Global Retirement Calculator 2026 (Australia & Worldwide)

The Portfolio Preset dropdown in the Returns & Inflation card fills in historically-grounded return assumptions based on Australian long-run averages. Conservative (~5% p.a.) is roughly 60% bonds/40% equities. Balanced (~7%) is roughly 50/50 — a common industry fund default. Growth (~8.5%) is ~70% equities. High Growth (~9.5%) is ~90% equities, similar to a diversified Australian equities index. These are nominal pre-fee returns; the Fees & Tax card applies your fee drag on top. Sources: Vanguard Index Chart 2024, Morningstar AU long-run data.

When your projected capital falls short of your goal, the calculator shows three ways to close the gap: how much extra you'd need to save each month, how many more years you'd need to work, or what return you'd need. Each has an "Apply this" button that updates the relevant input instantly. Combining strategies is usually more realistic than one single change.

After each calculation the tool runs 1,000 simulations where the annual return varies randomly each year using a log-normal distribution calibrated to your chosen portfolio's historical volatility (e.g. ~10% standard deviation for a Balanced fund). The probability of success shown is the fraction of those 1,000 paths where your money lasts the full projection horizon. The shaded band on the capital chart shows the 10th–90th percentile range across all simulations. A probability above 85% is considered strong; below 65% is at risk.

TTR is an ATO-legislated strategy available to Australians aged 60–67 who are still working. You draw an income stream from your superannuation (minimum 4%, maximum 10% of account balance per year) and salary sacrifice an equivalent amount back into super. The net effect: same take-home pay, but you pay 15% contributions tax on the salary-sacrificed amount instead of your full marginal rate — typically saving thousands per year and accelerating super accumulation. Enter your gross salary and marginal rate in the Country & Local Rules card to see the estimated benefit.

There's no single right number. Higher rates increase the risk of running out; lower rates require more capital. The calculator suggests a rate based on your inputs—treat it as a starting point. When the suggested rate exceeds 4% (capital preservation) or 5% (spend-down), the label turns amber as a caution. In Australia, ABP withdrawals must meet ATO minimums: 4% at 65–74, 5% at 75–79, 6% at 80–84, 7% at 85–89, 9% at 90–94, 11% at 95–99, and 14% at 100+. These are enforced automatically.

The ASFA Retirement Standard is the most widely referenced benchmark in Australia. For FY2025–26: a modest single retirement requires around $32,417/year ($2,700/month); a comfortable single retirement requires around $51,630/year ($4,310/month); a comfortable couple retirement requires around $72,663/year ($6,060/month). These assume home ownership. Use the quick-fill buttons in the Retirement Goal card to apply these directly.

The superannuation preservation age is 60 for anyone born after 30 June 1964. You can access super from age 60 once a condition of release is met—most commonly retiring from employment. Age Pension eligibility is separate and starts at age 67. The calculator models super access from age 60 and Age Pension from age 67 independently.

If your income typically keeps pace with inflation, indexing contributions helps maintain their real value. Otherwise, leave it off and test a higher flat contribution instead.

The "Expected Annual Return" is before inflation. We show targets in today's dollars to keep purchasing power clear.

Australian mode: yes. The calculator models investment management fees, the 15% super concessional entry tax (with Division 293 surcharge for high earners earning over $250k), 0% pension-phase earnings tax from age 60, non-super income tax drag, a 50% CGT discount on unrealised non-super gains at retirement, pre-60 super withdrawal tax, and automatic enforcement of concessional and non-concessional contribution caps.

Global mode: Enter your own "Tax Drag on Non-Super Earnings" percentage in the Fees & Tax card to model your local tax environment. No tax rules are assumed beyond what you enter.

In both modes this is a planning estimate — specific tax outcomes depend on your personal circumstances, fund structure, and applicable legislation. Consider professional advice for material decisions.

The shaded band shows the range of projected outcomes if your actual return is 2% higher (optimistic) or 2% lower (pessimistic) than stated. This illustrates sequence-of-returns risk. The base projection (green bars) uses your exact inputs.

Yes. Use one currency consistently for all inputs; the outputs will be in that currency.

Yes — while this tool is built around the Australian retirement system, it handles FIRE scenarios fully.

• Retire before 60 (early FIRE): Set your retirement age to 40–55. The calculator draws from your non-super ("other investments") bucket first, then automatically switches to super at preservation age 60.
• Pre-60 super tax: If you plan to access super before 60 (via a condition of release), set the Pre-60 Withdrawal Tax Rate in the Fees & Tax card. Most Australians pay 17–22% effective rate on the taxable component.
• The 4% Rule / SWR: Set Withdrawal Rate to 4% for the classic capital-preservation target. The Monte Carlo tab shows your probability of success across 1,000 random market paths — the key sequence-of-returns test for FIRE.
• Lean / Fat / Barista FIRE: Use the Retirement Goal card for your monthly target. For Barista FIRE, add ongoing part-time income in the Country & Local Rules card (Employment Income in retirement). For Coast FIRE, compare projections with and without future contributions.
• No Age Pension: For FIRE users who don't plan to rely on the Age Pension (retiring at 40 won't qualify at 67 either, but some do plan for it), switch to "Global" mode to model without it — or leave Australian mode on and see what pension eligibility looks like decades later.

The calculator does not promote any particular financial strategy. FIRE is a planning framework. These are general illustrations only — consider professional advice for early-retirement decisions.