To retire at 60 and spend $3,000 a month, you need about $900,000 saved using the 4% rule ($36,000 × 25). For $4,000 a month, the target is about $1.2 million.
Calculate your own number with our Retirement calculator.
Your retirement target, by monthly spending
| Monthly spending | Annual spending | Target at 4% | Target at 3.5% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $30,000 | $750,000 | ~$857,000 |
| $3,000 | $36,000 | $900,000 | ~$1.03 million |
| $4,000 | $48,000 | $1.20 million | ~$1.37 million |
| $5,000 | $60,000 | $1.50 million | ~$1.71 million |
The 4% rule is a historical planning guideline, not a guarantee. Research associated with William Bengen and the Trinity Study tested inflation-adjusted withdrawals across historical market periods. A Stanford-hosted review of that research notes a 95% historical success rate for a 30-year horizon at a 4% withdrawal rate with a 50/50 stock-bond mix. The 3.5% column on this page is simply a more conservative scenario, not an official recommendation. Source: Stanford-hosted review of Bengen / Trinity withdrawal research.
How much to save to get there by 60
Starting at 30 with $10,000 invested and saving $500 a month at a modeled 7% annual return builds about $691,150 by 60 — close to the $750,000 needed for $2,500/month spending. To reach $900,000, you’d need roughly $700–$750 a month under the same assumptions. The 7% return is a planning assumption, not a forecast or promised return. Use our Savings Goal calculator to test your own assumptions.
What about Social Security or pensions?
Guaranteed income can reduce the amount your portfolio must cover, but the benefit amount should be based on your own record rather than a generic estimate. The Social Security Administration says retirement benefits can typically begin at age 62, and the monthly amount depends on your lifetime earnings and the age you start benefits. If you retire at 60, that can create a gap before Social Security retirement benefits begin. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
For illustration only: if your target spending is $4,000 a month and you later receive $1,500 a month from Social Security or a pension, the portfolio would need to cover about $2,500 a month, or $30,000 a year. That corresponds to roughly $750,000 at a 4% withdrawal rate or about $857,000 at 3.5%. Replace the $1,500 example with your own benefit estimate from SSA or your pension provider.
Sources & assumptions
- Withdrawal rates: the 4% figure comes from historical withdrawal-rate research associated with Bengen and the Trinity Study; it is not a guarantee of future sustainability. Stanford-hosted research review.
- Social Security: SSA states that retirement benefits can typically start at age 62 and that benefit amounts depend on lifetime earnings and claiming age. SSA retirement planning.
- Inflation: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index measures average changes over time in prices paid by urban consumers and is a standard reference for consumer inflation. BLS Consumer Price Index.
- Caspenda scenario math: retirement targets in the table are annual spending divided by the selected withdrawal rate. Return assumptions such as 7% are user-model inputs, not forecasts. See our Methodology.
Build your retirement-at-60 plan
This page gives you a quick target. For the full planning process, use the Retirement Planning Guide, then test your assumptions with the Retirement Calculator and Savings Goal Calculator. You can also connect retirement with FIRE, inflation, and long-term investing in the Financial Planning Hub.
Frequently asked questions
What if I want to retire earlier than 60?
Earlier retirement means more years of withdrawals and more savings needed. Our FIRE calculator shows exactly how many years to financial independence.
Does this account for inflation?
The 4% rule is designed around inflation-adjusted withdrawals. Your actual portfolio value in today’s dollars will be lower than the nominal figure — see our Inflation calculator.
Is $900,000 enough at 60?
For $3,000 a month of spending under the 4% rule, yes. But healthcare, taxes and a long retirement can push real needs higher — stress-test with a conservative withdrawal rate.