$3,000 a month for 30 years at returns from 4% to 10%
| Return | Balance | Of which growth | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $2,055,812 | $975,812 | $846,967 |
| 5% | $2,446,128 | $1,366,128 | $1,007,772 |
| 6% | $2,923,539 | $1,843,539 | $1,204,459 |
| 7% | $3,508,358 | $2,428,358 | $1,445,397 |
| 8% | $4,225,652 | $3,145,652 | $1,740,913 |
| 10% | $6,188,530 | $5,108,530 | $2,549,592 |
Year by year at 7%
| Year | Put in so far | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $36,000 | $37,141 | $36,059 |
| 2 | $72,000 | $76,882 | $72,468 |
| 3 | $108,000 | $119,404 | $109,272 |
| 5 | $180,000 | $213,588 | $184,243 |
| 10 | $360,000 | $513,155 | $381,836 |
| 15 | $540,000 | $933,314 | $599,059 |
| 20 | $720,000 | $1,522,609 | $843,032 |
| 25 | $900,000 | $2,349,126 | $1,121,955 |
| 30 | $1,080,000 | $3,508,358 | $1,445,397 |
The range in 1,000 simulated markets
A 7% average does not arrive as 7% every year. In 1,000 simulated sequences of returns averaging 7% with 12% volatility, this is where $3,000 a month ended up: 1 in 10 markets finished below the first figure, half below the middle one, and 1 in 10 above the last.
| After | Weak (1 in 10 lower) | Middle | Strong (1 in 10 higher) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years | $619,917 | $891,839 | $1,268,075 |
| 30 years | $1,847,924 | $3,200,515 | $5,700,551 |
The middle of the simulation sits below the steady 7% figure of $3,508,358 because ups and downs cost compounding: a 20% loss needs a 25% gain to get back.
What $3,508,358 would pay in retirement
At a 4% first-year withdrawal, $3,508,358 pays about $140,334 a year, $11,695 a month, before tax; in today’s dollars that is about $57,816 a year. How long a balance near it lasts at each withdrawal: how long $4 million lasts. To stop saving early and let growth do the rest, see Coast FIRE numbers by age.
$36,000 a year is more than the 2026 401(k) limit of $24,500, so part of it would go to a taxable account or a spouse’s plan. See contribution limits, the 401(k) calculator and the Roth IRA calculator.
$3,000 a month for other terms
| Years | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 a month for 5 years | $213,588 | $184,243 |
| $3,000 a month for 10 years | $513,155 | $381,836 |
| $3,000 a month for 15 years | $933,314 | $599,059 |
| $3,000 a month for 20 years | $1,522,609 | $843,032 |
| $3,000 a month for 25 years | $2,349,126 | $1,121,955 |
| 30 years | $3,508,358 | $1,445,397 |
| $3,000 a month for 35 years | $5,134,241 | $1,824,624 |
| $3,000 a month for 40 years | $7,414,626 | $2,273,004 |
Other amounts for 30 years
$50 a month: $58,473, $100 a month: $116,945, $150 a month: $175,418, $200 a month: $233,891, $250 a month: $292,363, $300 a month: $350,836, $400 a month: $467,781, $500 a month: $584,726, $600 a month: $701,672, $750 a month: $877,089, $1,000 a month: $1,169,453, $1,500 a month: $1,754,179, $2,000 a month: $2,338,905, $2,500 a month: $2,923,632, $5,000 a month: $5,847,263.
How it is worked out
Monthly amounts are deposited at the end of each month and compounded monthly at the rate that equals the annual return; lump sums compound once a year. The headline return is 7% a year, the Trinity-style average the site’s retirement pages use; stock-heavy portfolios have averaged more over long periods and bond-heavy ones less, which is why every page shows 4% to 10%. Today’s dollars divide by 3% inflation a year. The range comes from 1,000 simulated sequences of yearly returns averaging 7% with 12% volatility, with each year’s deposits added through the year. Fees and taxes are not taken out. More on the methodology page.