The real question behind "€2 million to retire at 60"
"Retire at 60 with €2 million" is really two questions: how much income does €2 million produce, and is that enough for the life you want? The amount alone means nothing until you turn it into a monthly income you can rely on for decades.
What €2 million actually pays you
A withdrawal rate turns a portfolio into income. The best-known version is the 4% rule: you draw about 4% of the portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation, with a good chance the money lasts around 30 years. On €2,000,000 that is €80,000 a year — about €6,667 a month before tax.
Why retiring at 60 argues for a safer rate
The 4% rule was built around a roughly 30-year retirement. Retire at 60 and your money may need to last 35–40 years, which raises the risk that a bad run of early returns quietly drains the portfolio. Many early retirees use a more cautious 3.5%. On €2 million that is €70,000 a year, or €5,833 a month — €10,000 a year less, bought as insurance against a longer, earlier retirement.
So is €2 million enough?
Flip the question. Decide the monthly income you actually want, then work backwards: the portfolio you need is your yearly income divided by the withdrawal rate. If €5,833 to €6,667 a month covers your life, €2 million does the job. If you need more, you need a bigger number — or a later start.
Find your own number
Enter your target monthly income and a withdrawal rate into the retirement target calculator to see the exact portfolio you need — and how close €2 million gets you.
Getting there
If you are still building toward the target, the compound interest calculator shows what regular investing turns into over time. And whatever you accumulate, Warren Buffett's golden rule — never lose it — is what keeps the plan intact.