Before anything else
This is not a budgeting app.
This is your wealth map.
Most financial tools ask you to track what you spend. This one asks something different: where are you going, and is what you're building today enough to get you there?
The numbers you enter don't need to be perfect. They need to be honest. A rough estimate, honestly made, will give you far more useful insight than a precise number you spent hours finding. Done is better than perfect here.
If you don't know a number, make your best guess, note it, and come back to refine it. The goal of your first session is to get a complete picture — not a perfect one.
Your preparation checklist
The numbers to have handy.
Go through each step below and gather what you can. Anything marked optional is a bonus — the calculator works perfectly well with estimates where you don't have exact figures.
Monthly mortgage or rentWill it be paid off? If you plan to downsize, estimate your new cost.
Annual property taxesCheck your most recent tax bill. Typically found on your mortgage statement.
Annual home insuranceYour yearly premium. Check your insurance renewal notice.
Current home valueRough estimate is fine — check Zillow or Redfin if unsure.
Annual travel budgetHow much do you want to spend on travel per year in retirement? Be generous — this is your life.
Hobbies & wellnessGym, golf, horses, grandkids activities, spa, sports, concerts — add it up annually.
Monthly basicsFood, clothing, healthcare, utilities, transportation — what you spend today is a good starting point.
Social Security estimateVisit ssa.gov/benefits/calculators for a free personalized estimate. Or use $2,000โ$3,000/month as a placeholder.
๐ก Not sure about healthcare costs? If you're retiring before 65, budget $800โ$1,500/month for health insurance as a self-employed person. After 65, plan for $500โ$800/month including Medicare, supplements, dental, and vision.
Your current ageAnd the age you want to become work-optional.
Investment account balancesYour 401(k), IRA, SEP IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage — log into each account and jot down the balance.
Annual retirement contributionsHow much are you actually putting away this year across all accounts?
Return & inflation ratesOptional — defaults already set to 8% / 5% / 2.5%
๐ก Tip: Look up your balances in each bucket separately. Tax-deferred (401k, IRA, SEP) ยท Tax-free (Roth, HSA) ยท Taxable brokerage. The calculator uses actual dollar amounts to calculate your blended tax rate — which is more accurate than using a percentage.
Business entity typeLLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp. If unsure, check with your accountant or look at your business formation documents.
Annual gross revenueTotal revenue before any expenses. Use this year's projection or last year's actuals.
Operating expensesTotal business expenses excluding your own salary or owner's draw.
Your salary or owner's drawWhat you actually pay yourself. For S-Corp owners, this is your W-2 salary specifically.
Your federal & state tax ratesOptional — needed for the Compensation Optimizer. Check last year's tax return.
๐ก Why this matters so much: Most business owners are not maximizing their retirement contributions. As a business owner, you have access to contribution limits that employees can only dream about — up to $70,000/year in a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k). The calculator will show you your exact limit based on your income and entity type.
HYSA / savings balanceOptional — exclude your emergency fund (3โ6 months expenses)
Whole life policy cash valueOptional — call your insurance company or check your annual statement for the current cash surrender value
Current market valueOptional — check Zillow/Redfin for a quick estimate
Mortgage balance remainingOptional — on your most recent mortgage statement
Monthly rental incomeOptional — gross rent before any expenses
Inheritance detailsOptional — if you expect to inherit a property, enter its current value and estimated years until inheritance
๐ก Inherited property? This is worth including. The calculator correctly applies the "stepped-up basis" rule — meaning all appreciation before the date you inherit is completely tax-free. Only growth after you inherit is taxable. It can make a significant difference to your net proceeds.
Current annual EBITDA / net profitOptional — your business earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. For most service businesses, this is roughly your net profit.
๐ก This is upside, not a plan. A business sale can be transformational, but treat it as a bonus layer on top of your core retirement strategy — not as your primary path to financial freedom.
What the tool actually does
Plain-language explanation
of the math.
You don't need to understand any of this to use the tool. But if you're the kind of woman who likes to know what's happening under the hood — here it is.
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Everything is in today's dollars
When the tool says you need $5.2 million, that's in today's purchasing power — not future inflated dollars. Your housing costs and monthly basics are automatically inflated to your retirement date, then converted back so all numbers are comparable. This is how institutional financial models work.
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You'll see two portfolio targets, not one
The Legacy Portfolio is based on the 4% rule — you live off investment returns, never touch the principal, and pass it on. The Full Life Portfolio is the minimum you need if you plan to spend every dollar over your retirement years — always a lower number. Neither is wrong. They reflect different intentions.
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The calculator tells you exactly how many years
At your current savings rate and asset base, how long until you're fully funded? The tool solves for this mathematically and gives you a specific number — plus whether you get there before or after your planned retirement date.
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The business section uses actual IRS rules
Contribution limits are calculated per IRS methodology: LLC SEP IRA = 20% of net income ร 0.9235 (not a simplified 25%). S-Corp limits are based on your W-2 salary. The Compensation Optimizer models three salary/distribution scenarios side by side so you can see what actually moves the needle.
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You can print your full report
Once you see your results, there's a Print Inputs & Results button at the bottom. It generates a clean, complete report showing everything you entered and your full results — formatted to share with your CPA, financial advisor, or bring to a strategy session.
You don't need to be a numbers person
to get real value from this.
The calculator handles all the math. Your only job is to be honest about your life and your money. There are no wrong answers — only estimates that get refined over time.
And if what you see surprises you — if the gap feels bigger or smaller than you expected — that's exactly the clarity this tool is designed to give you. Knowing is always better than guessing.
Quick answers
Questions you might have
right now.
What if I don't have all my numbers?
Use your best estimate. A rough number is almost always better than leaving a field at zero. You can always come back to refine the model as you gather more information. The tool is designed to be run multiple times as your picture evolves.
Is my data saved anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing is stored, sent, or saved anywhere. When you close the tab, the session ends. Use the Print button before closing if you want a copy of your results.
This says I need $5 million. That feels impossible. Should I panic?
No. First: this is a long-term projection, not a tomorrow problem. Second: the tool also shows you your Full Life Portfolio, which is always a lower target. Third — and most importantly — seeing the gap clearly is the first step to closing it. Clarity is not the same as crisis. It's actually the beginning of strategy.
Can I use this outside the United States?
Yes. The tool supports Canadian (RRSP, TFSA), UK (ISA, SIPP, workplace pension), French (PER, PEA), and German (Rรผrup, Riester) account types. The business compensation optimizer is US-specific, but all other calculations work globally.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is a financial planning and education tool. It provides estimates based on your inputs and standard financial planning methodology. It is not a substitute for personalized advice from a qualified CPA, financial planner, or investment advisor. Always consult a professional before making major financial decisions.
What do I do after I see my results?
Print your report. Review it. Bring it to a strategy conversation. The results page is designed to show you not just where you are, but what specifically would move the needle — whether that's maximizing your business retirement account, adjusting your contribution rate, or adding a rental income stream. The next step is turning that insight into a plan.
You're ready.
Let's see your picture.
Open the calculator, take your time through each step, and let the numbers tell you the truth. Whatever you find — you'll be better off knowing it.
