Retirement isn't an Age thing. It's a Numbers thing.
Do You Have A Plan?
Built with Dr. Dave's Retirement Blueprint — Schalow Success Systems
Step 2 — Set your targets
What is the household aiming at?
Most planners work backwards from your goals. We'll do the same — your targets define the math.
The assumption here is a horizon, not a calendar date. The household picks how many years out retirement sits — age 65 at today's inputs.
In today's dollars — combined for the whole household.
Based on U.S. Census Bureau / Congressional Research Service data for households age 65+, rounded to the nearest $100/month.
Step 3 — Household today
Show us where the household is today.
Every plan starts somewhere. Combined household numbers only — savings in one column, contributions in the other.
Non-qualified / after-tax household savings.
Qualified balances — 401(k), 403(b), pension cash value.
Include the employer match here.
Starting from zero is the hardest — but the math still works. Show us where you are.
Advanced assumptions
What most planners miss: employer match and allocation are just another way of saying "contribution" and "return." Fold the match into the household monthly contribution, and let the allocation show up in the return assumption below.
Step 4 — Set your assumptions
Two stages, two rates.
Stage 1 builds the balance. Stage 2 draws it down. The rates are not the same, and that is on purpose.
Stage 1 — Accumulation
The math says this: 7% is the long-run default most planners use for a stock-weighted portfolio. The qualified plan and the household's own savings rarely hold the same allocation — set each one.
Household FV
$0
401(k)/Pension FV
$0
Stage 2 — Distribution
In retirement, most planners recommend a more conservative allocation. We've defaulted to 5% — adjust based on your portfolio. Most planners assume 25 years post-retirement; earlier retirement means more years to fund.
Non-Qualified leg
$0/mo
401(k)/Pension leg
$0/mo
Step 5 — Your blueprint
Here's what the math says.
Years to Retirement
25
Projected Monthly Income
$0
The Gap
$5,000/mo
Your next move
Every plan starts at zero. Show me where the household is — add a balance or a monthly contribution above and the math takes it from there.
Buildup and Paydown
Balance by age — accumulation, then distribution
The Four-Legged Stool
Every household retirement income sits on four legs. Two are computed from the household's savings above — you only fill in Social Security and part-time work.
Your actual SS/mo found at www.SSA.gov
401(k) or Pension
From the 401(k)/pension stage 1 & 2 math
Non-Qualified
From the household savings stage 1 & 2 math
Total Monthly Retirement Income
$0
Household Monthly Goal
$5,000
You need $5,000 more per month to hit your goal. Pull one of the levers above to close the gap — raise a monthly contribution, extend years to retirement, lower the goal, or add to Social Security or part-time work.
What if…
Every move recalculates all three headline numbers, the curve, and the stool.