Retirement at 60: the numbers behind the plan
Sixty is the compromise age - early enough to enjoy good health, late enough that the maths is far kinder than retiring at 55. Put your own figures in below to see the pot you are heading for and the income it would actually pay.
Compare top retirement accounts
We explain exactly what to compare before you open anything - costs, protection and the traps.
The five extra years do a lot of work
Contributions made in your fifties have less time to compound, but they land on top of a pot that is already large. That is why the final five years before retirement often add more in absolute terms than the first fifteen did.
Delaying from 55 to 60 usually improves a plan twice over: more years of contributions and growth, and five fewer years of withdrawals to fund.
Watch the inflation chart, not just the headline
The second chart on this page shows the same pot in today's spending power. Over an eighteen-year horizon at 2.5% inflation, roughly a third of the headline number quietly disappears.
Plan in today's money. Decide what monthly income you want at today's prices, and let the calculator inflate it for you - that is what the target figure in the gap analysis does.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60 a realistic retirement age?
For a household that has contributed steadily from their thirties, often yes. The calculator's readiness score tells you where you stand on your own assumptions rather than on an average.
Should I keep investing in shares at 60?
Most long-horizon plans keep meaningful equity exposure into retirement because the money still has to last decades. How much is a personal risk decision and a good question for a regulated adviser.
What if I am behind?
Three levers move the number: contribute more, work slightly longer, or plan to spend less. The insight panel quantifies the first two for your own figures.
Does this include state pension or social security?
No. Treat any state or workplace pension as income on top of what this projects, which will reduce the pot your own savings need to provide.
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