Retirement

Assumptions:
4% inflation
7% roi

I require 38,000$/year to live a comfortable lifestyle.
To make this for 40 years while I'm in retirement, I'll need to pay out 182,400$ each year (38000$ after 4% inflation).
To reach 182,400$ or more / year in retirement I need to invest $12,000 @7% or higher each year for 40 years.

This is what I call a conservative estimate. In good years I hope to get higher than 7% return and my faith in the capitalist market and the continuing progress of science and technology lead me to be positive. I, like most investors, believe myself to be a good investor.

I also plan to invest more early on, alleviating the need to invest as much in the later years. 18000$ / year means I'd only have to work 35 years to pay for 40 years of living past retirement.

As my income increases with inflation and promotions, putting in the same amount of money (14000$+/year) will be a smaller and smaller piece of the total pie.

Hence, I'll be taken care of if I make 14,000 + 38,000$/year. $52,000/year or more moving forward.