Put in what you actually hold — cash, savings, investments,
shares, 401(k), Roth — and see what it becomes, what you can spend, and what the taxman
takes on the way. Every number updates as you type and nothing leaves your browser.
Try
Portfolio at retirement
—
in today's money
Supports spending of
—
after tax, today's money
Lifetime tax
—
working life + retirement
Money lasts to
—
on base returns
Odds of lasting
—
1,000 market simulations
Growth on your money
—
total investment gain
Projection
If returns disappoint
same plan, different markets
Where the tax goes
Tax while you are still working is only the tax caused by the portfolio — interest and dividends stacked on top of your salary — not the tax on the salary itself.
Year by year
Age
Phase
Paid in
Taken out
Growth
Tax
Balance
Balance (today's $)
How this is worked out
Tax. 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, with qualified dividends and long-term gains stacked on top of ordinary income at the 0/15/20% rates. Brackets and the deduction grow with your inflation assumption; the 3.8% NIIT thresholds do not, because they are not indexed in law. State tax is applied as a flat rate on taxable income.
Accounts. Interest is taxed every year. Dividends are taxed every year and reinvested, which lifts your cost basis so the same dollars are not taxed twice. Growth in a taxable account is only taxed when sold, pro-rata against basis. 401(k) withdrawals are ordinary income; Roth is untaxed.
Drawdown. Spending is set in today's money and inflated each year. The calculator solves for the gross withdrawal that leaves exactly enough after tax, taking money in your chosen order. Withdrawals happen at the start of the year and the rest of the balance grows for the remainder.
Odds. 1,000 simulations draw a market return each year from a normal distribution around your expected return using your volatility input. Cash keeps earning its stated rate. Success means the money never runs out before your plan-to age.
Not included. Required minimum distributions, Social Security taxation rules beyond the taxable-portion input, IRMAA, AMT, and any state-specific treatment of retirement income.
Educational tool, not tax or investment advice. Check anything that matters with a qualified adviser.
Important disclaimer
Picksmith provides information, analysis, opinions, and tools for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing on Picksmith should be considered investment, financial, legal, tax, or other professional advice. Picksmith does not account for individual objectives, financial circumstances, risk tolerance, or personal needs. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Picksmith is not a registered broker-dealer, securities dealer, investment adviser, investment bank, or financial adviser.
