Retirement Planning Hub

The tools to see exactly where you stand.

Free calculators and planning education for pre-retirees. Model your retirement, find the gaps, and understand the six risks most plans miss entirely.

10 yrs The window where decisions matter most
6 Wealth risks most plans never address
30 min Free review call, no obligation
Tool 01
Retirement Readiness Score
Are you on track? Get a score out of 100 with a gap analysis and the levers that move it most.
Tool 02
Can I Retire Now?
Model your income against your spending to see whether your money lasts, and what happens in a bad market.
Tool 01

Retirement Readiness Score

Enter a few numbers and see exactly how prepared you are for retirement, with a plain-English breakdown of where the gaps are.

Readiness Score Calculator
Takes about 60 seconds

401(k), IRA, taxable combined

All accounts combined

0 / 100

Calculating...

Projected at Retirement
-
Before withdrawals
Target (25× Rule)
-
Estimated savings need
Gap / Surplus
-
vs. your target
Full Breakdown

See the year-by-year projection

Projected savings growth at each checkpoint, the contribution gap if one exists, and the three specific levers that would improve your score the most.

No spam. One follow-up email with an invitation to review your plan.

Projected Savings Growth
The Three Levers That Move Your Score Most
Want a second set of eyes on this?

A 30-minute call with Henry costs you nothing. We'll walk through your actual numbers and the tax moves that most projections never account for.

Schedule a Free Call
Tool 02

Can I Retire Now?

Model your retirement income against your spending to see whether your money lasts, and how different scenarios change the picture.

Retirement Income Projection
Model when your money runs out, or doesn't

All accounts combined

All expenses, today's dollars

Look this up at ssa.gov

Pension, rental, part-time

- SUCCESS RATE

Calculating...

Monthly Gap / Surplus
-
After all income sources
Safe Withdrawal Rate
-
% of portfolio per year
Portfolio Lasts Until
-
Estimated depletion age
Full Projection

See the year-by-year income map

Exactly how your portfolio balance changes each year, three scenario comparisons, and the one decision that has the single largest impact on your outcome.

No spam. One follow-up email with an invitation to review your plan.

Portfolio Balance by Age
Three Scenarios Compared
Scenario Return Portfolio lasts to
The Most Important Variable

These numbers deserve a second look.

30 minutes with Henry. We'll stress-test your plan against sequence of returns risk and tax drag, the two things most projections ignore.

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The Bigger Picture

What the calculators can't tell you.

A projection is only as good as its assumptions. Here's what serious retirement planning has to account for that no model captures on its own.

i.

Sequence of Returns Risk

Two retirees with identical average returns can have completely different outcomes depending on when the bad years hit. A 30% drop in year one of retirement is far more damaging than the same drop in year ten. Most projections use average returns and miss this entirely.

Read the full piece
ii.

Tax Drag on Withdrawals

Withdrawing $7,500/month from a traditional IRA costs more than $7,500. Federal and state taxes, IRMAA surcharges on Medicare premiums, and Social Security taxation can add 20-35% to your effective cost of income. The tax plan is the retirement plan.

Roth conversion timing
iii.

The 4% Rule Has Limits

The classic rule assumes a 30-year retirement with a specific mix of stocks and bonds. Retire at 60 with a 35-year horizon, and the math changes. So does a bond-heavy portfolio in a higher-rate environment. It's a starting point, not a plan.

iv.

Healthcare Before Medicare

Retiring before 65 means bridging to Medicare on your own. ACA marketplace premiums for a couple in their early 60s can run $1,500-$2,500 per month depending on income. This is consistently the most underestimated line item in early retirement budgets.

IRMAA and Medicare costs
v.

Social Security Timing

Claiming at 62 versus 70 can mean a difference of 76% in your monthly benefit. The break-even calculation is straightforward, but the right answer depends on your health, your spouse's benefit, and your other income sources. Most people claim too early.

The claiming strategy guide
vi.

Inflation Is Not Uniform

Healthcare inflation runs at roughly 2x the general rate. If you're projecting 3% inflation across all spending, you're likely underestimating what your budget looks like at 80. A tiered inflation assumption changes the long-term math significantly.

Start the Conversation

A plan built on your numbers.

Your first call is 30 minutes, no pressure, no obligation. Just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to be.

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Or reach out directly: info@blackshirewealth.com · (302) 203-9634
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