Retirement Countdown

Your live countdown to the day you stop working forever.

For fun only. Not financial advice. Consult a financial advisor for retirement planning.

Date of birth

Target retirement age: 65

5065 (standard)80

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the retirement date calculated?

Adds your target retirement age to your date of birth to give an exact target date, then counts down in real time.

Can I set a custom retirement age?

Yes. Set any target age from 50 to 80.

Is this financial advice?

No. A fun countdown tool only. For retirement planning consult a financial advisor.

Does it save my date?

Yes. Saved in your browser so the countdown resumes on return visits.

Can I share my countdown?

Yes. Copy your years, days, and hours to go and share anywhere.

Retirement: The Numbers Behind the Countdown

Retirement planning involves a set of interlinked calculations: when you will stop working, how much money you will need, how long you will need it to last, and how to get there from where you are now. The countdown timer is the lightest possible entry point into this — just the time dimension made vivid.

The retirement age question

State retirement ages have been rising across most developed countries as populations age and the ratio of workers to retirees declines. In the UK, the state pension age is currently 66 and is scheduled to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046 under current plans. In the US, full Social Security retirement age is 67 for those born after 1959. Many financial planners suggest targeting private retirement assets sufficient to retire at 60–65 regardless of state pension age, with the state pension as a supplementary income.

The 4% rule

The "4% rule" is a commonly cited withdrawal rate guideline — the maximum annual withdrawal from a retirement portfolio that historical analysis suggests is sustainable for a 30-year retirement without depleting the fund. A retirement portfolio of £500,000 would support approximately £20,000/year under this rule. A portfolio of £1,000,000 would support approximately £40,000/year. The 4% rule was derived from US historical market data and may not be optimal for all situations, but it provides a useful planning anchor.

Starting early is mathematically overwhelming

The compound interest calculations are unambiguous: a 25-year-old contributing £200/month at 7% average return will have approximately £525,000 at 65. A 35-year-old contributing the same amount will have approximately £243,000. Starting a decade later roughly halves the outcome despite contributing only 25% less in total. Time in the market, not amount contributed, is the primary driver of retirement savings outcomes for most people.