Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) surfaces the answer to a RMD question in seconds. Retirement is the biggest financial decision most people make, and small changes — contribution rate, asset allocation, withdrawal rate, claim age — compound into hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career and a 30-year retirement. The calculator makes the math explicit so you can plan with data.

Enter your numbers. The results update live. Try three scenarios: conservative (lower returns, longer retirement), realistic (historical averages), and optimistic. If all three scenarios still clear your need, you're solid. If only the optimistic one does, you need a bigger contribution rate or a lower withdrawal rate.

• Use conservative return assumptions. The long-run real return on a balanced portfolio is around 5–6%, not 10%.
• Model inflation explicitly. In nominal-dollar calculators, ask "is my rate of return real or nominal?" If nominal, subtract 2–3% for inflation to get the real growth.
• Re-run annually, especially after major market moves or life events.

Using a 10% average return is the most common RMD mistake. The long-term S&P 500 nominal return has been around 10%, but after inflation and fees you should model 5–6% real. Planning with 10% leaves you underfunded in any realistic scenario. The other common mistake is forgetting that withdrawals in retirement are partially taxable — Social Security up to 85%, pre-tax 401(k)/IRA fully taxable, Roth tax-free. Income needs are pre-tax numbers, not take-home.

The biggest levers on a retirement plan are: savings rate, investment return, time horizon, withdrawal rate, and Social Security claim age. Healthcare costs and long-term care are the big wildcards. Inflation matters more over a 30-year retirement than any other single factor.

This calculator uses simplified compound-growth formulas with user-supplied return rates. Pair it with a fiduciary advisor and an annual update.

This is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. Investment returns vary and can be negative. Tax law, Social Security rules, and Medicare rules change. Consult a fiduciary advisor, CPA, or CFP before making retirement decisions.

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or stored anywhere. Use it as many times as you like. If there's a RMD calculator you wish existed, email us via the contact page.