Financial Calculators That Actually Help
Most retirement calculators give you a single number and call it done. That’s really not that helpful. Real financial planning requires testing different scenarios, understanding tradeoffs, and seeing how decisions today affect outcomes decades from now.
These calculators work together to answer the questions that matter:
Start here if you don’t know your number. The Retirement Goal Calculator works backwards from your desired lifestyle to show how much you actually need saved. No guessing, no rules of thumb that might not fit your situation.
Figure out when you can ease off the gas. The Coast FIRE Calculator shows when you’ve saved enough that compound growth handles the rest. After that point, retirement contributions become optional. You can redirect that money toward other priorities while your portfolio coasts to your goal.
Test whether your current plan works. The Retirement Readiness Calculator projects your savings year by year using the 4% rule. It factors in Social Security timing and shows whether your money might last through your 90s or run short at 80.
Model different paths forward. The Retirement Projection Model lets you compare scenarios side by side. What if you cut spending? What if you consult for three years? What if you delay Social Security? See exactly how each choice changes your outcome.
Know where you stand right now. The Budget Reality Calculator shows whether your spending is sustainable before you even think about retirement. It focuses on the big three that actually matter: housing, transportation, and savings. You get three views: recommended ranges, how you compare, and what’s left after must-haves. No guilt trips about small purchases. Just honest math on whether the foundation works.
What these calculators don’t do: They don’t account for taxes, market volatility, healthcare cost spikes, or the thousand other variables that make real life messy. They assume steady returns when markets are anything but steady. They show future dollars without adjusting for inflation.
What they do well: They give you a framework for thinking through your situation. They show relative differences between strategies. They help you spot potential problems before they become actual problems.
Retirement Goal Calculator
Figure out how much you actually need to retire based on your desired lifestyle. Enter your target monthly income and Social Security estimate to see the portfolio size required to support your retirement.
This calculator uses the 4% rule to work backwards from your spending needs. It shows how much your investments must cover after accounting for Social Security and includes an optional safety buffer for peace of mind.
Coast FIRE Calculator
Find out when you can stop contributing to retirement and let compound growth handle the rest. Enter your current savings, annual contributions, and retirement goal to see exactly when you reach your Coast FIRE number.
This calculator shows the amount you need today for your portfolio to grow to your retirement goal without any additional contributions. Once you hit that number, you can redirect money toward other priorities while your investments coast to your target.
Retirement Readiness Calculator
See if your savings are on track to last through retirement. Enter your current portfolio, planned retirement age, and Social Security estimate to get year-by-year projections of how your money might grow and what you could safely withdraw.
This calculator uses the traditional 4% rule, which sets your annual withdrawal as a fixed dollar amount based on your portfolio at retirement. It also shows how delaying or claiming Social Security early affects your overall picture.
Retirement Projection Model
Model different scenarios to see how your portfolio might perform from now through retirement. Enter your current situation and compare multiple paths: current spending, reduced expenses, or adding extra income for a few years.
This calculator projects your portfolio year-by-year, showing when Social Security starts, when you might run short, or how much cushion you’ll have. Use it to test “what if” scenarios and find the strategy that gives you confidence about your retirement timeline.
Budget Reality Calculator
Stop wondering where your money goes. Enter your income and spending to see three critical views: recommended ranges for each category, how your actual spending compares, and what you have left after the must-haves.
This calculator focuses on what matters: housing, transportation, and savings. Those three categories determine whether your budget works. Everything else is just math around the edges. No lectures about coffee. Just honest feedback on whether the big stuff is sustainable.