What is the Pension Account Growth Calculator?
The Pension Account Growth Calculator projects how your UK pension pot will grow over time from today until you stop contributing. It models your contributions, employer matching, tax relief, investment returns, and fees to show your projected pot size at retirement.
How the Calculator Works?
This calculator models your pension pot growth year by year, accounting for contributions, investment returns, and fees. You can choose between real returns (after inflation) or nominal returns, and view results in today’s money or nominal pounds.
It handles different UK tax relief methods (relief at source, net pay, salary sacrifice) and can model both percentage-based and flat contribution amounts. The calculator shows how your pot grows over time and projects your final pot size based on your assumptions.
Step One: Enter Your Profile and Current Pot
Set your current age, when you plan to stop contributing, your current pension pot value, and your salary. You can also choose to view outputs in today’s money (inflation-adjusted) to see real purchasing power.
Step Two: Set Your Contributions
Model your employee and employer contributions using percentages of salary, flat amounts, or both. Configure tax relief method, contribution growth over time, and annual allowance settings. The calculator handles UK-specific tax relief methods including salary sacrifice with NI savings.
Step Three: Configure Growth Assumptions
Choose your expected investment returns (real or nominal), select from presets (Low 3%, Moderate 5%, High 7%) or set a custom rate. Set inflation assumptions and annual platform/fund fees. The calculator projects your pot growth based on these assumptions.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides illustrative projections only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax relief calculations are simplified and do not model every pension rule or tax detail. Always check scheme documentation and consider professional advice.
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What is the Pension Account Growth Calculator?
It is a UK-specific tool that projects how your pension pot will grow over time, accounting for contributions, employer matching, tax relief, investment returns, and fees.
Does it include employer contributions?
Yes. You can model employer contributions as a percentage of salary or as a flat annual amount. The calculator includes both in the projection.
How are tax relief methods handled?
The calculator supports three UK tax relief methods: relief at source (government adds basic-rate relief), net pay arrangement, and salary sacrifice. Relief at source shows the government top-up, whilst salary sacrifice can include estimated NI savings.
What is the difference between real and nominal returns?
Real returns are after inflation, showing growth in purchasing power. Nominal returns are before inflation, showing growth in pounds. You can enter either and choose how to view outputs.
Can I model contribution increases?
Yes. You can set an annual contribution increase percentage to model contributions that grow over time, such as when you get pay rises or decide to contribute more.
What about fees?
You can set annual platform and fund fees as a percentage. Fees are applied after growth in the calculation, which is the typical approach.
Can I view results in today’s money?
Yes. If you enable “Show outputs in today’s money”, balances are discounted back to today using your inflation assumption, showing real purchasing power.
Does it model annual allowance?
The calculator includes basic annual allowance warnings but does not model tapered annual allowance or carry forward rules. It’s illustrative only.
Can I export the results?
If your projected pot exceeds your required pot, you have a surplus. This means you’re on track or ahead of schedule. You could reduce your contributions, retire earlier, or increase your retirement spending.
Can I export the results?
Yes. A CSV export is available with full year-by-year projections, including all contribution details, growth, and fees for each year.
Is my data stored?
No. All calculations run locally in your browser and no personal data is saved. Your information never leaves your device.
What return rate should I use?
Conservative investors might use 3% real returns, balanced portfolios typically 5%, and growth-focused portfolios 7% or higher. The calculator includes presets for these common scenarios.
How accurate are the projections?
The calculator provides illustrative projections based on your inputs and assumptions. Actual investment returns will vary, and your circumstances may change. Use the calculator as a planning tool and review your plan regularly.
Can I model different scenarios?
Yes. You can adjust any input to see how different choices affect your pension pot growth. Try different contribution amounts, return rates, or retirement ages to see how robust your plan is.