Tools and Resources

Calculators

Choose the calculator that best suits your needs.

Auto

• Which is better: a new or used vehicle?
• How much should depreciation cost me?
• Should I lease or purchase a vehicle?
• Should I finance or pay cash for a vehicle?
• How much will my vehicle payments be?
• Which vehicle loan is better?
• What term of vehicle loan should I choose?
• Should I use a home equity loan instead of an auto loan?
• Which is better: a rebate or special dealer financing?
• How long should I keep a vehicle?
• What vehicle can I afford?

Budgeting

• How much am I spending?
• Should I pay off debt or invest in savings?
• What will it take to pay off my balance?
• How much should I set aside for emergencies?
• How much will it cost to raise a child?
• What's it worth to reduce my spending?
• Should my spouse work too?

Credit Card

• How important is the interest rate?
• How will rate changes affect my balance?
• Is a lower rate worth the annual fee?
• What will it take to pay off my balance?
• Should I consolidate my debts?
• Which is better: flight card or low rate card?
• Which is better: rebate card or low rate card?
• Should I consolidate my credit cards?

College Planning

• What will it take to save for a college education?
• What is the value of higher education?
• What investments can I use to save for college?
• What expenses do I face prior to attending college?
• Should I live on campus, off campus or at home?
• How much should I budget for college living expenses?
• Is a meal plan a good deal?

Mutual Fund

• What is the return of my fund if I sell now?
• Should I sell my funds now and invest the money elsewhere?
• What fund share price achieves my target rate of return?
• How much do fees affect my fund's rate of return?
• Should I wait a year to sell my fund shares?
• Which fund is better?
• Which is better: front or back load?
• How do exchange rates affect my foreign fund?
• Which is better: load or no load?
• How do growth and income funds compare?
• When will I recover my fund costs?

Home

• How much can I borrow?
• How much will my mortgage payments be?
• How much will my adjustable rate payments be?
• Which is better: fixed or adjustable?
• Should I pay points to lower the rate?
• Which is better: 15- or 30- year loan term?
• How much should I put down for a new home?
• How much can I save in taxes?
• What will my closing costs be?
• Am I better off renting?
• Am I better off refinancing?
• What will my refinancing costs be?
• How can I reduce mortgage insurance costs?
• Which lender has the better loan?
• Which loan is better?
• How advantageous are extra payments?
• What home can I afford?

Life Insurance

• How much life insurance do I need?
• What is my return on a whole life policy?
• What is my return on a universal life policy?
• What is my return on a variable life policy?
• Which is better: term or whole Life?
• Which is better: term or universal Life?
• Which is better: term or variable life?

Paycheck Planning

• How do 401(k) salary deductions affect my take-home pay?
• How much is my take-home pay as a salaried employee?
• How much is my take-home pay as an hourly employee?
• How much of my bonus do I keep after income taxes?
• How much are my employee stock options worth today?
• What is my take-home pay if I also earn tip income?

Retirement

• How will retirement affect my expenses?
• Am I saving enough? What can I change?
• How will this account be used?
• What will I earn with this account?
• How advantageous is increasing my savings?
• Which savings or income source will be the largest?
• How much can I invest before taxes each year?
• What if I underestimate my expenses?
• What will my income be after I retire?
• What will my expenses be after I retire?
• What happens if tax laws change?
• How much of an effect can inflation have?
• Which savings should be used first?
• How much will Social Security provide after retirement?
• What if Social Security no longer exists?

Roth IRA

• Which will provide the most retirement income? 
• How will changes in my tax rate affect the decision? 
• What option is best for estate planning? 
• How do return rates affect my retirement income? 
• When should I begin saving? 
• How will a large withdrawal affect the decision? 
• Should I convert my IRA into a Roth IRA? 
• How much may I contribute to an IRA?

Savings

• What will it take to become a millionaire?
• How much will my savings be worth?
• What will it take to save for a vehicle, home, etc.?
• What will it take to save for a college education?
• How will taxes and inflation affect my savings?
• How much of a difference will the rate make?
• What's it worth to reduce my spending?
• How much, at what rate, when?
• Which is better: cash or payments?
• How much will my CD be worth at maturity?

Stock

• What is the return on my stock if I sell now?
• Should I wait a year to sell my stock?
• Should I sell my stock now and invest the money elsewhere?
• What stock price achieves my target rate of return?
• What is my current yield from dividends?
• How much do fees affect my stock's rate of return?
• Which is better: income or growth stock?
• How do exchange rates affect my foreign stock?
• When will I recover my stock costs?