Monte Carlo Retirement Simulation
Traditional retirement calculators give you one answer: with 5% annual returns, you'll have X in 30 years. But markets don't deliver average returns every year — some years +20%, some −15%. Monte Carlo runs 1,000 random scenarios and reports success probability, not a single number.
Success rate interpretation
- ≥ 95%: robust plan, executable as-is
- 85–95%: acceptable, small risk of adjustment
- 75–85%: meaningful risk, consider backup plans
- < 75%: unlikely to sustain, reduce withdrawals or delay retirement
The 4% rule aims for 95%+ success — see Trinity Study article.