Pension pot projection calculator
Project a defined contribution pension to retirement, after charges, and see the result in today’s money so the number is meaningful. This is a neutral estimate, not advice.
How the projection works
The calculator grows your current pot month by month and adds your monthly contribution as it goes. Each year’s growth is applied after subtracting the platform and fund charge, so a 5% growth assumption with a 0.75% charge compounds at about 4.25% a year. That mirrors how charges quietly erode a pot over a long period.
The headline figure is then adjusted for inflation. A pound in twenty-five years buys less than a pound today, so the raw future pot overstates what it is really worth. Dividing by the compounded inflation figure converts it into today’s money, which is the number you can sensibly compare with your current spending.
| Growth applied | your growth rate minus the charge, each year |
| Contributions | added monthly until retirement |
| Headline figure | final pot adjusted to today’s money |
Worked example
Start with £30,000 and pay in £300 a month for 25 years. Assume 5% growth, a 0.75% charge and 2.5% inflation. You pay in £120,000 of your own money over that time. After charges the pot grows to about £242,996 in future pounds, of which £122,996 is investment growth. Once inflation is stripped out, that is worth roughly £131,070 in today’s money.
Reading the result honestly
- It is a projection, not a promise. Markets rise and fall, and a single growth rate hides that. Try a pessimistic and an optimistic figure to see the spread.
- Charges compound too. Cutting 0.25% from your annual charge can be worth thousands over a working life.
- Today’s money is the honest lens. A large future number can feel reassuring, but the inflation-adjusted figure is what your retirement will actually feel like.
Common questions
Why show the pot in today’s money?
A pot of £500,000 in 30 years will not buy what £500,000 buys now, because prices rise. Converting the projection to today’s money strips out inflation, so the figure reflects real spending power you can actually judge against your current living costs.
What growth rate should I use?
There is no right answer, which is why it is an input. A diversified pension might assume something in the region of 4% to 7% a year before charges over the long run, but returns are not guaranteed and vary year to year. Try a lower and a higher figure to see the range.
How much do charges matter?
Considerably, over decades. A platform or fund charge of 0.75% a year is deducted from your growth every year, and compounding turns a small annual percentage into a large slice of the final pot. Lowering charges is one of the few levers fully in your control.
Does this include the State Pension or tax relief?
No. It projects one defined contribution pot only. The State Pension is separate, and tax relief is added when you contribute rather than modelled here. Use the pension tax relief and State Pension tools for those parts.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a neutral projection based on the assumptions you enter. Investment returns are uncertain and you could get back less than you put in. For decisions about your retirement, consider regulated advice or the free MoneyHelper service.