What it estimates
- Capital implied by desired annual spending
- Projected accessible and pension investments
- Monthly contribution needed for a chosen date
- Accessible bridge before pension access
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Calculate the freedom target—and the bridge needed to reach your pension.
Estimate the investment gap, contribution required and accessible assets needed if work becomes optional before pension access.
Why access matters
A household can have substantial pension wealth and still lack funds for the years before pensions are accessible. The model therefore separates accessible investments from pension assets.
What it excludes
State Pension, defined-benefit income, tax on withdrawals, changing spending, investment sequencing and later-life care are not modelled. A single withdrawal rate cannot guarantee sustainability.
How the target is calculated
Start with spending, then stress-test the assumptions.
The illustrative freedom target divides annual spending by the withdrawal rate entered. Existing assets and monthly contributions are then projected using a return after fees and inflation. The bridge check compares accessible assets with spending between the target date and pension access.
Try a later target date, lower return and higher spending separately. A plan that only works under the most optimistic inputs needs more margin.