A Better Retirement Calculator Than NerdWallet
NerdWallet's retirement planner tells you if you're 'on track' with a percentage bar. Reise Tools shows you the returns vs contributions split, calculates your Coast FI number, and gives you a surplus or gap analysis — with every compound growth formula visible.
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Find out if you're on track to retire comfortably. See your projected balance, inflation-adjusted income, and exactly how much more to save each month to close any gap.
| Feature | NerdWallet Retirement Planner | Reise Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Returns vs contributions breakdown | ||
| Coast FI number calculation | ||
| Monthly surplus / gap in dollars | ||
| ShowMath — compound growth formula | ||
| Sensitivity to return rate changes Reise shows 1% rate change impact | ||
| Retirement age what-if modeling | ||
| Current contribution limit data | ||
| Editorial guides alongside the tool NerdWallet's edge — deep article library | ||
| Free with no account required |
To be honest: this is a widely-used tool for good reasons. Here's what it does well.
- Broad editorial coverage connects the calculator to retirement planning articles and guides
- Well-known brand with high trust scores among personal finance beginners
- 401(k) and IRA contribution limit data is kept current each year
- On-track score gives a quick at-a-glance status for users who want simplicity
- ▸Returns vs contributions opacity — NerdWallet shows a projected balance but never splits out how much is your contributions vs investment growth. That split determines whether you're saving enough or just relying on the market.
- ▸No Coast FI calculation — NerdWallet doesn't tell you the point at which you could stop contributing entirely and still reach your goal via compound growth alone. Reise shows exactly that number.
- ▸On-track metric without context — the percentage bar is a black box. You can't see the future-value formula, the assumed return rate's effect on the output, or how sensitive your goal is to a 1% rate change.
- ▸No gap dollar amount — NerdWallet says 'you're 73% on track' but doesn't tell you the monthly contribution needed to close the gap. Reise calculates the exact surplus or shortfall in dollars.
- ▸No what-if retirement age modeling — Reise lets you shift your target retirement age and instantly see how the math changes. NerdWallet requires manual re-entry.
Every Reise calculator has a ShowMath panel — expand it and you see the exact formula with your actual numbers substituted in. Not just a result. Not a black box. The full derivation, step by step.
The difference between 'you're 73% on track' and 'you need $340 more per month, or you could retire at 67 instead of 65' is the difference between a status indicator and a decision tool. Reise shows the full compound growth formula so you can understand why the numbers are what they are — and what levers actually move them.
Find the optimal 401(k) contribution to maximize your employer match, minimize taxes, and hit your retirement goal. Shows the real cost of under-contributing — before and after employer match.
Compare Roth and Traditional IRA after-tax outcomes side by side. Enter your current and expected retirement tax brackets to see which account wins, the break-even retirement rate, and whether a Roth conversion makes sense for your situation.
100+ free calculators. Every result shows the formula. No account required.