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FIRECalc

firecalc.com

Free plan Web
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Spec score 7.8 #13 of 26 in Retirement Planning Software

What it is

FIRECalc is a free web calculator for assessing whether savings, planned spending, and other resources could sustain retirement. It tests plans against historical market conditions beginning in 1871 and reports how often the portfolio would have remained funded for the selected term across historical starting years. Users can include Social Security, pensions, and other income or spending adjustments. Spending options include inflation-adjusted constant amounts, Bernicke's Reality Retirement Plan, and a percentage of the remaining portfolio. Portfolio settings allow historical investment portfolios, fees, and consistent or random returns. Planning inputs can include a future retirement date, annual contributions before retirement, and future lump-sum changes. Defaults are a 75% stock-index and 25% bond-fund portfolio, a 0.18% fund fee, and inflation-adjusted spending over 30 years. FIRECalc says it cannot predict future returns and does not provide tax planning. The homepage reports data through January 1, 2026, updated April 17, 2026. It says it does not store financial entries; temporary spreadsheet and graphic files are deleted after about 15 minutes.

Spec sheet

Purpose
FIRECalc helps assess whether savings and planned spending can sustain a retirement across historical market conditions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Intended users
The site presents FIRECalc for people evaluating early retirement and whether their savings, spending, and other resources can maintain their lifestyle.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Privacy
FIRECalc says it does not store users' financial entries; temporary files for spreadsheets and graphics are session-only and deleted approximately 15 minutes after creation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Support
The contact page directs usage questions to the FIRECalc support section of the Early Retirement forum and accepts bug reports and suggestions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Additional features
Registering as a supporter provides access to some additional features available only on request.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Data freshness
The homepage says its data was updated April 17, 2026, with data through January 1, 2026.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Default assumptions
The default portfolio is 75% stock index and 25% bond funds with a 0.18% fund fee, and default spending is adjusted for inflation over 30 years.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Future planning
Users can set a future retirement date, add annual contributions before retirement, and enter future lump-sum portfolio changes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Historical analysis
It evaluates retirement plans across historical starting years, with market data beginning in 1871.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Income inputs
Users can include Social Security, pensions, and other future income or spending adjustments.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Model limitation
FIRECalc says it cannot predict future investment returns and instead applies historical market data to retirement plans.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Portfolio choices
Users can select historical investment portfolios, set investment fees, or model consistent or random portfolio returns.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Spending models
Options include inflation-adjusted constant spending, Bernicke's Reality Retirement Plan, and spending based on a percentage of the remaining portfolio.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Success rate
Results report how often a retirement plan would have succeeded historically, meaning the portfolio remained funded for the planned term.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com
Tax planning
FIRECalc says it does not account for taxable versus nontaxable portfolios or provide tax planning.Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com

Plans and prices

FIRECalc Free Core retirement calculator; supporter registration provides some additional features on request Read 7 Oct 2026 · firecalc.com

Every FIRECalc plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Tests retirement plans across historical starting years since 1871.
  • Includes Social Security, pensions, and other adjustments.
  • Offers several spending models and portfolio settings.
  • Supports future dates, contributions, and lump-sum changes.
  • Free web calculator.

Limits

  • Does not predict future investment returns.
  • Does not provide tax planning.
  • Does not synchronize accounts.

Who it suits

FIRECalc suits people evaluating early retirement and whether savings, spending, and other resources can maintain their lifestyle. It is relevant to users who want historical scenario analysis rather than a forecast of future returns.

Verdict

FIRECalc offers a free way to examine retirement plans against historical market periods and vary income, spending, and portfolio assumptions. Its results are historical comparisons, not future-return predictions, and it does not cover tax planning.

Where Specifiction places it

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