RETIREMENT ANSWERS

Start with the math. Then test the whole plan.

A portfolio balance or retirement age is only the opening question. These guides show the first-year math, the assumptions that change the result, and the next questions worth testing.

Explore the answers See how Ask Linc plans retirement
Portfolio questions3 balances$1 million, $2 million, and $3 million
Timing questions2 agesRetiring at 55 and retiring at 60
Planning approach1 methodTransparent calculations with stated assumptions

BY PORTFOLIO BALANCE

What could your savings support?

Compare the same 3%, 3.5%, and 4% starting-withdrawal illustrations across three balances. Each guide then adds income, spending, tax, and risk context.

$1M portfolio

Can I retire with $1 million?

Yes—$1 million can be enough to retire if your spending gap is modest and other income covers a meaningful share of your needs.

3%
$30K/yr
3.5%
$35K/yr
4%
$40K/yr
Read the full answer
$2M portfolio

Can I retire with $2 million?

Yes—for many households, $2 million can be enough to retire. But the balance alone cannot answer the question.

3%
$60K/yr
3.5%
$70K/yr
4%
$80K/yr
Read the full answer
$3M portfolio

Can I retire with $3 million?

Yes—for many households, $3 million can support a comfortable retirement. But a large balance is not the same thing as a complete retirement plan.

3%
$90K/yr
3.5%
$105K/yr
4%
$120K/yr
Read the full answer
First-year portfolio withdrawals at three illustrative starting rates
Starting portfolio3.0%3.5%4.0%
$1M portfolio$30K / year$35K / year$40K / year
$2M portfolio$60K / year$70K / year$80K / year
$3M portfolio$90K / year$105K / year$120K / year

These are gross, first-year portfolio withdrawals—not promised returns, guaranteed lifetime income, or a complete retirement plan.

BY RETIREMENT AGE

What must the early years bridge?

Retiring before Medicare or Social Security changes the sequence of the plan. Start with the benefits and tax milestones that arrive after work stops.

A longer bridge

Can I retire at 55?

The hard part is not the birthday itself. It is coordinating accessible savings, healthcare, taxes, spending, and investment risk across several different timelines. Start by sizing the income gap from age 55, then model when each account and benefit becomes available.

  • 55Retirement begins
  • 59½Account access
  • 62Social Security
  • 65Healthcare
See the age-by-age answer
Five years to Medicare

Can I retire at 60?

At 60, the general 59½ early-distribution threshold has passed, but Social Security cannot start until 62 and Medicare usually begins at 65. The useful question is how much your portfolio must provide before and after those milestones—not only whether you have reached a particular balance.

  • 60Retirement begins
  • 62Social Security
  • 65Healthcare
  • 67Social Security
See the age-by-age answer

SOURCES & METHODOLOGY

Useful estimates. Explicit limits.

Every answer separates deterministic calculations from planning judgments. Withdrawal examples are simple starting-balance math. They do not predict returns or guarantee how long a portfolio will last.

  1. 01
    Show the calculation

    Rates, amounts, income gaps, and assumptions stay visible.

  2. 02
    Use primary sources

    Each guide links to relevant IRS, Social Security, Medicare, and federal data.

  3. 03
    Model the connected plan

    Use Ask Linc to replace the examples with your accounts, spending, income, and goals.

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TRY IT WITH YOUR OWN NUMBERS

Replace the examples with your accounts, spending, income, and goals.