CALCMONEY // GUIDES // PAGE 15 OF 25
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Numbers-first guides on mortgages, taxes, retirement, and net worth. No opinions, no fluff.
Traditional vs Roth IRA: How to Calculate Which Saves More Tax
Most people choose between a Traditional and Roth IRA based on a heuristic they heard years ago. That heuristic is costing some of them tens of thousands of dollars. The correct answer is a math problem, and it has a definite solution.
How to Calculate TSP Withdrawal Options for Federal Employees
Most federal employees pick a TSP withdrawal method without modeling the tax impact first. That single oversight can cost $40,000 or more in avoidable federal income tax over a 20-year retirement. The math on each option is straightforward once you see it laid out.
How to Calculate Your Net Worth (And Why Your Number Might Shock You)
Most people calculate net worth wrong and miss $50,000+ in hidden assets. The real formula includes stuff your bank statement doesn't show. Here's how to get your actual number.
Salary Negotiation Calculator: The Numbers You Need to Make Your Case
Asking for 10-15% above the initial offer is rarely refused. A $5K annual raise compounded over 10 years at 3% annual increases equals $57K more in total earnings.
Salary Negotiation Calculator: What a $5,000 Raise Is Actually Worth Over a Career
Negotiating a $5,000 salary increase compounds over 30 years into $300,000+ in additional lifetime earnings. Failing to negotiate on day one costs far more than most people realize. Here is how to calculate and approach it.
HSA Triple Tax Advantage Calculator: The Best Tax Break in the US Tax Code
An HSA gives you a tax deduction going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. No other account does all three. Here is how to calculate what that is worth over 20 years.
How to Calculate Interest as a Percentage: Daily, Monthly, and Annual Compounding
Most savers quote their account's APY without knowing what it actually costs them in missed compounding. The difference between daily and annual compounding on $50,000 is worth hundreds of dollars per year. Here is the exact math.
Jumbo Mortgage Rates, Qualification Requirements, and Lender Comparison for 2026
Most buyers assume jumbo rates are always higher than conforming rates. In 2026, that assumption is costing them money. Knowing exactly where the conforming loan limit ends and how lenders price jumbo risk changes your monthly payment by hundreds of dollars.
Investment Return Calculator: Real Estate vs Stocks vs Bonds
Most investors compare asset classes by headline returns and get the wrong answer. Fees, taxes, and time destroy the gap between a 10% stock return and an 8% real estate return. The math tells a different story than the narrative.
How to Calculate Blended Rate of Return Across Multiple Investments
Most investors track each position in isolation and never calculate what their portfolio actually returned. That gap between perceived performance and real performance costs money. Here is the method that fixes it.
Investment Return Calculator With Withdrawals: Model Your Real Retirement Spending
Most retirement projections assume you never touch the principal. That assumption is wrong for almost every retiree. Model your actual withdrawal pattern and the math changes dramatically.
Investment Return Calculator: Add Monthly Contributions and See Real Growth
Most investors calculate returns on a lump sum and call it done. That single mistake costs them an accurate picture of their actual wealth trajectory. Monthly contributions change the math entirely, and the difference runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Investment Property Mortgage Calculator: PITI, Cap Rate, and What Most Landlords Get Wrong
Most rental property buyers calculate their mortgage payment and stop there. PITI tells a different story, and cap rate tells a third. Running all three together before you close is the only way to know if a deal actually pencils.
How to Calculate Your LeanFIRE Number (And Why Most People Overshoot It)
Most FIRE calculators default to assumptions built for conventional retirement at 65. LeanFIRE operates on a different set of rules entirely. Get the math wrong and you either retire broke or spend a decade working longer than necessary.
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 21, 2026)
What's a Megawatt Worth? Analyzing the AI Opportunity for Bitcoin Miners: Report
Crypto Prices Rise: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 20, 2026)
Asian shares track Wall Street's retreat as bond markets crank up the pressure
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 19, 2026)
Can Bitcoin Reclaim $100k This Year After Slipping Below $80K? AI Models Weigh In
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 18, 2026)
Ethereum News: Ronin's Ethereum L2 Migration Is Bigger Than It Looks for ETH
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 10, 2026)
Bitcoin trades above $80k milestone amid legislative progress and banking shift
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 9, 2026)
Dollar Slides on Stock Strength and Weak Consumer Sentiment
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 8, 2026)
If You Invested $1,000 in XRP When Trump Won the Election, Here's What You'd Have Today
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 7, 2026)
What are altcoins? A complete guide.
Crypto Prices Move: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 6, 2026)
Alphabet Returns to Euro Debt Market for Latest AI Megabond Deal
Crypto Prices Rise: The After-Tax Proceeds Calculation (May 4, 2026)
Bitcoin Price: BTC Is Up 19% in 30 Days — Is the Bear Market Officially Over?
IRA Contribution Limits 2026: Traditional, Roth, and Backdoor Explained
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+). But Roth IRA eligibility phases out at certain incomes. Here's everything you need to know including the backdoor Roth.
LLC vs S-Corp Calculator: How Much Tax Do You Save by Electing S-Corp?
On $150,000 net profit, electing S-Corp status saves $9,180 in self-employment taxes. But the math only works above a certain income threshold. Here's the full breakdown.
I-Bond Calculator 2026: Current Rate, Purchase Limits, and When to Redeem
I-Bonds pay a composite rate of 2.86% for bonds purchased in 2026. They are risk-free, inflation-linked, and state-tax-free. The catch: $10,000 annual limit and a 1-year lockup. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
Long-Term Care Insurance Calculator: Costs, Coverage, and the Self-Insurance Alternative
A private nursing home room costs $108,000/year on average in 2026. A 3-year stay costs $324,000. A couple buying LTC insurance at 55 pays $3,000-$5,000/year each to cover this risk. Here is who needs coverage and who can self-insure.
Kiddie Tax Calculator: How Investment Income Is Taxed for Minors
A 16-year-old with $10,000 in investment income pays tax at their parents' 32% rate on $7,400 of it. Not the child's 0% or 10% rate. The kiddie tax eliminated the old strategy of shifting investments to kids.
I-Bond Calculator 2026: Current Rate, Purchase Limits, and Returns
I-Bonds pay a composite rate adjusted for inflation every 6 months. They are risk-free, inflation-linked, and state-tax-free. The catch: $10,000 annual purchase limit and a 1-year lockup. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
Income-Based Repayment Calculator: What You Will Pay on Each Federal Plan
On $50,000 income with $80,000 in federal student loans, the SAVE plan payment is $135/month. The standard 10-year payment is $920/month. Here is how each income-driven plan is calculated and who benefits most.
International vs US Investing Calculator: How Much Diversification Do You Need?
US stocks make up 60% of global market cap but only 4% of the world's population. International stocks have outperformed the US in 6 of the past 10 decades. Here is how to think about global diversification.
Investment Property vs Primary Home: Which Builds More Wealth?
Owning a primary home builds equity but costs 1-2% annually in maintenance, taxes, and opportunity cost. A rental property generates income but requires management. Here is the side-by-side wealth comparison.
Inheritance Tax Calculator 2026: Do You Owe Anything?
Only 2,570 estates owed federal estate tax in 2023. The federal exemption is $13.99 million per person in 2026. If you inherit money, you almost certainly owe nothing. Here is what the rules actually say.
Index Fund Investing for Beginners: How to Start With $100
An index fund puts your money into hundreds or thousands of stocks at once, for 0.03% in annual fees. $100/month into VTI for 30 years produces $113,000 at 7% return. Here is the method.
Inflation Impact on Retirement: Interactive Calculator + 2025 Scenarios
At 3% inflation, $1 million today is worth $642,000 in purchasing power in 15 years. Your retirement savings need to grow faster than inflation or you are slowly going broke. Here is the math.
Inheritance Calculator: What You'll Actually Receive After Taxes
Federal estate tax only hits estates over $13.61M. But six states still have inheritance taxes. Here's how much you'll keep from a $500K inheritance in different states.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE Calculator: Which Number Is Right for You?
Lean FIRE needs $750,000. Fat FIRE needs $3 million. The gap is not about greed, it is about what retirement actually looks like day to day. Here is how to calculate your version.
Jumbo Loan Calculator: What You Need to Qualify for a $1M+ Mortgage
The 2026 conforming loan limit is $766,550. Above that, you're in jumbo territory. Here's what lenders require and what a $1M mortgage actually costs monthly.