Decision 1 · Week 1 · Wed Nov 4
How long will my retirement savings last?
SHORT ANSWERFor a rough count, divide your savings by what you take out each year. Then adjust for inflation and returns. Most people never run even the rough count.
Rough count: $300,000 in savings with a $24,000 yearly gap lasts about 12.5 years before any growth or inflation.
Two things move the answer most. Inflation raises what you spend each year. Returns on the money you have not spent yet stretch it. A bad market in the first years of withdrawals does more damage than the same drop later, because you are selling while the balance is largest.
Plan for a long life. SSA's life expectancy calculator shows the average years left at your age, and many people live well past the average. Running short at 85 leaves very few ways to fix it.
Week 1 builds your own runway: how many years your money lasts at the way you spend today.
Sources
- Life Expectancy Calculator · Social Security Administration
- What's a Safe Retirement Withdrawal Rate for 2026? · Morningstar
Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence
Facts checked Oct 6, 2026 · Next review by Apr 6, 2027
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