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.

Roth conversions in a low income ye…

retirement accounts: you trade return against volatility, liquidity against tax drag, and today’s spending against tomorrow’s balance—decide which constraint is binding.

The trade

Write your liquidity need, tax situation, and how much drawdown you can tolerate. Retirement Basics uses the same vocabulary.

Constraints

Build cash reserves before maximizing volatile assets if income swings. In high tax brackets, Roth vs traditional vs taxable location can matter as much as fund choice.

Two cards

Same extra $300/month: model extra mortgage paydown vs. taxable index contributions over your horizon; compare ending balances and liquidity in each path.

At a glance

Risk vs. liquidity vs. tax
Say what you gave up

Side by side

Core lesson

Go deeper: Retirement Basics. Use the calculators below with your own loan or bill numbers, not only the examples on this page.

Use the calculator

SAVINGS GOALOpen calculator →

INVESTMENT GROWTHOpen calculator →

LUMP SUM GROWTHOpen 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.