UK Final Salary / Defined Benefit Pension Calculator
Estimate a UK DB (final salary) pension using the plan's accrual rate.
Inputs
How it works
Annual pension = FPE × service ÷ accrual denominator. E.g. £48,000 × 25 ÷ 60 = £20,000. Career-average schemes (CARE) revalue each year's accrual with inflation.
Frequently asked questions
Is this guaranteed?
No — these are projections that assume your inputs hold. Real markets and life are variable.
What's the 4% safe-withdrawal rule?
The Trinity Study suggests withdrawing 4% of a balanced portfolio in year one and adjusting for inflation typically lasts 30+ years.
Should I max out my 401(k)?
At minimum, capture the full employer match — that's free money. Beyond that, balance against debt payoff and emergency reserves.
Roth vs. Traditional?
Roth wins if you'll be in a higher tax bracket in retirement; Traditional wins if you'll be in a lower bracket.
When should I start saving?
Immediately. The single biggest variable in retirement success is years of compounding.