In various posts I have referenced financial calculators that I like. I’m going to put them all in one post so they are easy to find for reference. As I find more, I’ll add them to this list:
Retirement
- Firecalc can help you determine if you are ready for retirement and if your money will last.
- Generation X Retirement Calculator details year by year savings for retirement planning.
- Used in Early Retirement: How much money will you need?
- Roth 401k versus 401k: Determine which option is better.
- Used in 2008 Roth 401k For Me!
College Savings
- College savings calculator.
- Used in How to open a 529 college savings plan for your children.
Investing
- Compare Vanguard ETF versus mutual funds for various amounts.
- Used in Investment in Vanguard ETF for Roth IRA.
Life Insurance
- Life Insurance calculator.
- Savings distribution calculator.
- Used in How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
Taxes
Stay at Home
- Calculator to stay at home.
- Can you afford to quit?
- Second income calculator.
- Used in Should I Stay Home or Go Back to Work?
Related Articles
I am so, so, SO against the Dinkytown 401(k) calculator that I feel sick when I think about it. It makes the awful assumption that you’d put tax savings from the traditional 401(k) into a taxable account, which is not how smart people (the people who are thinking about Roth versus traditional 401(k)s rather than just picking one via coin flip) invest for retirement!
I haven’t looked at other Dinkytown calculators, but I’ve heard good things from friends. My complaint is very specific and probably nit-picky, but it makes a huge difference in the results.
Rant over!
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Oh and I thought you were going to sing the praises of the HP12C ;P … well, firecalc is pretty sweet. The only thing that concerns me is that the past century of US growth might not be representative of the next century.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
@ Lily: Glad you got that out! I hear you on the calculators. Unfortunately I think for the majority of people they don’t understand the inputs completely. For the most part I like the Dinkytown calculators.
@ ERE: I love the HP12C. Everything but the color, that is.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am