CALCMONEY // GUIDES // PAGE 12 OF 14
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Numbers-first guides on mortgages, taxes, retirement, and net worth. No opinions, no fluff.
401k Early Withdrawal Calculator: The True Cost of Cashing Out
A $30,000 early 401k withdrawal at age 35 in the 22% tax bracket costs $9,000 in taxes plus a $3,000 penalty. But the real cost is the $200,000+ that money would have grown to by retirement.
How to Pay Off Student Loans Faster: A Strategy That Actually Works
On $35,000 in student loans at 6.8%, the standard 10-year repayment costs $13,000 in interest. An extra $200/month cuts that to 6 years and $7,300 in interest. Here is the fastest path.
Budget by Income 2025: Percentages for $500K–$5M Net Worth
The 50/30/20 budget rule breaks down as 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings. But the percentages shift as income rises. At $150,000, a 35% savings rate is achievable without sacrifice. Here is how to calibrate your budget.
Financial Advisor Fee Calculator: How Much Are You Actually Paying?
A 1% AUM fee on a $500,000 portfolio costs over $400,000 in lost compounding over 30 years. Most people have no idea what they are paying their advisor. Here is how to calculate the real number.
Rental Property Cash Flow Calculator: Is That Deal Actually Profitable?
A $300,000 rental with $2,200 rent sounds profitable. After mortgage, taxes, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, and management, monthly cash flow is often negative. Here is how to calculate the real number before you buy.
How to Calculate Net Worth Correctly: Assets Minus Liabilities Done Right
Net worth = total assets minus total liabilities. But which assets count, what values to use, and how to handle home equity and retirement accounts are where most people get it wrong. Here is the precise method.
SEP-IRA vs Solo 401k 2026: Which Self-Employed Retirement Plan Wins at Your Income?
A Solo 401k beats a SEP-IRA below $140,000 in self-employment income. At $60,000 net income, the Solo 401k allows $37,000 in contributions vs $12,000 for a SEP-IRA. Above $280,000, both max at $70,000 and the SEP-IRA wins on simplicity. Here is the exact breakeven.
Life Insurance Needs Calculator: How Much Coverage Do You Actually Need?
The DIME method calculates your coverage as Debt + Income replacement + Mortgage + Education. For a 35-year-old with two kids and a $280,000 mortgage, that is $1.8 million. Here is the exact calculation.
How Much House Can I Afford Calculator: The Honest Version
Lenders will tell you a number based on gross income and debt ratios. That number is not how much you can comfortably afford. Here is the calculation that actually keeps you financially healthy.
Index Fund Investing for Beginners: How to Start With $100
An index fund puts your money into hundreds or thousands of stocks at once, for 0.03% in annual fees. $100/month into VTI for 30 years produces $113,000 at 7% return. Here is the method.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator: The Number Lenders Check Before You Do
Lenders want your DTI below 43% for most loans and below 28% for housing alone. On $6,000 monthly income, that is $1,680 for housing and $2,580 total. Here is how to calculate yours and what it costs you.
High-Yield Savings Account Calculator: How Much Interest You Are Leaving on the Table
The average savings account pays 0.45% APY. High-yield accounts pay 4.5-5.0%. On $20,000, that is $810 per year vs. $90 per year. Here is how to calculate what your current account costs you and where to move it.
RSU Tax Calculator: How Much You Actually Keep From Your Stock Vesting
100 RSUs vesting at $150/share is $15,000 in income. After federal income tax, FICA, and state tax, you keep $9,300-$10,500. The shares are taxed as ordinary income, not capital gains. Here is the full breakdown.
Inflation Impact on Retirement: Interactive Calculator + 2025 Scenarios
At 3% inflation, $1 million today is worth $642,000 in purchasing power in 15 years. Your retirement savings need to grow faster than inflation or you are slowly going broke. Here is the math.
Dividend Investing Calculator: Building Passive Income From Your Portfolio
A $500,000 portfolio at a 3.5% dividend yield generates $17,500 per year in passive income. Reinvest those dividends for 20 years and the portfolio reaches $1.9 million. Here is how dividend income compounds.
Credit Score Factors Calculator: What Actually Moves Your Score
Payment history is 35% of your FICO score. Credit utilization is 30%. Together they are 65% of the score. One missed payment drops your score 90-110 points. Here is how each factor works and what to change first.
Car Lease vs Buy Calculator: Which Option Actually Costs Less?
Leasing a $40,000 car for 3 years costs $12,000 in payments with nothing to show at the end. Buying and selling after 3 years costs $8,000 net. Buying and keeping 10 years costs $4,700/year. Here is the full comparison.
Term vs Whole Life Insurance Calculator: Which One Makes Financial Sense?
A $1 million 20-year term policy costs $50/month for a healthy 35-year-old. Whole life for the same coverage costs $800/month. If you invest the $750 difference, you end up with far more than whole life's cash value. Here is the math.
Net Worth Milestones: How Long Each $100,000 Increment Actually Takes
The first $100,000 takes the longest. The second takes half as long. By $500,000, compound interest does more work than you do. Here is the math on each net worth milestone.
Tax Loss Harvesting Calculator: How to Turn Investment Losses Into Tax Savings
Selling a position down $8,000 creates a tax loss you can use against gains or ordinary income. In the 24% bracket, that $8,000 loss saves $1,920 in taxes. Here is how tax loss harvesting works.
Cost of Having a Baby Calculator: The Real First-Year Number
The first year with a baby costs $15,000 to $25,000 on average after healthcare, childcare, gear, and lost income. Most parents underestimate by $8,000. Here is the full breakdown.
Backdoor Roth IRA Calculator: How High Earners Access Roth Benefits
Earning over $165,000 as a single filer means you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA. The backdoor method lets you do it anyway. Here is the exact two-step process and what it costs.
Pension vs Lump Sum Calculator: Should You Take the Monthly Check or the Big Number?
Your employer offers $1,200/month for life or a $215,000 lump sum. Which is worth more? The break-even age is 75. If you live longer, the pension wins. Here is how to calculate your specific trade-off.
Freelancer Quarterly Tax Calculator: How Much to Set Aside Every Month
Freelancers pay self-employment tax (15.3%) plus income tax. On $80,000 net freelance income, the total federal tax bill is $19,600. Here is how to calculate what to set aside and when to pay.
Home Equity Loan vs HELOC Calculator: Which One Costs Less?
A home equity loan gives you a fixed rate and fixed payment. A HELOC gives you flexibility but a variable rate that can rise. On $50,000 borrowed over 10 years, the rate difference between them could cost $8,000. Here is how to choose.
W-4 Withholding Calculator: Stop Giving the IRS a Free Loan
The average tax refund is $3,170. That is a free loan to the government. Adjust your W-4 and get $264 extra in every monthly paycheck instead. Here is exactly how to fill out the 2026 W-4.
Student Loan Refinance Calculator: When Refinancing Saves Money and When It Does Not
Refinancing $60,000 in student loans from 7.5% to 5.2% saves $14,000 in interest over 10 years. But refinancing federal loans means losing income-driven repayment and loan forgiveness. Here is how to decide.
Cap Rate Calculator: The One Number That Tells You If a Rental Property Is Worth Buying
A property with a 7% cap rate returns $7 of net operating income for every $100 of value. A 4% cap rate property is priced for appreciation, not income. Here is how to calculate cap rate and what it tells you.
Bonus Tax Calculator: Why Your $10,000 Bonus Only Puts $6,500 in Your Account
Bonuses are withheld at 22% federal plus FICA plus state. A $10,000 bonus with 22% federal + 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare + 5% state = $3,465 in taxes. Here is the full breakdown.
House Hacking Calculator: How to Get Paid to Own Your Home
Buy a duplex for $400,000, live in one unit, rent the other for $1,800. Your out-of-pocket housing cost drops from $2,600 to $800 per month. Here is the math on house hacking and how to get started.
ETF Expense Ratio Calculator: The Silent Fee That Costs You $97,000
A 0.03% expense ratio on a $500,000 portfolio costs $150/year. A 1.0% expense ratio on the same portfolio costs $5,000/year. Over 25 years, the difference compounds to $97,000. Here is the math.
Balance Transfer Calculator: Is a 0% APR Offer Actually Worth It?
A 0% balance transfer on $8,000 in credit card debt saves $1,900 in interest over 18 months. But the 3% transfer fee is $240. Here is how to calculate whether the deal makes sense.
Inheritance Calculator: What You'll Actually Receive After Taxes
Federal estate tax only hits estates over $13.61M. But six states still have inheritance taxes. Here's how much you'll keep from a $500K inheritance in different states.
401k Contribution Limit Calculator: How to Max Out and What It Saves You
Maxing your 401k at $23,500 on a $100,000 salary saves $5,170 in federal taxes this year. Over 30 years, the tax-deferred compounding adds $380,000 vs. a taxable account. Here is the full math.
Social Security Break-Even Age Calculator: When to Claim for Maximum Lifetime Income
Claim at 62 and get $1,400/month. Wait until 70 and get $2,480/month. The break-even age is 80. If you live past 80, delaying wins. Here is how to calculate your specific crossover point.
Personal Loan vs Credit Card Calculator: Which Costs Less for Large Purchases?
A $10,000 purchase on a 24% credit card costs $6,200 in interest over 5 years. A personal loan at 11% costs $3,000. That $3,200 difference is real. Here is when each option wins.
529 vs Roth IRA for College Savings: Which Account Wins?
A 529 gives you state tax deductions upfront. A Roth IRA gives you flexibility if your kid does not go to college. For most families the answer depends on whether you have maxed your own retirement first.
Dollar Cost Averaging Calculator: Why Boring Wins the Long Game
Investing $500 per month in an S&P 500 index fund for 25 years produces $486,000 at 7% average returns. The investor who tried to time the market produced $310,000 in most studies. Here is why.
Roth Conversion Ladder Calculator: The Early Retirement Tax Strategy
Early retirement at 45 with $1.2M in a traditional 401k. Converting $60,000/year costs $5,200 in tax (8.7% effective rate) vs. 32-36% combined tax-plus-penalty on a direct early withdrawal. Here is the exact calculation.
HSA Triple Tax Advantage Calculator: The Best Tax Break in the US Tax Code
An HSA gives you a tax deduction going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. No other account does all three. Here is how to calculate what that is worth over 20 years.
Debt Payoff Calculator: How Extra Payments Slash Your Timeline
An extra $200 per month on a $20,000 credit card at 21% cuts the payoff from 10 years to 4 years and saves $9,600 in interest. Here is exactly how extra payments work and where to find the money.
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator: Which Saves More Money?
The debt avalanche saves $1,300 more in interest than the snowball on typical debt. But the snowball wins for most people because it is the only one they actually finish. Here is how to calculate both.
Gross vs Net Savings Rate: 2025 Guide for High Earners
The gross savings rate uses your pre-tax income. The net savings rate uses take-home pay. The same behavior produces a 22% gross rate and a 31% net rate. Here is which one matters and why.
What Savings Rate Do You Need to Retire in 10 Years?
Retiring in 10 years requires a 65% savings rate from zero, or less if you already have a portfolio. Here is exactly what it takes at different income levels and starting balances.
Savings Rate Calculator: The One Number That Predicts When You Retire
Your savings rate determines when you retire more than any other variable. A 10% savings rate means 40+ years of work. A 50% savings rate means 17. Here is how to calculate yours and what it means.
Barista FIRE Calculator: The Math Behind Semi-Retirement
Barista FIRE means working part-time to cover basic expenses while your portfolio covers the rest. With $800,000 invested and $20,000 in part-time income, you can retire 8 years earlier than full FIRE.
Coast FIRE Calculator: How Much to Save Now So You Can Stop Later
Coast FIRE means saving enough now that compound interest carries you to retirement without another dollar contributed. At 30, you need $172,000 invested to coast to $1.5M by 65. Here is the math.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE Calculator: Which Number Is Right for You?
Lean FIRE needs $750,000. Fat FIRE needs $3 million. The gap is not about greed, it is about what retirement actually looks like day to day. Here is how to calculate your version.