Step 01
Household Setup
Let's start by understanding who this plan is for.
Your name and plan type will personalize every step that follows.
Step 02
Your Timeline
When do you plan to retire — and for how long?
The gap between today and retirement drives how long your savings have to grow.

Primary Person

We default to 30 years — a conservative estimate for longevity planning.

Step 03
Retirement Spending Strategy
Define how you expect to spend throughout retirement.
Most retirees naturally spend less as they age — we model this across three distinct life phases.

Enter a single monthly or annual total for your retirement spending.

Enter your estimated spending in today's real dollars.

The Three Retirement Phases:
Go-Go (Ages 65–75) — Active retirement. Travel, dining, and hobbies are at their peak.
Slow-Go (Ages 76–85) — A slower pace. Leisure spending tapers. Healthcare costs begin to rise.
No-Go (Ages 86+) — Mostly home-based. Healthcare and long-term care dominate.
Go-Go Phase
Ages 65–75

% of baseline

Slow-Go Phase
Ages 76–85

% of baseline

No-Go Phase
Ages 86+

% of baseline

Step 3a — Housing
Housing Expenses
Mortgage, property taxes, utilities, and home costs.
Enter all amounts in today's real dollars — inflation is handled automatically.
Go-Go (65–75) — Active retirement.  Slow-Go (76–85) — More home-based.  No-Go (86+) — Healthcare may rise; discretionary spending typically declines.
Mortgage / Rent
Property Taxes
Maintenance
Utilities
HOA Fees
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 3b — Healthcare
Healthcare
Insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and long-term care.
Healthcare spending often rises significantly in the Slow-Go and No-Go phases.
Medicare / Insurance
Out-of-Pocket / Rx
Dental & Vision
Long-Term Care
Fitness & Wellness
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 3c — Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Vacations, hobbies, subscriptions, and leisure spending.
Go-Go years are typically when travel and leisure spending peaks.
Vacations / Travel
Entertainment
Hobbies & Sports
Streaming / Subscriptions
Clothing & Personal Care
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 3d — Giving
Gifts & Charitable Giving
Family gifts, donations, and legacy contributions.
Charitable giving often remains consistent or increases as retirees think about legacy.
Charitable Donations
Gifts to Family
Holiday & Special Occasions
Religious / Tithing
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 3e — Food
Dining & Groceries
Restaurants, takeout, groceries, and food delivery.
Dining out tends to decline gradually across phases as activity levels slow.
Groceries
Dining Out
Coffee & Casual
Meal Delivery / Prep
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 3f — Vehicles
Vehicles & Transportation
Car payments, insurance, fuel, and maintenance.
Many retirees reduce to one vehicle in the Slow-Go phase, lowering costs significantly.
Car Payment(s)
Auto Insurance
Fuel & Charging
Maintenance & Registration
Rideshare / Transit
Monthly Subtotal
$0
Go-Go
$0
Slow-Go
$0
No-Go
Step 03 — Review
Retirement Spending Strategy
Review your detailed totals and confirm phase adjustments.
Your baseline is calculated from your detailed category budgets. Adjust phase percentages if needed, then continue.

Calculated automatically from your detailed budget categories above.

The Three Retirement Phases:
Go-Go (Ages 65–75) — Active retirement. Travel, dining, and hobbies are at their peak.
Slow-Go (Ages 76–85) — A slower pace. Leisure spending tapers. Healthcare costs begin to rise.
No-Go (Ages 86+) — Mostly home-based. Healthcare and long-term care dominate.
Go-Go Phase
Ages 65–75

% of baseline

Slow-Go Phase
Ages 76–85

% of baseline

No-Go Phase
Ages 86+

% of baseline

Step 04
Current Savings & Contributions
What you have today and what you're adding each year.
Even small consistent contributions compound dramatically over time.

Current Household Balances

Annual Contributions

Person 1

Social Security Benefits

Enter your estimated monthly Social Security benefit at each potential claiming age. Get your personalized estimate at:
My Social Security — Detailed Estimate ↗ — Log in for your full earnings record and benefit projections at each claiming age.
SSA Quick Calculator ↗ — Fast estimate based on your current age and recent earnings.
Person 1

When do you plan to start collecting? This determines which benefit row is used in the forecast.

Pension & Other Fixed Income

Enter any pension, annuity, or other guaranteed monthly income. Include the age at which payments begin.

Person 1

Monthly amount in today's dollars. Leave blank if none.

Person 2
Step 05
Retirement Forecast
Portfolio growth through retirement — with drawdown and tax estimates.
The base case uses your inputs. The conservative case applies lower returns and higher spending to stress-test your plan.
Base Case Assumptions
Equity Return %
Bond Return %
Inflation %
Conservative Case (stress test)
Equity Return %
Spending % of Base
Bond Return %
Projected Portfolio at Retirement
Conservative: —
Savings Required
Base Case Balance
Conservative Balance
Base Surplus / Shortfall
Year-by-Year Projection
Pre-tax withdrawals are drawn down first and taxed at 2025 federal bracket rates based on your filing status. Up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on combined income. RMDs are enforced starting at age 73 — rows marked ▲ indicate years where the RMD exceeds your planned withdrawal. SS and pension income offset portfolio withdrawals each year. IRS Tax Brackets ↗  IRS Pub 590-B (RMDs) ↗
Age Phase Total Balance Pre-Tax Roth + HSA Contributions Investment Gains SS + Pension Taxable SS RMD Required Gross Spending Withdrawal Needed Taxes on Withdrawal Total Cost
Claude — Budget Assistant
For educational guidance only — not financial advice.