Bogleheads

[mwgr5]

I am trying to find a good retirement calculator. Ideally, the calculator would include some sort of Monte Carlo simulation or backtesting that would show the success rate of the portfolio in different historic time frames. I know Vanguard has a good retirement calculator, but is there another calculator that is very good?

I think the main problem with many retirement calculators is the assumption of constant returns. Many ask the user to input rates of return and then compound the porfolio in retirement at a constant rate. Of coarse in reality, investment returns are not constant and can have high variance.

Thanks!
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Matt
www.sharpeinvesting.com

[livesoft]

www.firecalc.com (not monte carlo, but something else)
www.flexibleretirementplanner.com

[bob90245]

There's also this one:

http://www3.troweprice.com/ric/RIC/

[tdhg566]

mwgr5:

Really liked your website/blog (http://www.sharpeinvesting.com/)
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My work must be retiree friendly, geographically portable, mentally stimulating and personally profitable

[williamg]

This calculator is a little different as it tries to optimize taxes in planning withdrawals from your various accounts; ie., taxable, IRA, Roth.

http://www.i-orp.com/index.html

[Seven]

Hi Matt,
I really like the Monte Carlo retirement calculator at moneychimp dot com. I can't post the link (forum newbies can't include links in their posts until they've made 4 posts, and this is only my first), but if you go to money chimp and do a search on monte carlo you'll find it. I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, but it may be worth a look.

Btw, I also liked your website/blog. (The SNL skit w/Steve Martin is priceless!)

Regards,
Seven

[bob90245]

[mwgr5]

Thanks for the helpful responses. I am still looking for a calculator with some specific inputs that I have not yet found, so if you are aware of any other good calculators let me know. If not, the calculators already posted are excellent and I will meet most of my needs. Thanks!
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Matt
www.sharpeinvesting.com

[livesoft]

Pray tell: what specific inputs are you looking for?

[mwgr5]

[4th&Goal]

I use Retirement Savings Planner 2007 (Couples Edition) from Torrid Technologies. From the website:
"For individuals, employees, retirement plan participants who want to quickly and easily estimate their retirement savings and how much you need to meet your retirement income goal. If you are already retired it will help illustrate how long your money will last."
The Couples Edition allows you to enter data separately but still see a combined retirement income analyses. There is a downloadable free trial that lets you test drive the software.

http://www.torrid-tech.com/rp_main.html
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"I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left."
(Voltaire)

[livesoft]

[prentis]

Please see the available software at www.analyzenow.com . The free stuff is very useful and the full program is a bargain at $50, including support by the author. You will find no more thorough analysis for future planning. Be sure to read the author's little essays. They are priceless.
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A good landing is one that you can walk away from.

[gneeby]

[gneeby]

[Didro]

Hi all

I do agree with gneeby regarding the Monte Carlo limitations, heck the recent crises proved it to the dot.

I used execplanexpress retiremnet planning and liked the ease and yet powerful results.

take care

[Offcelled]

I hope yobria's www.easyallocator.com comes back; it wasn't available when I just now checked but I thought it was a nice combination of comprehensive and accessible, especially for Boglehead types.

Also, the T. Rowe Price calculator mentioned above seems to currently reside here: http://www3.troweprice.com/ric/ric/public/ric.do

[kd2008]

Here is one posted by jnojr in some other thread: http://www.retireearlyhomepage.com/software.html

[gneeby]

[JW Nearly Retired]

Vanguard has a particularly easy-to-use one if you are nearing retirement. Not much data to enter. It doesn't address the saving phase, just a Monte Carlo for how long your retirement nest egg will last.

https://retirementplans.vangua....ggCalc.jsf

JW

[LadyGeek]

You have a nice selection of Retirement Calculators on the wiki.

Please see Tools and Calculators on the Bogleheads Wiki.
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Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be. Link to Wiki

[LadyGeek]

One more added to the list (Otar's Retirement Calculator), refer to the Retirement Calculators section.
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Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be. Link to Wiki

[kenbrumy]

Look at this free version of ESPlanner. It's a little different than most calculators in that it determines a "smoothed" consumption pattern over your whole life.

https://basic.esplanner.com/

It's easy to use and lets you play with some of the variables. To get all the bells and whistles you have to fork over $150 which I haven't.

All the calculators in the world won't really resolve your basic question. Reality gets in the way of all those fancy Monte Carlo models, historical data and single return calcs. You never know when 2008 will hit again or whether 2008 will be considered a good year by comparison. You just have to live your life, do the best you can and pull the cord when you feel it's the right time.

[LadyGeek]

Some opinions about ESPlanner were expressed in this thread: ESPlanner BASIC is free.
_________________
Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be. Link to Wiki

[kb0fhp]

Based on the many retirement calculators I have found the secret to a good retirement - die early.

[YDNAL]

[Didro]

[tadamsmar]

www.financialengines.com

[MWCA]

[gatorking]

I find it amusing how old threads get suddenly revived.

[MWCA]