$300,000 at $10,000 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 $14,568; the balance earns 5% on what is left after each withdrawal.
| Year | Age | Balance at start | Withdrawal | Balance at end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 65 | $300,000 | $10,000 | $304,500 |
| 2 | 66 | $304,500 | $10,200 | $309,015 |
| 3 | 67 | $309,015 | $10,404 | $313,542 |
| 4 | 68 | $313,542 | $10,612 | $318,076 |
| 5 | 69 | $318,076 | $10,824 | $322,614 |
| 6 | 70 | $322,614 | $11,041 | $327,152 |
| 7 | 71 | $327,152 | $11,262 | $331,685 |
| 8 | 72 | $331,685 | $11,487 | $336,208 |
| 9 | 73 | $336,208 | $11,717 | $340,716 |
| 10 | 74 | $340,716 | $11,951 | $345,203 |
| 11 | 75 | $345,203 | $12,190 | $349,664 |
| 12 | 76 | $349,664 | $12,434 | $354,092 |
| 13 | 77 | $354,092 | $12,682 | $358,480 |
| 14 | 78 | $358,480 | $12,936 | $362,821 |
| 15 | 79 | $362,821 | $13,195 | $367,108 |
| 16 | 80 | $367,108 | $13,459 | $371,331 |
| 17 | 81 | $371,331 | $13,728 | $375,484 |
| 18 | 82 | $375,484 | $14,002 | $379,555 |
| 19 | 83 | $379,555 | $14,282 | $383,536 |
| 20 | 84 | $383,536 | $14,568 | $387,417 |
| 21 | 85 | $387,417 | $14,859 | $391,185 |
| 22 | 86 | $391,185 | $15,157 | $394,830 |
| 23 | 87 | $394,830 | $15,460 | $398,339 |
| 24 | 88 | $398,339 | $15,769 | $401,698 |
| 25 | 89 | $401,698 | $16,084 | $404,894 |
| 26 | 90 | $404,894 | $16,406 | $407,913 |
| 27 | 91 | $407,913 | $16,734 | $410,737 |
| 28 | 92 | $410,737 | $17,069 | $413,352 |
| 29 | 93 | $413,352 | $17,410 | $415,739 |
| 30 | 94 | $415,739 | $17,758 | $417,879 |
| 31 | 95 | $417,879 | $18,114 | $419,754 |
| 32 | 96 | $419,754 | $18,476 | $421,342 |
| 33 | 97 | $421,342 | $18,845 | $422,622 |
| 34 | 98 | $422,622 | $19,222 | $423,569 |
| 35 | 99 | $423,569 | $19,607 | $424,161 |
| 36 | 100 | $424,161 | $19,999 | $424,370 |
| 37 | 101 | $424,370 | $20,399 | $424,169 |
| 38 | 102 | $424,169 | $20,807 | $423,531 |
| 39 | 103 | $423,531 | $21,223 | $422,423 |
| 40 | 104 | $422,423 | $21,647 | $420,814 |
The odds $300,000 lasts at $10,000 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 $10,000 a year, rising with inflation, still leaves money in the account after each number of years.
| For | Trinity-style (7%, 12%) | Cautious (5%, 15%) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 years | 99% | 92% |
| 25 years | 94% | 82% |
| 30 years | 89% | 70% |
| 35 years | 82% | 60% |
| 40 years | 76% | 51% |
What other returns and inflation do
| Return | No raise | 2% raise | 3% raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | 60+ years | 36 years | 30 years |
| 4% | 60+ years | 45 years | 36 years |
| 5% | 60+ years | 60+ years | 45 years |
| 6% | 60+ years | 60+ years | 60+ years |
| 7% | 60+ years | 60+ years | 60+ years |
$10,000 a year from other balances
| Balance | Lasts |
|---|---|
| $100,000 | 12 years |
| $150,000 | 20 years |
| $200,000 | 30 years |
| $250,000 | 44 years |
| $300,000 | 60+ years |
Tax on a $10,000 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:
| Household | Federal tax | Share of the withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Single, $24,000 of Social Security | $0 | 0% |
| Married, $42,000 of Social Security | $0 | 0% |
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
Taking $10,000 a year ($833 a month) from $300,000, raised 2.0% a year for inflation, at a steady 5.0% return, the money runs out in year 68, around age 132. To make it last exactly 30 years, you could start at $14,756 a year.
Other withdrawals from $300,000
| Withdrawal a year | A month | Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $833 | 60+ years |
| $12,000 | $1,000 | 44 years |
| $15,000 | $1,250 | 30 years |
| $20,000 | $1,667 | 20 years |
| $25,000 | $2,083 | 15 years |
| $30,000 | $2,500 | 12 years |
All withdrawals and the odds on one page: how long $300,000 lasts.
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.