Retirement Income Calculator

Retirement income calculator

Enter your total retirement portfolio value and the allocation between income-generating slots. The result breaks down your estimated monthly cash flow by slot.

Estimated monthly income

$1,750

Park (SGOV/BIL)

$833

Earn (SCHD/VYM)

$875

Growth slots (no direct income)

Build and Roam generate capital appreciation, not dividends. Their value supports future income by growing the portfolio base.

Based on a $500,000 portfolio at 20% Park / 40% Earn / 30% Build / 10% Roam.

How it works

monthly income = (park allocation × ~5.0%) + (earn allocation × 3.5%) ÷ 12

Park (SGOV/BIL) yields ~5.0% from short-term Treasuries. Earn (SCHD/VYM) yields ~3.5% from dividend-paying equities. Build and Roam are growth-focused — they don't pay significant dividends but grow the portfolio for future income.

What this tool is for

The Earn slot exists to make cash flow predictable enough to matter. Use this to see whether your portfolio can cover basic expenses, then decide if you need more income allocation or a larger total nest egg.

Notes

Yields change. SCHD's yield has ranged from 2% to 4% over the past decade. SGOV's rate follows the Fed funds rate and can move quickly. This is a rough estimate based on current approximate yields, not a guarantee of future income. Taxes on dividends are also real and vary by account type.