Steps
Use a fixed order: accounts, contributions, years, fee percent, tax wrapper. Skip a line and two strategies stop being comparable.
For retirement accounts, Retirement Basics is the conceptual map; your spreadsheet is the checklist.
Checks
If totals disagree between you and a counterparty, do not recalculate until you both show line items side by side.
Still stuck? Re-read Related lesson with your numbers in hand—not the example numbers on this page.
Check your numbers now
Worked mini example
Procedure pass: starting balance, $400 monthly, 7% return, 0.25% fee, 25 years, contributions at month start. Anything missing?
Two tempos
| Skipped step | What breaks |
|---|---|
| Jump to headline price or ticker | Miss expenses, fees, or timing |
| One-shot math | No sensitivity to rate, rent, or return |
| Trust a screenshot | Stale assumptions versus today’s quote |
Slow checklist, then tool Fast tool, then verify lines
Sensitivity pass
Core lesson
Go deeper: Retirement Basics — if one number still does not feel right, enter it in the calculators above and change one input at a time to see what drives the result.
Use the calculator
FAQ
- Where is the main lesson?
Retirement Basics is the hub with related lessons linked from it.
- Which calculator should I open first?
Use Investment growth or Lump sum growth for long horizons; Savings goal for targets; Debt payoff when comparing to loans.