Am I on track?
If you keep refreshing your spreadsheet wondering whether you're saving enough, this is for you. Six questions, one clear answer. Built for people whose income outpaced their certainty about what to do with it.
Compared to today: leaner = 65%, same = 80%, richer = 100% of today's income.
On PaceYou're in the top 25% of households age 35–44 and on this pace you'd cover your lifestyle around age 62, 2 years past your target.
Includes ~$30,000/yr in estimated Social Security starting at 67.
Savings rate
16%
Of every $100 you earn, you keep $16.
Where you rank
Top 25%
Of US households age 35–44, by money invested.
Years to freedom
27
Until your money covers your lifestyle on its own.
Your projection vs. the on-track benchmark
Simplifications: assumes a constant 6% real (inflation-adjusted) return, ignores taxes on withdrawals, employer match details, state benefits, and one-time inheritances or windfalls. Percentile ranks are approximations based on Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 financial-assets data and use 10-year age brackets. Not financial advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Honest answers about what this tool measures and what it doesn't.
What does 'on track' actually mean here?
We compare your invested money against a long-standing benchmark from Fidelity: aim to have roughly 1× your income saved by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67. The verdict bar shows whether you're behind that pace, on it, ahead of it, or well past it. It's a simple yardstick, not a guarantee.
Why is my freedom number 25 times my spending?
It comes from decades of research on how much you can safely pull from a diversified portfolio each year without running out, even through bad market stretches. Multiplying your yearly spending by 25 is the shorthand version of that math. It's a starting point — most people adjust as they get closer to actually stopping work.
Should I trust the percentile? Where does it come from?
The percentile uses the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the most-cited source for US household wealth data. We use the SCF's 'financial assets' figure specifically, which excludes home equity, vehicles, and businesses — the same things you're being asked to exclude when you enter your invested money. So it's a fair apples-to-apples comparison. The brackets are 10 years wide because that's the granularity the SCF publishes.
Why did you assume Social Security?
Most people will receive some Social Security, and ignoring it makes the target number look scarier than it really is. We default the toggle on and use a conservative ~$30,000/year starting at 67. If you'd rather plan as if it won't be there — common for people targeting early financial independence — turn the toggle off and the freedom number goes up to reflect that.
What's a good savings rate for someone at my income?
The classic rule of thumb is at least 15% of gross income, including any employer match. For high earners aiming for early or accelerated financial independence, 25% to 40% is a common target. Above $200k of household income, savings rate matters more than what you invest in — the difference between saving 15% and 30% of a $300k income is about a decade off your work life.
I'm 'behind' — what now?
Three levers, in order of impact: raise your savings rate (most direct), push your target date out a few years (compounds heavily), or adjust your target lifestyle. Don't start with 'pick better investments' — at this stage, how much you save matters more than what it earns. Also: double-check the 'money already invested' number. People often forget old 401(k)s or HSAs, and that alone can shift the verdict.