FI Calc vs MoneyHelper Retirement Budget Planner

FI Calc is a free web calculator for evaluating retirement plans and withdrawal strategies with historical market data. It runs simulations from annual figures covering 1871 through 2024, compiled from Robert Shiller’s data set, while warning that historical results do not guarantee future performance. Users can model equities, bonds and cash, set rebalancing and changing allocations, and add wages, Social Security or extra withdrawals for future expenses. The calculator provides income projection, savings growth projection, withdrawal planning, Social Security modeling and scenario analysis. Simulations can be exported as CSV files for spreadsheet analysis. Inputs are processed in the browser; saved or shared calculations are encoded in URLs that may reach the hosting provider, services and recipients. Google Analytics may receive page URLs containing saved inputs. FI Calc does not automatically model taxes or required minimum distributions and currently has no Monte Carlo simulations. The free plan costs nothing.

MoneyHelper Retirement Budget Planner is a free web tool for estimating likely retirement costs and the income a person may need. Its Budget planner totals income and outgoings, shows what remains, and breaks spending into categories to help identify potential savings or cost cuts. Users can enter costs by year, and the tool converts those figures into a monthly average. MoneyHelper suggests having payslips, bank statements, bills, or a banking app available when working out income and spending. Budgeting help is available through webchat, with links to budgeting guides. The planner is provided by MoneyHelper, owned and maintained by the Money and Pensions Service, whose registered office is in Bedford, England. The service describes its website tools as general information rather than advice to rely on. It also says it is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide a regulated service. Its accessibility statement identifies menu buttons that are not programmatically expandable and incorrectly structured tab panels.