Retirement
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire?
Turn your expected spending, Social Security and other income into a retirement target you can test.
Plain-English money guides
Financial guides
Get the context behind a money decision, check the primary sources and then run the numbers for yourself.
20 guides
Retirement
The 3% Rule vs. the 4% Rule
Understand what withdrawal rates do, why the time horizon matters and how flexibility changes the result.
Retirement
Building an Early Retirement Bridge
Plan how to cover the years before Social Security begins and retirement accounts are easy to access.
Retirement
Should Your Home Count Toward Retirement?
Separate home equity from spendable retirement assets and model only the equity you can realistically use.
Retirement
Full Retirement vs. Part-Time Work
See how part-time income could reduce early withdrawals, even if you only plan to work for a few years.
Retirement
What If You Pause Retirement Contributions?
Compare a contribution pause with staying on track, including employer match, fees and the cost of lost compounding.
Saving & investing
How Compound Growth Builds Wealth
Learn how time, starting balance, recurring deposits and return assumptions interact in a long-term projection.
Saving & investing
How Investment Fees Affect Long-Term Results
See how small annual fees can add up, and compare investments by cost, risk and what you receive in return.
Saving & investing
Inflation and the Purchasing Power of Money
Distinguish nominal dollars from today's dollars and use CPI as context rather than a promise about future prices.
Saving & investing
How Long Could It Take to Reach $1 Million?
Estimate a timeline from what you have now, how much you add and the return you expect.
Saving & investing
How Much Should You Save Each Month?
Turn a target amount and date into a monthly saving estimate, then test whether the plan fits your cash flow.
Housing & credit
Pay Down Debt or Invest?
Compare guaranteed interest savings with uncertain investment growth, without forgetting access to your cash.
Housing & credit
Fixed-Rate vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
Compare payment paths, rate-reset risk and total cost using terms from actual Loan Estimates.
Housing & credit
When Does a Mortgage Refinance Break Even?
Compare the current loan with a refinance quote, including closing costs, term extension and the planned holding period.
Housing & credit
Pay Off the Mortgage or Invest?
Compare mortgage interest savings with possible after-tax investment growth and the value of keeping cash available.
Housing & credit
Rent or Buy a Home?
Compare equity, transaction costs, maintenance and taxes with rent and the value of keeping cash invested.
Family & budgeting
How Large Should Your Emergency Fund Be?
Choose a cash cushion based on your essential bills, job stability, insurance and household needs.
Family & budgeting
How to Calculate Your Household Savings Rate
Use one consistent formula for take-home income, spending and savings without double-counting payroll deductions.
Family & budgeting
How Much Should You Save for College?
Build an education target from timing, current savings, expected aid and 529 assumptions that vary by state.
Family & budgeting
What Does a Car Really Cost?
Go beyond the monthly payment to include depreciation, financing, insurance, maintenance, energy and recurring fees.