Skip to main content

Education Center

  • Savings Goals Calculator

    03-04-2024

    What will it take to help reach your savings goals? This financial calculator helps you find out. Enter in your savings plan and view graphically your financial results. Click the report button to get more information about your plan, and what you can do to make sure that it is on track.

    Try It
  • Net Worth Calculator

    03-04-2024

    Your net worth is the value of all of your assets, minus the total of all of your liabilities. Put another way, it is what you own minus what you owe. If you owe more than you own, you have a negative net worth. 

    Try It
  • Debt Calculator
    03-04-2024

    Interactive calculators

    Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.

    Try It
  • Investment questionnaire - cash, fixed income and equities
    03-04-2024

    Many experts believe that long-term investment success is more a function of how assets are allocated among asset classes rather than the individual securities in which they are invested.

    Try It
  • Time vs. Savings Calculator 

    03-04-2024

    Waiting to begin your savings plan can have a huge impact on your results. A delay of even a few years could cost you thousands of dollars. This calculator helps show you how much postponing your savings plan can really cost.

    Try It
  • Rent vs. Buy Calculator

    03-04-2024

    Should you rent or should you buy your home? It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. This calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes and monthly payments to help you make a decision between these two options.

    Try It
  • Estate Tax Planning Calculator
    03-04-2024

    Estate tax planning is very important to preserving your wealth for future generations. Knowing your potential estate tax liability is a great place to start your estate tax plan.

    Try It
  • Mortgage Loan Calculator
    03-04-2024

    Use this calculator to generate an estimated amortization schedule for your current mortgage. Quickly see how much interest you could pay and your estimated principal balances.

    Try It
  • Mortgage calculators
    03-03-2024

    Interactive calculators

    Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.

    Try It
  • Roth IRA Calculator
    03-03-2024

    Contributing to a Roth IRA could make a difference in your retirement savings. There is no tax deduction for contributions made to a Roth IRA; 

    Try It
  • Roth after-tax vs. traditional pre-tax Calculator

    03-03-2024

    If available in your employer's plan, the 401(k) Roth allows you to contribute to your 401(k) account on an after-tax basis - and pay no taxes on qualifying distributions when the money is withdrawn. 

    Try It
  • Estate Tax Planning
    03-03-2024

    Interactive calculators

    Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.

    Try It
  • Retirement Contribution Effects on Your Paycheck Calculator

    03-03-2024

    An employer-sponsored retirement savings account could be one of your best tools for creating a secure retirement. It provides two important advantages.

    Try It
  • Social Security Benefits Calculator

    03-03-2024

    Do you wonder how much you might receive in Social Security? Use this calculator to help you estimate your Social Security benefits. Remember, this is only an estimate. Your actual benefits may vary depending on your actual work history and income.

    Try It
  • Retirement Calculators
    03-03-2024

    Interactive calculators

    Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.

    Try It
  • 72(t) Calculator
    03-03-2024

    Internal Revene Code sections 72(t) and 72(q) provide for tax-penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement accounts under certain circumstances.

    Try It
  • The best times to up your retirement contributions
    01-29-2024
    Written by

    Although it’s true there’s really no bad time to start investing, it can be tricky to figure out how to siphon off funds from other areas of your budget and redirect them to your future needs.

    Read More
  • How big of a threat does inflation pose to your retirement?
    10-18-2023
    Written by

    As America’s economy reopens, we’re seeing higher inflation rates, and this unwelcome surge should prompt retirees to consider the threat it could pose to their financial security.

    Read More
  • How to retire early-Part 1
    10-16-2023
    Written by

    It’s never too soon to start saving for retirement but if you want to retire early, you’ll likely have to do some extra planning. 

    Read More
  • Retirement plan enrollment made simple
    08-31-2023
    Written by

    Everyone needs to consider their retirement strategy. A great place to start is enrolling in your employer-sponsored retirement plan.

    Read More
  • Yes, Gen Xers, you can meet your financial goals
    08-03-2023
    Written by

    If you’re a Gen Xer, you’ve likely been facing some major financial demands over the last few years: caring for children and aging parents, dealing with a recession that lasted through some of your highest-earning working years and managing major debt.

    Read More
  • Planning and paying for healthcare in retirement
    08-01-2023
    Written by

    Those saving and planning for retirement face a lot of important questions. How much will it cost to live comfortably in retirement? How much money is needed in order to pursue travel and other hobbies we enjoy? Importantly, how much is healthcare in retirement?

    Read More
  • Your plans for retirement have been thrown off. Now what?
    07-21-2023
    Written by

    One of the financial consequences of COVID-19 was that people’s retirement plans were interrupted in various ways.

    Read More
  • How to retire early - Part 3
    06-14-2023
    Written by

    More than one income stream can help safeguard your well-thought-out early retirement strategy.

    Part three in our how-to-retire-early series will focus on additional retirement income strategies that can help you turbocharge your way to early retirement.

    Read More
  • Getting your retirement savings back on track
    06-14-2023
    Written by

    During an economic crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to put their retirement plans on hold, or even borrow from retirement accounts, in order to afford household bills.

    Read More
  • Interest rates are rising. What’s your next step as an investor?

    01-27-2023
    Written by

    In 2022, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate 7 separate times. Is it any wonder investor concerns are rising, too?

    But is it really a time to worry? Or is it an opportunity to capitalize?

    Read More
  • Does your investment mix need diversifying?
    09-08-2022
    Written by

    Need to fix your mix?

    You’ve probably heard of the terms “asset allocation” and “diversification.” They sound complicated, but really, the concepts are quite simple.

    Read More
  • Financial literacy: How it affects planning for retirement
    05-10-2022
    Written by

    The more you understand about money, the better equipped you are to prepare for retirement. That’s the conclusion from a number of studies that have been conducted to explore the link between financial literacy and retirement preparedness over the past decade, by academics and financial experts.

    Read More
  • Making retirement dreams a golden reality - a how-to guide
    05-09-2022
    Written by

    Whether your idea of golden years perfection is training for an Ironman, launching a business, watching a ball game in every U.S. state, or simply spending more time with family and friends, retirement offers a unique opportunity to replace the nine-to-five with something vivifying, meaningful, and new.

    Read More
  • Want a fabulous retirement? Start living better now
    05-09-2022
    Written by

    When Americans think about growing older, many of them feel worried, according to research. They worry about their health, being a burden to their families, and not having a purpose.

    Read More
  • Portfolio diversification and why it’s important
    05-09-2022
    Written by

    What goes up must also come down. That’s true of Newton’s apples, your favorite wooden roller coaster, and — inevitably — the stock market.

    Of course, different investors handle market ups and downs differently. Some are up for riding the drops like a coaster aficionado while others cling to the handlebars, wishing for a smoother ride.

    Read More
  • How to reach a million dollars with just 1%
    05-08-2022
    Written by

    What’s the value of 1? If you guessed $1 million then it’s likely you’re in on a little-known secret that helps the most savvy of savers effectively prepare for their golden years.

    Read More
  • Knowing the 403(b) basics
    04-21-2022
    Written by

    If you’re one of the millions of hardworking employees at a nonprofit, religious group, school district, or governmental organization, the 403(b) is likely your primary retirement vehicle.

    Read More
  • How to retire early - Part 2
    04-08-2022
    Written by

    Small saving moves now can significantly impact early retirement outcomes.

    A large influx of funds—an annual bonus, inheritance or capital gains from a property sale—can move the early retirement savings needle, but it’s everyday savings habits that can have the biggest impact. 

    Read More
  • Three Tactics to Address Your Retirement Worry of Running Out of Money
    02-28-2022
    Written by

    No matter your age or wealth, when you step into retirement there’s one overarching concern that most people have: running out of money. 

    Learn More
  • The cost of borrowing from your retirement account
    05-12-2021
    Written by

    When planning for your financial future, it's crucial to account for those little expenses that sometimes blindside you - like medical expenses or car repairs. Sometimes those little expenses turn into big expenses and you need a little more to cover the cost.

    Read More
  • Plan for the phases of retirement
    05-12-2021
    Written by

    Managing your nest egg isn’t one distinctive event – it’s an ongoing process that needs to reflect life’s changes throughout retirement.

    Read More
  • Multitask when it comes to your money
    05-12-2021
    Written by

    Multitasking is bad for productivity: If you’re in a meeting trying to send out emails while listening to the speaker, chances are one of those tasks is going to suffer. You need to give one task your full attention. But when it comes to your money, multitasking is a necessity.

    Read More
  • The first issue in retirement planning
    05-12-2021
    Written by

    Two questions I hear a lot from people who aren’t retired are: “When can I retire?” and “How much money do I need to retire?” They’re really variations of the same question. It’s the wrong question to ask, because most people approach the retirement-date question from the wrong direction.

    Read More
  • How to handle market volatility at every stage of retirement saving
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    Historically markets rise, fall a bit, then rise again. That volatility may be difficult to stomach, particularly for the risk averse, but it’s also what creates buying and selling opportunities (another axiom: buy low, sell high!) for savvy portfolio managers.

    Read More
  • Getting fit for retirement: 6 steps millennials can take now
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    How much is enough?

    Regardless of your current income, your 20s and 30s is the best time to start building for your future. But investing for a retirement that's 40 years away - all while trying to pay down student debt, save for a home, pay for a wedding or meet other important expenses - can feel overwhelming.

    Read More
  • 6 do-it-now retirement moves for women
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    In our busy lives as working women managing our careers, family, and financial priorities, we tend to put the needs of others before ourselves.

    Read More
  • How women are pioneering the future of retirement
    05-11-2021
    Written by Joseph Coughlin

    Women are the lifestyle leaders inventing the future of retirement. For a variety of reasons, women are generally better at aging than men. They are more dynamic, take on more roles and duties, and are more clear-sighted in regard to the new frontier of longevity—and they also live longer. 

    Read More
  • 5 ways to measure your financial health
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    Many Americans do not have an accurate understanding of their finances. For example, research from Mint shows that three out of five Americans didn’t know the amount of money they spent the previous month.

    Read More
  • 3 things to do if you're in your 40s with no retirement savings
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    Your 40s may not seem like the time to buckle down and get serious about retirement. But if your savings are nonexistent, it means you have plenty of work to do.

    Read More
  • 3 reasons you might run out of money in retirement, and what to do about it
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    While retirement certainly brings about its share of unknowns, perhaps the most daunting prospect associated with this stage of life is the potential to run out of money.

    Read More
  • How boomer parents can set financial boundaries with millennial kids
    05-11-2021
    Written by Next Avenue

    You probably heard about Michael Rotondo, the 30-year-old New Yorker recently ordered by a judge to vacate his parents’ home. The story made national news — and for good reason. The notion of a young person “failing to launch” is every parent’s nightmare.

    Read More
  • The 3 biggest mistakes couples make with retirement planning (and how to avoid them)
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    Besides the obvious benefits of being in a loving relationship, being part of a couple means you have double the power to accomplish those less-than-ideal tasks in life. Everything from doing chores to planning a social calendar can now become a team effort.

    Read More
  • How to navigate the 10 years before retirement
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    The decade before you retire is often crunch time for many would-be golden agers. It’s often a last- chance opportunity to fine-tune a plan that can set a successful retirement in motion.

    Read More
  • Are you a gambler, speculator, investor or risk manager?
    05-11-2021
    Written by

    With today's economic uncertainty and market volatility, it's important to understand the emotions that drive your investing decisions. Whether it's greed, fear, optimism or something else, knowing what motivates you can help you avoid making mistakes.

    Read More