# How long will my retirement savings last?

Canonical: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/answers/how-long-will-my-retirement-savings-last/
Section: Can you afford to retire? (Retirement Decision Lab, Decision 1 · Week 1 · Wed Nov 4)
Facts checked: 2026-10-06 · Next review by: 2027-04-06
Reviewed by: Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence Research

## Short answer

For 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.

## Detail

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.

## Where it gets personal

Week 1 builds your own runway: how many years your money lasts at the way you spend today. The Retirement Decision Lab: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/

## Sources

1. Life Expectancy Calculator, Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/population/longevity.html
2. What's a Safe Retirement Withdrawal Rate for 2026?, Morningstar: https://www.morningstar.com/retirement/whats-safe-retirement-withdrawal-rate-2026

Education only. Not financial, tax, investment, immigration or legal advice.
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