How much do I need to retire?

The common rule of thumb is 25× your annual expenses (the 4% rule). If you need $50,000/year, you need $1.25 million. The UK Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association suggests £43,100/year for a comfortable retirement (2026). Australia's ASFA benchmark is $50,981/year for a comfortable single retirement.

What is the difference between a 401k and a UK workplace pension?

Both are employer-sponsored retirement accounts with tax advantages. A US 401(k) has a 2026 contribution limit of $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+) and many employers match contributions. UK workplace pensions under auto-enrollment require a minimum 8% total contribution (3% employer, 5% employee).

What is Australia's Superannuation Guarantee?

Australia's Superannuation Guarantee (SG) requires employers to contribute 12% of an employee's ordinary time earnings to a superannuation fund (since 1 July 2025). Super funds are generally invested in diversified portfolios and have historically returned 7–10% annually.

🇺🇸 401(k)🇬🇧 UK Pension🇨🇦 RRSP🇦🇺 Super 12%

Retirement Calculator — 4% Rule & Nest Egg Goal

Use the 4% withdrawal rule to estimate the nest egg you need, then check whether your current savings path gets you there by retirement age. For US 401(k) contribution limits and employer match projection, use the 401(k) Calculator.

💡 2026 limit: $23,500 ($31,000 age 50+). Typical employer match: 3–6% of salary.

Current Age

Retirement Age

Annual Salary ($)

Your Contribution (% of salary)

Expected Annual Return (%)

Existing Savings ($)

Employer match (4%) included automatically.

Quick Answer

A 30-year-old earning $75,000 contributing 10% to a 401(k) with a 4% employer match, assuming 7% annual returns, would have approximately $1.8 million by age 65 — providing ~$72,000/year under the 4% rule.

Retirement Systems by Country

Country	System	Employer Min	2026 Employee Limit	State Pension Age
🇺🇸 United States	401(k)	Varies (0–6%)	$23,500	67
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Workplace Pension	3%	No limit (tax relief limits)	67
🇨🇦 Canada	RRSP + CPP	CPP statutory	CA$32,490	65
🇦🇺 Australia	Superannuation	12% (SG)	A$30,000	67
🇩🇪 Germany	Riester/Betriebsrente	Varies	4% of BBG	67

The 4% Rule — Does It Work Globally?

The 4% safe withdrawal rate was developed by William Bengen using US market data. Research suggests it may be too aggressive for other countries with lower historical equity returns:

US/Canada: 4% historically safe over 30 years
UK/Europe: 3–3.5% may be more prudent
Australia: 4% generally supported by historical data

State pensions supplement private savings in all countries — always factor in Social Security (US), State Pension (UK), CPP (Canada), or Age Pension (Australia).

Related Calculators

Savings Calculator Compound Interest Net Worth

Sources & Methodology

Projections apply compound growth to contributions plus any employer match. Retirement systems, contribution limits and state pension ages differ by country; the 4% safe-withdrawal rule is based on US historical market data.

Standards and figures reviewed 2026.