Drawdown sustainability
How long could a pension pot last? Model withdrawals, growth and inflation and find the depletion age.
Each year the pot grows at the assumed rate, then a year of income is withdrawn.
Each year the pot grows at the assumed rate, then a year of income is withdrawn. The income rises with inflation, so the pot must work harder every year. When the balance hits zero, that is the depletion age.
This is a smooth-return model. Real drawdown is exposed to sequencing risk — poor returns early, combined with withdrawals, can exhaust a pot that average returns say should survive.
Formula
potₜ₊₁ = potₜ(1 + g) − income × (1 + i)ᵗ
g assumed growth, i inflation, t years since drawdown began. Stops at age 100.
- 01Smooth annual returns; no volatility or sequencing risk.
- 02Income withdrawn once a year, after growth.
- 03No tax on withdrawals, no charges, no State Pension or other income.
- 04Inflation applied to income only, not to a target standard of living.
Holding everything else at your inputs
Each row changes one variable and shows the result. It illustrates which assumptions the answer is most sensitive to — it does not suggest which to choose.
| Variable | Changed to | Lasts to age | vs your result |
|---|
Reminder: this tool is general education. It doesn't know your circumstances, can't see future markets, and isn't a personal recommendation. Retirement income decisions are complex and largely irreversible: use Pension Wise (free, from 50) and consult an FCA-authorised adviser — our toolkit shows how to find one.