Frequently Asked Questions

Yes - every calculator is completely free, with no account, email or subscription required. The site is supported by unobtrusive advertising and occasional affiliate links.

No. The calculators run entirely in your browser, so your salary, balances and other inputs never leave your device or reach our servers. If you copy a results link, your values are encoded in that URL - share it only with people you trust.

The math is precise, but the outputs are only as good as your assumptions. Returns, inflation and future tax rates are estimates you control - real-world results will differ. The IRS figures (limits and brackets) are taken from official sources and dated. Treat results as well-informed estimates, not guarantees.

Yes. Every result has its own web address that updates as you change inputs - bookmark it or send it to someone. You can also print any page (or save it as a PDF) using your browser's print function.

Yes. The site is mobile-first and the calculators, charts and tables are designed to work on any screen size.

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account that lets you contribute pre-tax (or Roth after-tax) money from your paycheck, often with an employer match. The money grows tax-advantaged until you withdraw it in retirement.

It mainly depends on your tax rate now versus in retirement. If you expect a higher rate later, Roth (pay tax now) usually wins; if lower, Traditional usually wins. Our Traditional vs Roth calculator compares them for your situation.

At minimum, enough to capture your full employer match. A common overall target is 15% of salary including the match. See our guide for a step-by-step framework.

Withdrawals before age 59½ usually face a 10% penalty plus income tax, though exceptions exist (Rule of 55, 72(t), disability and more). Our early-withdrawal calculator shows the cost and the exceptions.

A Required Minimum Distribution is the amount the IRS makes you withdraw each year from traditional retirement accounts once you reach the start age (73, rising to 75 in 2033). Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs.

For 2026 you can defer up to $24,500 from your paycheck. Those 50+ can add a $8,000 catch-up, and ages 60-63 can add a $11,250 super catch-up.

The 2026 IRA and Roth IRA limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you're 50 or older. Roth IRA eligibility phases out at higher incomes - see the limits page.

Starting in 2026, if your prior-year wages with your employer exceeded $150,000, any catch-up contributions you make must be Roth (after-tax) rather than pre-tax.

Directly from the IRS: the annual cost-of-living notice (IRS Notice 2025-67), the inflation-adjustment Revenue Procedure, and Publications 590-A and 590-B. We cite and date our sources on the relevant pages.

No. Retire Projector is an independent website and is not affiliated with the IRS, the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Always confirm figures at IRS.gov.