401(k) & Retirement Calculator
Retirement Projection Starting at Age 40
Starting at 40 still leaves a meaningful runway for compound growth before a typical retirement age.
Results
- Projected balance at retirement
- $917,578
- Your total contributions
- $170,000
- Employer match total
- $85,000
- Investment growth
- $622,578
Balance by age
| Period | Age | Projected balance |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $40,000 | |
| 41 | $53,425 | |
| 42 | $67,821 | |
| 43 | $83,258 | |
| 44 | $99,810 | |
| 45 | $117,559 | |
| 46 | $136,591 | |
| 47 | $156,999 | |
| 48 | $178,882 | |
| 49 | $202,347 | |
| 50 | $227,509 | |
| 51 | $254,489 | |
| 52 | $283,420 | |
| 53 | $314,442 | |
| 54 | $347,706 | |
| 55 | $383,376 | |
| 56 | $421,624 | |
| 57 | $462,637 | |
| 58 | $506,614 | |
| 59 | $553,771 | |
| 60 | $604,337 | |
| 61 | $658,558 | |
| 62 | $716,699 | |
| 63 | $779,043 | |
| 64 | $845,894 | |
| 65 | $917,578 |
Frequently asked questions
Am I leaving money on the table if I contribute less than the match?
Usually yes — most employer matches only pay out up to a certain percent of salary, so contributing less than that cap means giving up free employer money.
Is 7% a realistic expected return?
It's a commonly used long-run average for a diversified stock/bond portfolio after inflation is roughly accounted for, but actual year-to-year returns vary widely — treat this as a projection, not a guarantee.