Capital Withdrawal Calculator
See how long your capital lasts with regular withdrawals, and what amount you can withdraw safely.
Remaining capital
Year-by-year results
| Year | Withdrawn in the year | Monthly withdrawal | Balance |
|---|
Illustrative model: constant effective annual return (the portfolio grows by this percentage over 12 months), withdrawals at month-end. The withdrawal increases once a year by the inflation rate (enter 0 for no indexing). “Safe withdrawal” is the largest starting amount for which the capital does not run out within the chosen period. Taxes and fees are excluded; returns are not guaranteed and the result is not investment advice.
How the capital withdrawal calculator works
The calculator shows how your capital changes when you withdraw money regularly. You enter the starting capital, the monthly withdrawal (in today’s money), the return, inflation and the period. The return is treated as an effective annual rate, withdrawals are made at month-end, and the withdrawal increases once a year by the inflation rate so that its purchasing power does not shrink. The result shows how long the capital lasts, the remaining balance, the total withdrawn and the safe withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safe withdrawal?
It is the largest starting monthly amount for which, at the chosen return and inflation, the capital reaches zero only at the end of the period. If the real return is lower, the capital will last a shorter time, so a margin of safety makes sense.
How is this different from the 4% rule?
The 4% rule is a guideline for roughly 30 years: withdraw 4% of the capital in the first year, then adjust the amount for inflation. The calculator shows the initial withdrawal rate of your scenario, which you can compare with that guideline.
Why is the result not a forecast?
Real returns fluctuate, and poor years at the start of withdrawals are especially harmful. Test the result with a lower return and higher inflation.
This information is general and educational and is not investment advice.