CALCMONEY // GUIDES // PAGE 11 OF 14
Blog.
Numbers-first guides on mortgages, taxes, retirement, and net worth. No opinions, no fluff.
AMT Calculator: Who Pays the Alternative Minimum Tax and How to Avoid It
The AMT exemption in 2026 is $89,075 for single filers. Most middle-income earners owe nothing. But if you exercise ISOs or have large itemized deductions, the AMT can cost tens of thousands. Here is how to calculate your exposure.
Salary Negotiation Calculator: The Numbers You Need to Make Your Case
Asking for 10-15% above the initial offer is rarely refused. A $5K annual raise compounded over 10 years at 3% annual increases equals $57K more in total earnings.
ESPP Calculator: How Employee Stock Purchase Plans Work and What They Actually Pay
A 15% discount ESPP on a stock that does not move still returns 17.6% in 6 months. Sell immediately on purchase date and you have near-guaranteed return. Here is the full ESPP math and tax treatment.
Auto Loan Calculator: Total Cost of a Car Loan Including Interest
A $35,000 car at 7.5% over 72 months costs $44,800 total. The extra $9,800 is pure interest. Stretching to 84 months at the same rate costs $11,600 in interest. Here is the full breakdown.
College Cost Calculator: What Will Your Child's Degree Actually Cost?
A 4-year public university today costs $112,000 for in-state students. With 5% college inflation, a child born today faces a $290,000 bill. Here is how to calculate your target and how much to save monthly to get there.
Solo 401k Calculator: Maximize Contributions as a Self-Employed Person
A solo 401k lets a self-employed person earning $150,000 contribute up to $52,325 in 2026. More than triple what an IRA allows. Here is how the contribution math works and why this is the best retirement account for freelancers.
Tax-Equivalent Yield Calculator: Are Muni Bonds Right for You?
A 4% municipal bond yield is equivalent to 6.58% on a taxable bond for someone in the 37% bracket. In a low tax bracket, muni bonds pay less after taxes than equivalent taxable bonds. Here is how to calculate when they make sense.
Real Estate ROI Calculator: Total Return Including Appreciation and Cash Flow
A rental property with negative $200/month cash flow can still generate 18% total ROI when appreciation, debt paydown, and depreciation are included. Here is how to calculate the real number on any deal.
Self-Directed IRA Calculator: Building Wealth Beyond Stocks
A self-directed IRA can hold rental property, private equity, and gold. But one prohibited transaction can trigger immediate taxation of the entire account plus a 15% penalty. Here is how SDIRAs work and what to avoid.
Financial Independence Number Calculator: Your Exact FI Target
Your financial independence number is 25 times your annual expenses minus any guaranteed income. On $60,000/year spending with $24,000 in Social Security, your FI number is $900,000. Not $1.5 million. Here is how to calculate it correctly.
Kiddie Tax Calculator: How Investment Income Is Taxed for Minors
A 16-year-old with $10,000 in investment income pays tax at their parents' 32% rate on $7,700 of it. Not the child's 0% or 10% rate. The kiddie tax eliminated the old strategy of shifting investments to kids.
Net Investment Income Tax Calculator: The 3.8% Surtax Explained
Earn $250,000 in wages and $30,000 in dividends and capital gains. The 3.8% NIIT applies to the $30,000 in investment income. An extra $1,140 tax. Here is who it hits and how to reduce it.
Treasury Bills Calculator: T-Bill Rates, Returns, and Tax Advantages
A 26-week T-bill at 4.65% on $10,000 pays $232 in interest, state-tax-free, backed by the US government. Compared to a bank savings account at 0.46%, that is $186 more on the same $10,000. Here is the full breakdown.
Money Market vs High-Yield Savings: Which Pays More Right Now?
A money market fund at Fidelity yields around 4.95% while the best HYSA pays around 4.75%. On $50,000, that is $100 per year difference. But money market funds are not FDIC insured. Here is the full comparison.
Side Hustle Income Tax Calculator: What You Owe the IRS
Earn $20,000 from a side hustle and owe $2,826 in self-employment tax on top of income tax. But $5,000 in legitimate deductions reduces the SE tax bill by $707. Here is the full calculation.
Cost of Living Comparison Calculator: Is It Worth Moving?
Earning $120,000 in San Francisco is equivalent to $72,000 in Austin after adjusting for housing, taxes, and cost differences. A $50,000 raise that moves you to NYC may leave you financially worse off.
I-Bond Calculator 2026: Current Rate, Purchase Limits, and Returns
I-Bonds pay a composite rate adjusted for inflation every 6 months. They are risk-free, inflation-linked, and state-tax-free. The catch: $10,000 annual purchase limit and a 1-year lockup. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
Income-Based Repayment Calculator: What You Will Pay on Each Federal Plan
On $50,000 income with $80,000 in federal student loans, the SAVE plan payment is $135/month. The standard 10-year payment is $920/month. Here is how each income-driven plan is calculated and who benefits most.
CD Ladder Calculator: How to Build a CD Ladder That Pays More
A 5-year CD ladder with $50,000 earns more than putting everything in a 1-year CD while giving you access to $10,000 every 12 months. Here is the exact math and how to set one up.
Charitable Giving Calculator 2026: DAF Strategy, Appreciated Stock, and QCD Savings
Donating $10,000 of appreciated stock instead of cash saves you $1,500 in capital gains tax while the charity receives the same amount. A donor-advised fund lets you bunch 3 years of giving into one deduction. Here is how to run the numbers.
Compound Interest Calculator: How Exponential Growth Works
$10,000 invested at 7% for 40 years becomes $149,745. For 50 years it becomes $294,570. The extra 10 years nearly doubles the outcome. Here is how compound interest actually works and how to use it.
Disability Insurance Calculator: How Much Income Protection Do You Need?
A 35-year-old has a 25% chance of being disabled for 90+ days before retirement. Employer group disability typically pays 60% of income. On a $100,000 salary, that is a $40,000/year shortfall. Here is how to close the gap.
Emerging Markets Risk Calculator: Is the Extra Return Worth It?
Emerging markets returned 11.6% annualized from 2000-2010 while US stocks lost nearly 1%. From 2010-2020, EM returned 3.7% while the US returned 13.6%. The range of outcomes is wide. Here is how to size your allocation.
Tax Brackets 2026: How Marginal Rates Actually Work
Earning $95,000 does not mean you pay 22% on all $95,000. You pay the lower rates on the first portions of income. Here is the complete 2026 tax bracket table and the exact calculation of what you actually owe.
How to Build a 6-Month Emergency Fund: The Step-by-Step System
A 6-month emergency fund on $4,000 monthly essential expenses is $24,000. At $500/month saved, that takes 48 months. At $1,000/month with starting capital, it takes 18 months. Here is the fastest path.
International vs US Investing Calculator: How Much Diversification Do You Need?
US stocks make up 60% of global market cap but only 4% of the world's population. International stocks have outperformed the US in 6 of the past 10 decades. Here is how to think about global diversification.
Umbrella Insurance Calculator: How Much Coverage Do You Actually Need?
A $1 million umbrella policy costs $150-$300 per year. Without it, a $1.2 million judgment from a car accident exceeds your auto policy limits and the plaintiff can garnish your wages for years.
Rent vs Buy Calculator 2026: The Math in Today's Market
At 6.75% mortgage rates on a $400,000 home with 20% down, owning costs $2,609/month before maintenance. Renting the equivalent home costs $2,100/month. Owning costs more monthly but builds equity. Here is when buying wins.
HSA vs FSA Calculator: Which Saves You More in 2026?
An HSA saves $1,075 in taxes per year on $4,300 in contributions at 25% combined rate. An FSA saves $625 on $2,500. But the HSA keeps growing tax-free after the year ends. The 20-year gap is over $40,000.
Portfolio Rebalancing Calculator: When and How to Rebalance
A 60/40 portfolio left alone for 3 years can drift to 72/28 after a strong stock run. That is meaningfully more risk than you targeted. Here is when rebalancing matters and how to do it without triggering unnecessary taxes.
Asset Allocation by Age Calculator: The Right Stock/Bond Mix
The old rule was 100 minus your age in stocks. At 40, that means 60% stocks. Today most advisors use 110 or 120 minus age. Meaning 80% stocks at 40. Here is the full framework and how to choose your allocation.
Credit Card Rewards Calculator 2025: Compare Cards & Maximize Points
Calculate your exact annual rewards in 60 seconds. On $48,000 in spending, a 2% cash back card returns $960. An optimized 2-card setup returns $1,237. A premium travel card beats both only if you actually use the benefits.
Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator: Estimating Your Premium Costs
On $55,000 income (single), the benchmark Silver plan costs $6,800/year but you pay $2,400 after the premium tax credit subsidy. Here is how to calculate your actual cost before choosing a plan.
ESPP Calculator: How to Value Your Employee Stock Purchase Plan
A 15% discount ESPP on a stock that does not move still returns 17.6% in 6 months. Sell immediately on the purchase date and you have near-guaranteed return. Here is the full ESPP math and tax treatment.
Investment Property vs Primary Home: Which Builds More Wealth?
Owning a primary home builds equity but costs 1-2% annually in maintenance, taxes, and opportunity cost. A rental property generates income but requires management. Here is the side-by-side wealth comparison.
Small Business Loan Calculator: Total Cost of Borrowing for Your Business
SBA 7(a) loans run 10.50-13.00% in 2026. A $150K loan at 11% over 7 years costs $2,552/month. Here's the full cost comparison across loan types and amounts.
Social Security Spousal Benefits Calculator: Maximizing Your Household Benefit
A non-working spouse can receive up to 50% of their partner's full retirement benefit. If your spouse's FRA benefit is $3,000, you receive up to $1,500. Even with zero work history. Here is the optimal claiming strategy.
1031 Exchange Calculator: How to Defer Capital Gains on Real Estate
Selling a rental property with $300,000 in gains triggers $71,400 in taxes. A 1031 exchange defers the entire bill. Here is the math and the strict IRS rules you must follow.
Financial Independence Age Calculator: When Can You Actually Retire?
Financial independence age depends on one number: your savings rate. At 20% savings, FI arrives at 62. At 50%, it arrives at 47. At 70%, age 36. Here is how to calculate your exact financial independence date.
Monte Carlo Retirement Simulation: Why Your Plan Needs a Stress Test
A 90% Monte Carlo success rate means 10 out of 100 simulated retirements run out of money. That sounds acceptable until you are the 1-in-10. Here is what these simulations actually measure, which variables move the needle most, and how to interpret a low success rate.
BRRRR Method Calculator: How Real Estate Investors Recycle the Same Capital
Buy a $120,000 distressed property, spend $40,000 on rehab, refinance at $200,000 value and pull out $140,000. Recovering more than you put in. Then repeat. Here is how the BRRRR numbers work.
CalcMoney vs NerdWallet: 7 Calculator Features HNW Investors Need
NerdWallet works for credit cards and score monitoring. For a Roth conversion at 60, a FIRE number on $1.8M, or a mortgage with your state's actual property tax rate, you need something else. Here is what we found.
Inheritance Tax Calculator 2026: Do You Owe Anything?
Only 2,570 estates owed federal estate tax in 2023. The federal exemption is $13.99 million per person in 2026. If you inherit money, you almost certainly owe nothing. Here is what the rules actually say.
Required Minimum Distribution Calculator: Avoiding the RMD Penalty
At 73, the IRS requires you to start withdrawing from your 401k and traditional IRA whether you want to or not. Miss the deadline and the penalty is 25% of the amount not taken. Here is the exact calculation.
Sequence of Returns Risk Calculator: The Retirement Timing Problem
Two retirees, identical $1M portfolios, same 10% average return over 20 years. One starts with gains, one starts with losses. The final portfolio difference: over $1.5 million. From the same average return.
Gift Tax Rules 2026: How Much Can You Give Tax-Free?
You can give $19,000 per person per year in 2026 without any tax consequence. A couple can give $38,000. Give $1 million over your lifetime and still owe nothing in gift tax. Here is how the rules actually work.
Salary Negotiation Calculator: What a $5,000 Raise Is Actually Worth Over a Career
Negotiating a $5,000 salary increase compounds over 30 years into $300,000+ in additional lifetime earnings. Failing to negotiate on day one costs far more than most people realize. Here is how to calculate and approach it.
APR vs Interest Rate: What's the Actual Difference on Your Loan?
Two lenders quote a 6.75% rate on a $400,000 mortgage. Lender A's APR is 6.89%, Lender B's is 7.12%. Over 30 years, that APR gap means Lender B costs $14,400 more. Here is how to read the real number.