How to Use CalcMoney Financial Calculators
Each calculator on CalcMoney is built for a specific financial decision. Enter your numbers, review the output, and use the AI analysis to understand what the results mean for your situation. All calculators run in your browser — no account required, no data stored.
For complex decisions like Roth conversions, FIRE planning, or capital gains harvesting, start with the relevant calculator then read the companion guide linked below the results. The guides provide the context the calculator cannot: tax rule nuances, optimal timing, and the tradeoffs that numbers alone do not capture.
Calculator Categories
Retirement & FIRE
The FIRE calculator and 401k analyzer are the two highest-impact tools for anyone targeting early retirement. The FIRE calculator projects your portfolio survival probability at different withdrawal rates. The 401k analyzer models employer match capture, Roth vs traditional allocation, and 30-year balance projections.
For Social Security optimization, use the Social Security calculator to model claiming ages from 62 to 70. Delaying from 62 to 70 increases your benefit by approximately 76% — the break-even age is typically 80 to 82 depending on your full retirement age benefit.
Real Estate & Mortgage
The mortgage calculator shows your full PITI payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) with a complete amortization schedule. The HELOC calculator compares draw period interest-only payments against a cash-out refinance to show which costs less over your holding period.
The rent vs buy calculator accounts for opportunity cost of the down payment — a factor most online calculators omit. At a 7% mortgage rate with a $100,000 down payment, the S&P 500 alternative return adds $200,000+ to the true cost of buying over 10 years.
Tax Planning
The capital gains tax calculator covers federal rates (0%, 15%, 20%), state overlays across all 50 states, and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax for earners above $200,000 single or $250,000 married. It handles short-term and long-term positions separately.
The self-employment tax calculator is essential for freelancers and business owners. It calculates SE tax (15.3% on net self-employment income), the deductible half of SE tax, the 20% QBI deduction eligibility, and quarterly estimated payment amounts for Q1 through Q4.
Debt & Credit
The credit card payoff calculator compares the debt avalanche (highest rate first) against the debt snowball (lowest balance first). The avalanche method saves more in total interest. The snowball method produces faster early wins that behavioral research shows improve long-term payoff success rates.
The student loan calculator models all federal repayment plans including SAVE, IBR, PAYE, and standard. For income of $60,000 with $50,000 in federal loans, SAVE produces payments of approximately $150/month vs $530/month on the standard plan — with potential forgiveness after 20 years.
Who These Calculators Are Built For
CalcMoney calculators are designed for individuals with $500,000 to $5,000,000 in net worth — the segment that faces the most complex financial decisions but typically does not have a dedicated family office or full-time CFP. At this wealth level, the difference between optimized and unoptimized decisions compounds into millions over 20 years.
Specific use cases: a W-2 employee with RSUs who needs to model capital gains tax timing on a vest; a self-employed consultant optimizing between solo 401k and SEP IRA; a homeowner deciding between a HELOC and cash-out refinance for a renovation; a FIRE aspirant running Monte Carlo simulations at different withdrawal rates.
Every calculator includes an AI analysis layer that contextualizes your specific numbers against current tax law, rate environments, and common decision frameworks. The goal is not a number — it is the understanding of what that number means for your next decision.
Accuracy and Data Sources
Tax calculations reference current IRS publications including Publication 590-A (IRA contributions), Publication 946 (depreciation), and the annual Revenue Procedures for cost-of-living adjustments. All 2026 contribution limits, tax brackets, and standard deduction amounts reflect IRS announcements through the date shown on each calculator.
Mortgage rate inputs reference Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey data. HELOC rate inputs reference the Federal Reserve H.15 statistical release for prime rate. CD and savings rate data is sourced from FDIC weekly rate cap information and direct lender feeds. See our editorial standards for full sourcing methodology.