Question 1

How long will my retirement savings last?

Accepted Answer

It depends on four inputs: the balance you start with, how much you withdraw, the return you earn, and inflation. Small changes to the withdrawal rate move the answer far more than small changes to the return, which is why modeling the withdrawal itself matters most.

Question 2

What is a safe withdrawal rate?

Accepted Answer

The often-quoted 4% figure came from historical US market data over 30-year retirements and is a starting reference, not a rule. Real withdrawal rates depend on your time horizon, how flexible your spending is, and whether you have guaranteed income such as Social Security or a pension.

Question 3

Which accounts should I draw from first?

Accepted Answer

Withdrawal order affects lifetime tax, not just this year’s. A common approach draws from taxable accounts first, then tax-deferred, then Roth — but the better sequence depends on your bracket each year, and on whether filling low brackets early reduces later required distributions.

How long will my retirement savings actually last?

What people ask about this

A calculator gives you a number. It can’t tell you whether to act on it.