Example Plans

A 38-year-old Chicago couple compares a $220k vs $290k primary salary, each with a 5-year consulting bridge at $75k. The spouse earns $165k with a $75k semi-retirement option. Add 529 plans for two kids, a family HSA, Roth conversions, three-phase spending, guardrails, a future inheritance, and two upcoming expenses — every MFJ feature in one plan.

A 40-year-old Denver engineer is weighing a $185k stable role vs. a $240k startup offer, and within each path can consult at $70k or $45k for 5 or 8 years. On top of the income matrix: HSA, Roth conversion ladder, three-phase retirement spending, guardrails, a future inheritance, and a home renovation. Every setting is on.

A 56-year-old who retired early in Miami sits in a rare low-income window: no salary, no Social Security yet, $1.8M — but $1.4M of it is trapped in a pre-tax 401k. Converting $65k per year to Roth now fills lower tax brackets cheaply, slashes future RMDs, and may save hundreds of thousands in lifetime taxes.

A 48-year-old Boston professional earns $145k and has $340k saved — a solid but unremarkable position. Then a parent's estate delivers a $450k inheritance in 12 months. Does this windfall let them retire in their late 50s instead of mid-60s? And how should the lump sum be invested?

A dual-income NJ couple in their mid-40s earns $340k combined and has $920k saved, with two 529 accounts ($60k and $45k) earmarked for their kids. Emma starts college in 2 years, Jake in 5. The 529s cover roughly half the tab — the rest must come from savings during prime earning years. Do they still retire in their early 60s?

A 40-year-old Columbus professional earns $115k, contributes the max to both a 401k and an HSA, and has let $32k accumulate in the HSA investment account. Pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free medical withdrawals make the HSA uniquely powerful. This scenario shows how it alters the retirement equation.

A 41-year-old senior engineer in Seattle earns $210k and wants to step back — but is unsure whether to consult at $80k or $45k, and whether to do it for 5 or 10 years. With $650k saved, this scenario runs all four combinations at once so the full matrix of semi-retirement options is visible in a single view.

A 45-year-old in Austin earns $120k, has saved $800k across taxable and tax-deferred accounts, and spends $60k per year — a textbook 4% scenario. Texas has no income tax, which meaningfully extends the runway. Can they retire before 65?

A 33-year-old software engineer at a major tech company earns $260k in San Jose but pays California's steep income taxes and spends $88k per year on Bay Area living. They have $520k invested and are saving hard. The calculator reveals whether age 42–44 is a realistic FIRE target.

A 35-year-old Denver consultant earning $150k plans to shift to a relaxed $38k part-time role at 45 for a decade before retiring fully at 55. With $350k saved and a $52k lifestyle, this classic two-phase approach trades peak earning years for a decade of lower stress. Does the math work?

Both 38, both earning $185-195k, living in Austin with $980k combined across their portfolios. They spend $95k per year and each max their 401ks. Retiring at 50 means 12 more years of work. Between them, Social Security will eventually cover over $75k per year. Is 50 doable?

Divorced at 48, this 52-year-old Nashville professional earns $155k and is now aggressively saving $30,500 per year via catch-up 401k contributions. But with only $180k saved and expenses of $65k, the hole is deep. Social Security at 67 becomes a critical lifeline.

A 42-year-old Chicago physician earns $380k but only started saving seriously after residency ended at 35. With $600k saved, high expenses of $130k, and a plan to practice part-time at $130k from ages 60–65, the question is whether peak earning years can compensate for a late start.

A 40-year-old Philadelphia teacher earns $92k as head of household with two children (ages 13 and 10). Back-to-back college costs will hit hard in years 5–11. With $185k saved and $72k in annual expenses, the retirement timeline depends on getting through the education years intact.

Married and both 60 in Phoenix, this couple earns $190k combined and has $1.3M saved. They plan to retire at 65, collecting $40k and $33k per year in Social Security. With only five years left, the question is whether a market downturn before or just after retirement could derail their comfortable $90k lifestyle.

A 37-year-old Seattle freelance developer earns $112k but has no employer 401k match, sporadic savings habits, and $150k invested — mostly in a Roth IRA. An HSA adds a small tax-efficient buffer. Seattle's cost of living devours $72k per year, leaving little margin. When can they realistically retire?

A 39-year-old New Yorker earns $350k but spends $195k per year on Manhattan rent, dining, and lifestyle. After federal, state, and city taxes north of 45%, they net roughly $200k — leaving almost nothing to invest beyond their 401k contribution. A decade of this trajectory has produced only $380k in savings. The wake-up call is stark.

A 45-year-old veteran just retired from 20 years of service with a $36k per year military pension starting immediately — modeled here as Social Security claiming at 45. Their new federal contractor role pays $78k. With $150k in savings and $58k in annual expenses, the pension fundamentally changes the math.

A 58-year-old Scottsdale retiree stopped working last year. They have $1.1M, spend $78k per year, and lie awake wondering if the money will outlast them. Social Security kicks in at 67. With guardrails active and a planning horizon of 95, Monte Carlo reveals the true probability of surviving a long retirement.

A 64-year-old Naples retiree left work at 62 and is living off $1.1M while waiting to claim Social Security at 70 — unlocking $54k per year instead of $35k at 62. The portfolio must bridge six lean years, but the longevity insurance from delayed claiming can pay off handsomely if they live into their 80s.

A 33-year-old Portland professional dropped from a $135k job to a $75k lower-stress role. Their $350k already invested should compound to a comfortable retirement figure by their 50s — no additional contributions strictly required. This scenario tests whether "coasting" is mathematically sound or wishful thinking.

A 50-year-old Miami professional has $1.26M in assets, but $950k of it sits in highly appreciated taxable equity — representing investment property equity turned into brokerage holdings. A $400k cost basis means selling triggers a significant capital gains bill. How does this asset mix affect the retirement timeline?

A 28-year-old Dallas developer earns $138k, saves $23k per year into a 401k, contributes to an HSA, and keeps lifestyle expenses lean at $48k. With $115k already invested and decades of compounding ahead, the calculator maps out when a semi-retirement consulting gig at 45 and full retirement at 50–55 becomes feasible.

A 36-year-old product manager in Austin has two paths: stay at their $150k corporate job (stable, great work-life balance) or take a $230k offer at a fast-growing startup. With $420k saved and $68k in annual expenses, the calculator runs both salary scenarios simultaneously and shows exactly how many years the gap is worth.

A 44-year-old Portland couple earns $310k combined but has very different spending patterns: one partner is frugal at $45k/year while the other spends $75k, partly due to ongoing medical costs. Combined that is $120k — but optimizing retirement timing requires modeling each person's expenses separately rather than averaging them.

A 48-year-old Minneapolis teacher earns $98k, thinks in monthly budgets ($4,200 rent, $2,100 living, $800 misc), and wants to know if their plan survives a pessimistic scenario: 3% real returns instead of the historical 4%, 2% inflation, and higher market volatility. Stress-testing assumptions is just as important as optimistic projections.

A 57-year-old Charlotte professional earns $145k and plans to retire at 62 with $850k saved. Early retirement means $92k per year — travel, dining, and active pursuits. By 65, spending drops to $70k as the pace slows. After 80, $52k covers a quieter home-based lifestyle. Phase-based spending dramatically changes the math vs. a flat withdrawal rate.