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Guides, calculators, and benchmarks for building a plan.

Everything here is free and works without an account. Use the tools to answer one question at a time — or build a full living plan in Arc when you are ready.

Calculators

Run the numbers on savings, debt, retirement, and more.

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Benchmarks

See how your household compares on net worth and savings.

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Playbooks

Step-by-step guides for major financial decisions.

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Start here

Pick a life stage and follow the right articles first.

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Popular calculators

Each tool answers one planning question. No signup required.

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Retirement calculator

Project a nest egg from savings, contributions, and a real return, then compare it with spending.

Net worth percentile calculator

See where a household net worth sits in the SCF age band, in July 2026 dollars.

Years to FI calculator

Estimate how long invested assets and contributions take to reach a FIRE number.

FIRE number calculator

Divide annual spending by a withdrawal rate to get a portfolio target.

Coast FIRE calculator

Find the portfolio that could grow to your FIRE number with no new contributions.

Savings rate calculator

Divide savings by gross or take-home income and see the rate explicitly.

Browse by topic

Short explanations of the ideas behind a financial plan.

Financial independence

FIRE numbers, withdrawal rates, and how long a portfolio has to work.

Saving

Savings rate, cash reserves, and what to do with extra money.

Investing

How planning uses returns, without pretending markets are a promise.

Retirement

Savings by age, withdrawal rates, and whether a retirement date holds up.

Accounts

Account types, funding order, and what to do after the match.

Taxes

Roth versus traditional, and why the tax rate in retirement is the hinge.

Debt

High-interest balances, mortgages, and when payoff beats investing.

Net worth

What net worth measures, and how to read an age benchmark.

Life events

Quitting, retiring early, a mortgage, and other decisions with a timeline.

Start here

Foundational articles on financial independence, saving, and retirement.

FI topics →

What is a FIRE number?

A FIRE number is annual spending divided by the withdrawal rate you are willing to use.

The 4% rule

The 4% rule is a starting withdrawal rate from historical research, not a promise.

Coast FIRE explained

Coast FIRE is the portfolio that can grow to your FIRE number without new contributions.

Can I afford to retire early?

Early retirement holds if spending, the portfolio, and the years without a paycheck all fit.

What is a good savings rate?

A useful savings rate is the one that reaches your spending target on your timeline.

Emergency fund rules of thumb

Three to six months of essential spending is the usual cash target. The job and the debts change it.

Playbooks

Decision guides for buying a home, changing careers, and other big moves.

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