Project your pension pot at retirement, estimate monthly income, and see whether you're on track or how much to increase contributions.
This tool projects your pension pot at retirement by compounding your existing pot and total monthly contributions (yours plus employer's) at your expected annual growth rate. It then estimates monthly income using the widely-cited 4% safe withdrawal rule, drawing 4% of your pot per year, combined with your state pension to show total income.
The UK full new State Pension in 2025/26 is around £221 per week (approximately £958/month). You need 35 qualifying National Insurance years to receive the full amount. You can check your forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
Note: this calculator does not account for inflation, tax-free cash lump sums, annuity rates, or pension lifetime allowances. It is for indicative planning only. Speak to a regulated financial adviser for personalised advice.
The 4% rule is a widely used retirement planning guideline, originating from the Trinity Study. It suggests that withdrawing 4% of your pension pot per year gives a high probability that your savings will last at least 30 years. For example, a pot of £300,000 would support an annual withdrawal of £12,000 (£1,000/month). It's a useful benchmark, though actual outcomes depend on investment returns, inflation, and spending. To see how compound interest builds your pot over time, use the compound interest calculator.
The UK full new State Pension (2025/26) is approximately £221 per week, or around £958 per month. To qualify for the full amount you need 35 qualifying National Insurance years. Even if your private pension falls short of your target income, the State Pension forms a reliable foundation. You can check your forecast and NI record at gov.uk. A well-structured budget planner can help you understand how much monthly income you actually need in retirement.