$5,000 a month for 25 years at returns from 4% to 10%
| Return | Balance | Of which growth | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $2,544,241 | $1,044,241 | $1,215,143 |
| 5% | $2,928,673 | $1,428,673 | $1,398,750 |
| 6% | $3,381,445 | $1,881,445 | $1,614,997 |
| 7% | $3,915,209 | $2,415,209 | $1,869,926 |
| 8% | $4,544,955 | $3,044,955 | $2,170,696 |
| 10% | $6,166,624 | $4,666,624 | $2,945,214 |
Year by year at 7%
| Year | Put in so far | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $60,000 | $61,901 | $60,099 |
| 2 | $120,000 | $128,136 | $120,781 |
| 3 | $180,000 | $199,007 | $182,120 |
| 5 | $300,000 | $355,979 | $307,071 |
| 10 | $600,000 | $855,259 | $636,393 |
| 15 | $900,000 | $1,555,524 | $998,432 |
| 20 | $1,200,000 | $2,537,682 | $1,405,053 |
| 25 | $1,500,000 | $3,915,209 | $1,869,926 |
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 $5,000 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 years | $859,769 | $1,204,722 | $1,687,785 |
| 25 years | $2,162,317 | $3,651,602 | $6,135,789 |
The middle of the simulation sits below the steady 7% figure of $3,915,209 because ups and downs cost compounding: a 20% loss needs a 25% gain to get back.
What $3,915,209 would pay in retirement
At a 4% first-year withdrawal, $3,915,209 pays about $156,608 a year, $13,051 a month, before tax; in today’s dollars that is about $74,797 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.
$60,000 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.
$5,000 a month for other terms
| Years | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 a month for 5 years | $355,979 | $307,071 |
| $5,000 a month for 10 years | $855,259 | $636,393 |
| $5,000 a month for 15 years | $1,555,524 | $998,432 |
| $5,000 a month for 20 years | $2,537,682 | $1,405,053 |
| 25 years | $3,915,209 | $1,869,926 |
| $5,000 a month for 30 years | $5,847,263 | $2,408,995 |
| $5,000 a month for 35 years | $8,557,068 | $3,041,040 |
| $5,000 a month for 40 years | $12,357,710 | $3,788,341 |
Other amounts for 25 years
$50 a month: $39,152, $100 a month: $78,304, $150 a month: $117,456, $200 a month: $156,608, $250 a month: $195,760, $300 a month: $234,913, $400 a month: $313,217, $500 a month: $391,521, $600 a month: $469,825, $750 a month: $587,281, $1,000 a month: $783,042, $1,500 a month: $1,174,563, $2,000 a month: $1,566,084, $2,500 a month: $1,957,605, $3,000 a month: $2,349,126.
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.