $60,000 a year, rising with inflation, still leaves money in the account after each number of years.

Chance $60,000 a year from $1.75 million lasts, 1,000 simulated markets
ForTrinity-style (7%, 12%)Cautious (5%, 15%)
20 years99%91%
25 years93%80%
30 years88%68%
35 years80%57%
40 years73%48%

What other returns and inflation do

Years $60,000 a year from $1.75 million lasts, by return and yearly raise
ReturnNo raise2% raise3% raise
3%60+ years35 years30 years
4%60+ years43 years35 years
5%60+ years60+ years43 years
6%60+ years60+ years60+ years
7%60+ years60+ years60+ years

With Social Security covering part of it

If Social Security pays part of the $60,000 from some point, the portfolio only pays the rest. Retiring at 65 and claiming at 67 means two years before benefits start; retiring at 62, five.

Years $1.75 million lasts, $60,000 a year in total, Social Security from 67
Benefit a monthRetire at 62Retire at 65Retire at 67
$1,50060+ years60+ years60+ years
$2,00060+ years60+ years60+ years
$2,50060+ years60+ years60+ years

Tax on a $60,000 withdrawal

From a traditional 401(k) or IRA, the whole withdrawal is ordinary income, and it can make more of your Social Security taxable. Federal tax it adds at 65 on 2026 rules, estimates:

Federal tax a $60,000 withdrawal adds at 65
HouseholdFederal taxShare of the withdrawal
Single, $24,000 of Social Security$7,15812%
Married, $42,000 of Social Security$5,2889%

Roth withdrawals after 59½ and a five-year holding period are tax-free; money in a taxable account is taxed only on the gains. The retirement tax calculator adds state tax.

The calculator, set to these numbers

Your money lasts62 yearsRuns out around age 126
Most you can withdraw for 30 years$86,075 a year$7,173 a month, rising with inflation
Taken from the portfolio$60,000 a year3.4% of the portfolio in year one

Taking $60,000 a year ($5,000 a month) from $1,750,000, raised 2.0% a year for inflation, at a steady 5.0% return, the money runs out in year 62, around age 126. To make it last exactly 30 years, you could start at $86,075 a year.

Success rate66%1000 seeded paths
10th percentile ending$0
Median ending$929,442
90th percentile ending$6,920,570

Other withdrawals from $1.75 million

Years $1.75 million lasts by withdrawal, 5% return, 2% raises
Withdrawal a yearA monthLasts
$60,000$5,00060+ years
$70,000$5,83344 years
$80,000$6,66734 years
$100,000$8,33324 years
$120,000$10,00019 years
$150,000$12,50014 years

All withdrawals and the odds on one page: how long $1.75 million lasts. The same $60,000 a year from $600,000, $700,000, $750,000, $800,000, $900,000, $1 million, $1.25 million, $1.5 million or $2 million.

How it is worked out

The steady-return figures are the how-long calculator’s own math: the withdrawal comes out at the start of each year, the rest earns the return, and the next withdrawal is 2% larger to keep up with inflation. Real markets do not return the same every year, so the odds come from 1,000 simulated sequences of yearly returns: Trinity-style (7% average, 12% volatility, 3% inflation) and cautious (5%, 15%, 2%). Taxes and fees are not taken out; take them from the withdrawal you enter. More on the method on the methodology page.

Frequently asked questions

How long will $1.75 million last if I withdraw $60,000 a year?
More than 60 years at a steady 5% return when the withdrawal rises 2% a year with inflation, or more than 60 years if it stays at $60,000. The first withdrawal is 3.4% of the balance.
How long will $1.75 million last at $5,000 a month?
$5,000 a month is $60,000 a year, so the same more than 60 years at a 5% return with 2% yearly raises. Taxes come out of the withdrawal: from a traditional 401(k) or IRA, part of each payment goes to income tax.
What if Social Security covers part of the $60,000?
With $2,000 a month of Social Security from year three, the portfolio pays $36,000 a year from then on and lasts more than 60 years on a steady 5% return, against more than 60 years without it.