Quick guide
How to use this calculator
- Enter the balances, contributions, income, costs, ages, plan terms, and assumptions from the scenario you want to test.
- Keep currencies, periods, and nominal-versus-real rates consistent; compare more than one plausible scenario where outcomes are uncertain.
- Use the companion results and limits to understand funding gaps, timing trade-offs, and which assumptions drive the result.
Calculation method
Calculation method
Each goal is projected to its enrollment year, then discounted with the same nominal annual rate divided monthly used for shared savings so every amount shares the earliest-enrollment checkpoint date.
Deterministic calculations use exact fixed-decimal arithmetic. The explicitly probabilistic success tool uses a reproducible seeded simulation and discloses its model.
Worked example
Worked example
Goals for two children starting in 6 and 10 years can be planned together using separate current costs and inflation rates.
Each goal is projected to its enrollment year, then discounted with the same nominal annual rate divided monthly used for shared savings so every amount shares the earliest-enrollment checkpoint date.
Supported inputs
Precision and limits
Planning scope
This common-date checkpoint model assumes later goals can remain invested at the entered nominal annual savings return divided monthly after the earliest enrollment. It does not allocate actual withdrawals, fees, taxes, or later contributions automatically; test each student's cash-flow schedule separately before making a funding decision.
Payment timing conventions
Unless a timing selector says otherwise, recurring accumulation contributions are applied at month-end. Bridge withdrawals are valued at the beginning of each year. Pension lump-sum comparisons value pension payments at month-end. Withdrawal projections apply the return for a period before that period's withdrawal.
Return and inflation assumptions
Investment returns, inflation, education costs, earnings, healthcare costs, longevity, and plan outcomes are uncertain. Entered constant rates and simulated distributions are scenarios rather than forecasts.
No tax or statutory calculations
At the owner's direction, these calculators do not calculate tax, required distributions, government-benefit claiming, contribution limits, early-withdrawal penalties, education tax credits, or country-specific account rules.
Decision boundary
Results do not recommend a pension election, investment, withdrawal strategy, school, loan, retirement date, healthcare plan, or employment decision. Confirm plan terms and consequential choices with the relevant administrator or qualified professional.
Precision and privacy
Plain decimals accept up to 30 digits and 12 decimal places. Calculations remain in this browser and raw entered values are not submitted to 365CALCS.COM.
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