Retirement Growth Calculator
Find out how much your retirement savings could be worth when you stop working. Model different retirement ages, contribution amounts, and expected returns — with optional inflation adjustment to see the real purchasing power of your future nest egg.
Your retirement details
How to read your retirement projection
The nominal balance is the headline number: how much money is in your retirement account on the day you retire, in future currency terms. The real (inflation-adjusted) balance is what that same amount would buy in terms of today's money.
Both numbers are useful. The nominal balance tells you what you'll actually have. The real balance tells you whether you'll be comfortable — whether that money will maintain your current lifestyle. The gap between the two increases the longer your time horizon.
Worked example
Current age: 30 · Retirement age: 65 · Current savings: £15,000 · Annual contribution: £6,000 · Return: 7% · Inflation: 2.5%
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Years to retirement | 35 |
| Total contributions | £210,000 |
| Investment growth | £687,490 |
| Nominal retirement balance | £912,490 |
| Real value (today's purchasing power) | £374,800 |
The £912,490 is impressive, but after 35 years of 2.5% annual inflation, its real purchasing power is closer to £375,000 in today's money. This is still a substantial retirement fund — but it underscores why keeping your eye on real returns matters.
The power of employer matching
Many employer pension schemes match a percentage of your contributions — often 3–6% of salary. Employer matching is effectively free money added to your retirement savings. When modelling your annual contribution in this calculator, include both your own contribution and your employer's match to get an accurate picture.
If your employer matches £2,000 per year and you contribute £4,000, enter £6,000 as your annual contribution. This represents the total amount growing in your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
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