Calculator Guides
Practical, no-fluff guides on using calculators for real-life financial decisions.
How Much Do I Need to Retire? (The 25× Rule + Reality Checks)
Calculate your retirement number with the 25× rule, then adjust for healthcare, Social Security, and inflation. Real examples for ages 30, 40, and 50.
7 steps · 6 FAQs
How Much Should I Have in My 401(k) by Age? (Real Targets)
401(k) targets by age: 1× salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 10× by 67. The math, the catch-up logic, and what to do if you are behind.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Roth vs Traditional IRA: Which Should You Pick?
Roth or traditional IRA? Decision framework based on current vs retirement tax bracket, with the "tax diversification" argument and worked examples.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
When to Claim Social Security: 62, 67, or 70?
The math on claiming Social Security at 62 vs full retirement age vs 70 — break-even calculations, spousal strategy, and the longevity question.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
FIRE Explained: Financial Independence, Retire Early
How the FIRE movement actually works — the 4% rule, savings rates that make it possible, and the variations (Lean FIRE, Fat FIRE, Coast FIRE).
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Is the 4% Rule Still Valid in 2026?
The 4% rule, where it came from, what current research says about it, and when to drop to 3.3% — with the historical context that matters.
6 steps · 5 FAQs
RMD Rules Explained: Required Minimum Distributions
When RMDs start, how they are calculated, the new SECURE 2.0 rules, and how to minimize the tax hit through Roth conversions and QCDs.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Inflation's Real Impact on Your Retirement Savings
How inflation actually erodes retirement purchasing power, why $1M today is not $1M in 30 years, and the asset mix that beats it.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
How Much Should You Contribute to Your 401(k)?
The 15% rule, the employer match floor, and why income-based percentages beat dollar amounts. With 2026 contribution limits and catch-up math.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Backdoor Roth IRA: How It Works in 2026
Step-by-step backdoor Roth IRA mechanics for high earners above the income limit. Pro-rata rule traps, timing, and the mega backdoor variant.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Pension Lump Sum vs Monthly: Which Should You Take?
When to take a pension as lump sum vs monthly annuity. Discount rate math, longevity risk, and the survivor benefit consideration.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Are Annuities Worth It? (Honest Comparison)
When annuities make sense for retirement income, when they do not, and the high-fee variable annuity trap. Real comparison vs index fund withdrawals.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
401(k) Employer Match: Are You Leaving Free Money on the Table?
Common employer match formulas, the true match cap, vesting schedules, and the math on capturing every dollar of employer-funded retirement money.
6 steps · 5 FAQs
Roth Conversion Timing: When Is the Right Year to Do It?
The low-tax-bracket years between retirement and RMD age 73 are the optimal Roth conversion window. Sequencing strategy and the tax-bracket cliff to avoid.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
Variable Withdrawal Strategies: Beyond the 4% Rule
Guyton-Klinger guardrails, the bond tent, and dynamic spending strategies that improve on the static 4% rule. When variable beats fixed.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
When Can I Retire? Solving for Your Retirement Age
How to calculate the year you actually hit your retirement number — given current savings, monthly contribution, expected returns, and target spending.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
What Is the 4% Rule for Retirement?
A plain-English explanation of the 4% rule: where it comes from, how to turn it into a retirement number, what it assumes, and when to adjust it down.
6 steps · 5 FAQs
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?
A step-by-step way to find your real retirement number: estimate spending, apply the 25× rule, subtract Social Security, and adjust for your retirement age.
7 steps · 5 FAQs
How to Retire Early: The FIRE Math Explained
The math behind retiring early: your FIRE number, the savings rate that controls your timeline, the healthcare bridge, and how to access retirement accounts before 59½.
7 steps · 5 FAQs