How to Retire With $3 Million
Retiring with $3 million is not one number—it is a relationship between spending, taxes, inflation, portfolio returns, Social Security and the age you stop working.
Change the inputs and compare scenarios with the related RetirementMetric calculator.
Open the calculatorWhat could $3 million support?
A 3% initial withdrawal equals $90,000 a year; 3.5% equals $105,000; 4% equals $120,000. Those are starting illustrations, not guarantees. Taxes and portfolio performance can materially change spendable income.
Build the target from spending
Estimate annual retirement spending first, subtract dependable income such as Social Security or pensions, then calculate how much the portfolio may need to supply. This is more useful than choosing $3 million simply because it sounds safe.
Stress-test the plan
Model retirement one to three years earlier, returns below your base case, and spending 10% above plan. A target that survives several reasonable scenarios is more useful than a single optimistic projection.
How to use this number responsibly
Use the result as a planning range rather than a forecast. Re-run the calculation when your balance, contribution rate, debt, retirement date, tax situation or spending target changes. For investment projections, compare multiple return assumptions because future market returns are unknown.
What this calculator does not know
RetirementMetric does not know your complete tax situation, benefits, investment holdings, insurance needs or household expenses. The tools are educational estimates, not individualized investment, tax or legal advice.
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