How long will $750k last in retirement?
$750k can last 30+ years at a sustainable 4% withdrawal ($30,000/yr) — but at a heavier 6% draw ($45,000/yr) it lasts only about 21 years. How long your money lasts comes down to how much you spend, taxes, and market luck.
How long $750k lasts at each spending level
Retiring at 60 with $750k invested (60% taxable / 30% traditional / 10% Roth), 6% nominal return, 3% inflation, no Social Security:
| Rate | Spend / yr | Spend / mo | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $23,000 | $1,917 | 30+ years (to 95) |
| 4% | $30,000 | $2,500 | 30+ years (to 95) |
| 5% | $38,000 | $3,167 | ~27 years (to 87) |
| 6% | $45,000 | $3,750 | ~21 years (to 81) |
| 7% | $53,000 | $4,417 | ~17 years (to 77) |
Three things that change the answer
- Taxes. A dollar in a traditional 401(k) isn't a dollar you can spend — withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. This projection accounts for that, which is why real-world longevity is shorter than a naive "$750k ÷ annual spend."
- Sequence of returns. A market crash in your first few retirement years does far more damage than the same crash later — you're selling assets while they're down. Two retirees with identical average returns can get very different lifespans from the same $750k.
- Social Security, pensions, and part-time income. Every dollar of outside income is a dollar you don't withdraw. Adding Social Security alone often turns a "runs out" plan into one that lasts indefinitely.
These figures assume you retire at 60. Retire earlier and the same $750k must stretch over more years; retire later (or add Social Security) and it lasts longer. Model your exact situation in the calculator.
A bond tent for the fragile first decade
The most dangerous stretch of any retirement is the first ten years or so. A poor run of returns paired with steady withdrawals early on can permanently shrink the base, because money sold in a downturn is never there to recover; that is sequence-of-returns risk. A bond tent is the classic countermeasure: hold a higher share of bonds and cash right around the retirement date, then let the allocation drift back toward stocks over the following years. It softens the opening blow when the portfolio is most vulnerable, then rebuilds growth once the risky window has passed.
Working alongside that risk is a quieter pattern most plans under-weight: the spending smile. Real outlays tend to run high in the active early years, ease through the slower middle years as travel and big purchases fade, then rise again late as healthcare and possible care costs climb.
Planning for a curve rather than a flat, ever-rising line usually reveals more room in the middle years than a rigid inflation-adjusted rule assumes.
Common questions
How long will $750k last in retirement?
At a sustainable 4% withdrawal ($30,000/year), $750k lasts 30+ years. At a 6% draw ($45,000/year) it lasts about 21 years. The exact answer depends on your spending, taxes, and market returns.
What's a safe withdrawal rate for $750k?
The classic "4% rule" — $30,000/year from $750k, rising with inflation — has historically lasted a 30-year retirement. Retiring early (a longer horizon) argues for a slightly lower rate closer to 3.5%.
Does this include taxes?
Yes. The projection applies the federal (and where relevant, state) tax you'd owe withdrawing from taxable, traditional, and Roth accounts, so the longevity figures are realistic rather than a simple division.