Retirement and savings
Eight calculators for retirement accounts, employer matches, Social Security claiming age, pensions, Health Savings Accounts, college funds, and after-tax cash yields.
Which calculator should I start with?
Tax-advantaged accounts and retirement timing rules can add or subtract tens of thousands of dollars over a career, even when your underlying investments earn the exact same return. If you are deciding how to split workplace or individual retirement savings today, start with Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) or IRA to compare paying tax now against taking the upfront deduction and investing the tax savings. If you carry credit card or personal loan balances while your job offers a retirement match, run 401(k) Match vs. Debt Payoff to see whether a 50% or 100% employer match beats a high loan APR after vesting.
For self-employed business owners, freelancers, and side-hustle earners with no full-time staff, compare contribution limits and upfront tax savings in Solo 401(k) vs. SEP IRA. If you are enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan, use Invest Your HSA vs. Spend It on Medical Bills to weigh reimbursing doctor bills today against paying out of pocket, investing the HSA balance tax-free, and cashing in saved receipts years later. For parents saving for a child's education, check 529 College Plan vs. Brokerage Account to compare state tax breaks and Roth rollover rules against brokerage flexibility.
When you are approaching retirement or managing safe cash, run Social Security Claiming Age Break-Even to compare monthly checks at 62, 67, and 70, test a buyout offer in Pension Lump Sum vs. Monthly Annuity, and check Treasury Bill vs. CD or HYSA After Tax to see how state and local tax exemptions change your real yield on cash.