Example result based on the prefilled values.
Retirement Pot
R1 015 588,82
Years to Retire
35.00
Est. Monthly Income
R4 231,62
Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing, or increasing your monthly contribution.
- When you want to compare best-case, base-case, and cautious return assumptions.
- When you need a quick projection before making a longer-term portfolio decision.
- When you are deciding how many more years of contributions are needed to reach a specific target balance.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier versus contributing more each month produces a bigger outcome.
A realistic South Africa planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Current Age
35
Retirement Age
35
Current Savings (R)
R15,000
Monthly Contribution (R)
R250 per month
After entering these figures, review retirement pot, years to retire and est. monthly income together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Retirement Pot
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Years to Retire
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Est. Monthly Income
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator projects the potential value of your retirement pot based on your current savings, regular contributions, an assumed rate of growth, and your target retirement age. It applies compound growth annually and does not model variable contribution increases, salary progression, or state benefits such as the new State Pension. The figures are nominal and are not adjusted for inflation; a projected pot of £500,000 in thirty years will have considerably less real purchasing power than today. UK pension contributions attract income tax relief, and growth within a SIPP or workplace pension is sheltered from tax during accumulation. The calculator does not account for drawdown taxation in retirement or the Lifetime Allowance framework. Results are illustrative only and not financial advice.
Common mistakes
- !Using an assumption that is not supported by a current local quote, bill, statement or official source.
- !Treating a generic estimate as a lender, provider, payroll or tax authority decision.
- !Mixing monthly and annual inputs without converting them consistently.
- !Forgetting location-specific taxes, fees, eligibility rules or payroll deductions where they apply.
- !Testing only one scenario instead of checking how a cautious assumption changes the result.
What to do next
- Run a second scenario with a cautious assumption so you can see the downside clearly.
- Compare the result with the related calculators below before making a decision.
- Check current local rules, eligibility and provider terms before applying or committing money.
- Keep a record of the assumptions so you can update the estimate when a quote, bill or pay figure changes.
- Use the result to prepare better questions for a lender, provider, adviser or employer rather than treating it as a final answer.
Frequently asked
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