5 days5 lessonsFree

Retirement Planning Crash Course (5 Days)

Calculate your number, optimize contributions, and build a retirement plan

What You'll Learn

Whether you're 25 or 55, this 5-day email course helps you take control of retirement planning. You'll assess your current status, calculate your target retirement number, optimize 401k and IRA contributions, choose the right investment allocation, and build a concrete action plan — all with free NexTool calculators.

Day 1: Where Do You Stand?

Use the Net Worth Calculator and Retirement Calculator to assess your current retirement readiness. Calculate your savings rate and see how it compares to recommended benchmarks.

Day 2: Find Your Retirement Number

Calculate exactly how much you need to retire using the 4% rule, the 25x rule, and NexTool's Retirement Calculator. Factor in Social Security, pensions, and inflation.

Day 3: 401k & IRA Optimization

Use the 401k Calculator to model employer match optimization. Compare Traditional vs Roth contributions based on your current tax bracket. Learn catch-up contribution strategies.

Day 4: Investment Allocation Strategy

Model conservative, moderate, and aggressive portfolios using the Investment Calculator. Learn age-based allocation rules, rebalancing, and how risk tolerance affects your retirement date.

Day 5: Your Retirement Action Plan

Pull everything together into a personalized retirement plan: target number, monthly contribution goal, account types, investment mix, and quarterly review checklist.

Tools You'll Use

Retirement Calculator

Estimate retirement savings, income, and how much to save monthly

401(k) Calculator

Project your 401(k) retirement savings with employer matching, catch-up contributions, and growth analysis

Investment Calculator

Calculate investment growth with monthly contributions and dividends

Compound Interest Calculator

Calculate compound interest with contributions and visual growth chart

Net Worth Calculator

Calculate your total net worth from assets minus liabilities

Savings Goal Calculator

Calculate how long to reach your savings goal or how much to save monthly

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free?

Yes, 100% free. No credit card required, no hidden fees. We believe financial education should be accessible to everyone. The course uses free NexTool calculators to teach you practical skills.

How much time per day?

Each lesson takes about 10-15 minutes. You'll read a short email, then use a specific NexTool calculator to work through an exercise with your real numbers. It's designed to fit into a busy schedule.

What if I miss a day?

No problem! The emails stay in your inbox, so you can catch up whenever you're ready. The lessons build on each other, but each one stands on its own, so you won't be lost if you skip ahead.

Do I need any special software?

Nope. All you need is an email address and a web browser. Every calculator linked in the lessons is free and works right in your browser — no downloads, no sign-ups required.

Can I enroll in multiple courses?

Absolutely! You can enroll in as many courses as you'd like. We recommend starting with one and then adding more as you complete each one, but it's entirely up to you.

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