RetireBlueprint Pro — Setup Guide

FIRE Enthusiasts

Planning to retire at 40, 50, or 55? Your FI Date, Coast FIRE number, safe withdrawal rate, and 100-year projection are built in. The Roth Conversion Solver tunes your tax strategy before RMDs begin.

Traditional Retirees

Retiring at 62-65 with Social Security, pension, and a 401k? It handles Social Security survivor benefits, Medicare IRMAA, RMD schedules, and smile-curve spending automatically.

Couples Planning Together

Two incomes, two Social Security amounts, different retirement dates? It models each partner independently, runs the survivor scenario, and produces a printable summary your spouse and advisor can follow.

How RetireBlueprint Pro Works

What you need

Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (recent versions)
Internet: Required — connects to your Google Sheet
Google Account: Free — for your Google Sheet
Screen: Works on phone, tablet, or computer
Best experience: Laptop/desktop, 1200px+ wide

File size

First load: ~1MB total (pages + charts library)
After cache: ~780KB — loads in <2 seconds
Charts: Loaded once, cached by browser
Data: Lives in YOUR Google Sheet — private & secure
Works offline? Pages load, but need internet for data

Understanding the system

Your Personal Google Sheet is the Engine

When you purchased RetireBlueprint Pro, you received your own private copy of a powerful Google Sheet. This sheet runs thousands of calculations — tax projections, Roth conversions, portfolio growth, Social Security optimization — all automatically.

This Website is Your Dashboard & Input Portal

These web pages (Inputs, Dashboard, Tax Engine, etc.) are a beautiful interface that reads from and writes to your Google Sheet. Enter your numbers here → your sheet updates → everything recalculates automatically.

Your Data is 100% Private

Your data lives in your Google Sheet — not on our servers. We can only read your sheet because you shared it with us (which you control). You can revoke access anytime from your Google Drive.

First-Time Setup One Time Only

Takes about 5 minutes · Never need to do this again

~5 minutes

Step 1 — Make Your Personal Copy of the Sheet

Click the button below. Google will show a box saying "Make a copy" — click the blue button. Your personal retirement planning sheet will open in a new tab.

Important: Keep that tab open — you'll need it for the next steps.

Make My Personal Copy

Step 2 — Share Your Sheet So It Can Connect

In your new sheet, click the Share button (top right corner). Add this email as an Editor:

retireblueprintpro@gmail.com

How to share:
1. Click the blue Share button (top right of your sheet)
2. Paste retireblueprintpro@gmail.com in the people box
3. Make sure the permission says Editor
4. Click Send

Why do we need Editor access? When you enter your numbers on the Inputs page and click Save, our system writes those values directly to your sheet. Without Editor access, it can't write — and your data won't save. You can remove access at any time from your Google Drive settings.

Step 3 — Connect Your Sheet to This Dashboard

Go to your new sheet tab. Click the browser address bar at the top — it shows a long web address. Select all and copy it, then go to Setup and paste it to connect.

The address looks like: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_SHEET_ID/edit

Go to Setup Page →

Save the App to Your Home Screen

Add a one-tap shortcut on your phone or computer

On an iPhone or iPad

Open RetireBlueprint Pro in Safari. Tap the Share button — the square with an upward arrow at the bottom of the screen — then scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. Tap Add in the top corner. The app icon now sits on your home screen, and one tap opens your plan.

On an Android Phone

Open RetireBlueprint Pro in Chrome. Tap the menu (three dots in the top corner), then tap Add to Home screen (it may say Install app). Confirm, and the icon appears on your home screen for one-tap access.

On a Computer

Open RetireBlueprint Pro in your browser and bookmark it: press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac), then save. To keep it always within reach, right-click the browser tab and choose Pin.

Tip — Where the Shortcut Points

The shortcut opens whichever page you saved it from. If you want it to jump straight to your numbers, open your Dashboard first, then add it.

Entering Your Data

What to enter and where to find it

Partner Profiles

Enter both partners' names, dates of birth, and projected ages of death. The system calculates current age and death year automatically from your birth date.

Social Security Base Benefit: Find this at ssa.gov/myaccount — look for "My estimated benefits" and use the amount shown at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Most people born after 1960 have an FRA of 67.

Investment Accounts

Enter all your retirement accounts — 401k, Roth IRA, brokerage, HSA, etc. For expected return rates, use these typical assumptions:

• 401k / Traditional IRA: 6–8%
• Roth IRA: 7–9%
• Brokerage (Taxable): 6–7%
• HSA: 6–7%
• HYSA / Cash: 3–5%

Monthly Expenses

Enter your current monthly spending in each category. Be honest — the more accurate your expenses, the more accurate your retirement projection. The sheet multiplies monthly × 12 for the annual total, which flows into your 100-year Master projection automatically.

Always Click "Save All Changes"

After entering or updating any data, click the Save All Changes button. Your Google Sheet updates in the background — wait a few seconds, then go to the Dashboard to see your updated projections.

Tip: You'll see a green "✅ Saved!" message when successful. If you see a red error, make sure your sheet is still shared with retireblueprintpro@gmail.com as Editor.

Ongoing Use — Annual Check-In

Each January, update these 6 things — your whole plan recalculates automatically:
1. Account balances (from your brokerage statements) · 2. SS COLA rate (ssa.gov) · 3. IRMAA thresholds (cms.gov) · 4. Home value (zillow.com) · 5. Inflation rate (bls.gov/cpi) · 6. Tax brackets if changed (taxfoundation.org)
Full resource links with direct URLs are on the Tax Engine page under "Annual Update Guide."

Getting the most out of your plan year after year

Update Your Plan Once a Year

At the start of each year, visit the Annual Check-In page to log your actual portfolio value. This keeps your projections grounded in reality and shows you whether you're ahead or behind your plan.

Update When Life Changes

Changed jobs? Got a raise? Decided to retire earlier? Simply update your Inputs page and click Save. Your entire 100-year projection recalculates instantly — no spreadsheet expertise required.

Run Stress Tests

Use the Stress Test Settings in Global Settings to simulate a bear market. Switch "Early Bear Market?" to Bear Market and see how your plan holds up. A solid plan survives even a 2008-style crash at the worst possible time.

Save a Snapshot Each Year — Your Future Self Will Thank You

Your Google Sheet updates in place every time you save — which means last year's numbers get overwritten. We recommend saving a dated copy of your sheet once a year (or any time you make major updates) so you always have a historical record of what you thought the plan would do vs. what it actually did.

How to save a snapshot:
1. Open your Google Sheet
2. Click File → Make a copy
3. Name it something like "RetireBluePrint Pro — 2026 Snapshot"
4. Save it to your Google Drive — you never need to open it unless you want to look back

Good times to snapshot: January 1st each year after entering your actual balances, whenever you make a major life change (new job, early retirement, big expense), or before running a stress test scenario you want to compare later.

Think of it like a financial photo album — each snapshot captures exactly where your plan stood at that moment. Ten years from now you'll be able to see how your thinking evolved and how well the projections held up.

Troubleshooting

Fix common problems in under 2 minutes

Save failed — network error

This is the most common issue. Work through these steps in order:

1. Check your internet connection — make sure you're online.

2. Check that your sheet is still shared — open your Google Sheet, click Share (top right), and confirm retireblueprintpro@gmail.com is listed as Editor. If it's missing, re-add it.

3. Try again — click Save All Changes again. If it still fails, press Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+R (PC) to force-reload the page, then try saving again.

4. Check your sheet URL — go to Setup and re-paste your Google Sheet URL. Sometimes the connection ID gets corrupted if you cleared browser data.

I saved successfully but the Dashboard still shows old numbers

This is normal — the Dashboard reads your sheet fresh each time you open it, but it doesn't auto-refresh while you're on it.

The fix: Press Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+R (PC) while on the Dashboard. This forces a hard reload and pulls the latest data from your sheet. Regular Cmd+R may serve a cached version — always use Cmd+Shift+R after saving.

Workflow tip: Save in Inputs → Switch to Dashboard tab → Cmd+Shift+R → numbers update instantly.

My expenses or debts saved but aren't showing up correctly

First, try saving again from the Inputs page — re-enter the expense or debt and click Save All Changes again. If data still isn't appearing correctly on your Dashboard after pressing Cmd+Shift+R, contact us at retireblueprintpro@gmail.com and we'll check your sheet directly. Include your name and a description of what's missing.

I'm using a new device or browser and my data is gone

Your data is safe — it's in your Google Sheet. You just need to reconnect on this device.

Steps:
1. Go to the Setup page
2. Skip Steps 1 and 2 (you already made your copy and shared it)
3. Open your Google Sheet in another tab, copy the URL from the address bar
4. Paste it in Step 3 on the Setup page and click Connect
5. Done — your data will load on all pages

Page says "Loading..." and never finishes

This usually means the connection to your Google Sheet timed out. Try these in order:

1. Press Cmd+Shift+R to force-reload
2. Make sure your Google Sheet is shared with retireblueprintpro@gmail.com as Editor
3. Go to Setup and reconnect by pasting your Google Sheet URL again
4. If none of the above works, email us at retireblueprintpro@gmail.com — include your sheet URL and we'll get you sorted

Your Pages — What Each One Does

A plain-English guide to every section of your plan

Home page — your quick summary

Shows your key numbers in one place: plan confidence score, total portfolio, safe spending amount, and whether you're on track. The large number is your Plan Confidence Score. At 100%, your plan fully funds your goals; below 80%, adjust your spending, timeline, or savings.

Dashboard — Your Full Retirement Picture

Six charts and multiple data panels showing your entire retirement trajectory. Key panels to understand:

• Plan Completion Score — a checklist showing which parts of your plan you've filled in. Incomplete items appear in white — click through to the Inputs page to complete them.
• Account Mix Over Time — shows how your Pre-Tax (dark), Roth (teal), Taxable (gold), and HSA (green) accounts grow and shrink over time. Ideally your Roth grows relative to Pre-Tax, which means your tax strategy is on track.
• Tax Efficiency — your effective federal tax rate each year. Lower is better. Watch for spikes when RMDs begin at 73.
• Stress Test — shows what happens to your ending portfolio if the market drops 20% or 30% in year 1 of retirement, or if inflation runs at 5% instead of 3%. If these numbers still look acceptable, your plan is resilient.

Inputs Page — Where You Enter Everything

This is where you build your plan. Everything you enter flows automatically into your Master spreadsheet and every dashboard. Key sections:

• Global Settings — Plan start year, legacy goal (how much you want to leave), stress test settings, inflation rate, Social Security COLA.
• Partner Profiles — Names, birthdates, salary, Social Security, pension, healthcare costs. The SS Breakeven Analysis appears automatically and shows you whether claiming at 62, your Full Retirement Age, or 70 gives you more lifetime income.
• Expenses — Your monthly spending categories. Be thorough here — underestimating expenses is the #1 planning mistake.
• Debts — Mortgage, car loans, etc. For your home, enter the Zillow value in Current Value ($) and your home's annual appreciation rate (typically 3-4%) — this feeds your home equity panel on the Dashboard.
• Named Accounts — Your 401k, Roth IRA, brokerage, HSA, and other accounts. Enter each separately with its current balance, expected return rate, and owner. The contribution fields (Annual Contribution, Employer Match, start/end dates) feed directly into the Master projection.
• Roth Conversion Solver — Analyzes the optimal time and amount to convert pre-tax money to Roth. See Section 8 below for a full explanation.
• Safe Spend Solver — Automatically calculates how much you can safely spend each year while still meeting your legacy goal.

Annual Check-In — Track Your Progress Year by Year

Once a year, come here to enter your actual account balances and compare them to what the plan projected. Over time this builds a history of how closely reality matches your plan. If your actual balance is consistently higher than projected — great, your investments are outperforming. If consistently lower — your plan may need adjustment. Use the Notes column to record major events: "retired," "RV purchase," "market crash," etc.

Tax Engine — Understand Your Tax Picture

Shows your tax situation in detail: effective federal rate, state rate, standard deduction, RMD planning window, and Roth conversion analysis. The RMD Planning Window box tells you how many years you have before Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73 — that's your prime window to do Roth conversions at lower tax rates. The tax bracket table shows what % of income goes to taxes at each age.

Summary Report — Print or Share Your Plan

A clean, professional one-page summary of your entire retirement plan. Shows your plan status, both partner profiles, all accounts, income sources, tax strategy, stress test results, and key milestones (retirement dates, SS start dates, Medicare, RMDs). To save as PDF: click Print / Save PDF and choose "Save as PDF" as the destination in your print dialog. Share this with your financial advisor, children, or keep as an annual record.

Beginner Questions — Plain English Answers

Do I need to know spreadsheets or coding?

No. Everything is entered through the web-based Inputs page — you never need to open or touch your Google Sheet directly. The sheet is your data engine running silently in the background.

How to find the Inputs page:
• From the Home page → click Inputs in the Planning Tools section
• From any page → click INPUTS in the top navigation bar
• Direct link: it's RetireBlueprintPro_Inputs.html in your GitHub Pages URL
• Can't find it? Check your Etsy purchase confirmation email — it contains your direct link to all pages

Just fill in your numbers, click Save at the bottom, and your plan updates automatically. You can optionally click Master Sheet in the nav to view the raw year-by-year calculations, but you never need to enter anything there.

How do I find my Social Security benefit amount?

Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and create a free account. Under "My Home" → "View estimated benefits" you'll see your monthly benefit at different retirement ages.

Enter two things in the Inputs page:

1. Your monthly benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA)
This is the specific amount shown on your SS statement for your FRA — not the age-62 reduced amount, and not the delayed-credit amount. Enter your FRA amount and also enter your actual FRA age (usually 66-67 depending on birth year). The plan then adjusts the benefit automatically based on when you actually plan to claim (your SS start date).

2. Your SS start date — the month and year you plan to begin collecting.

The plan automatically:
• Prorates SS for the start year (e.g. July start = 6 months counted that year)
• Adjusts the benefit for early or delayed claiming vs. your FRA
• Applies your SS COLA rate (default 2.5%) every year after

You do not need to calculate annual amounts or adjustments — the plan handles it all.

What's a Roth conversion and should I do one?

A Roth conversion moves money from a Traditional IRA/401k (pre-tax) to a Roth IRA (tax-free). You pay income tax now, but the money grows tax-free forever with no Required Minimum Distributions.

When it makes sense: When your tax rate NOW is lower than it will be when RMDs begin at age 73. The window between retiring and age 73 is typically your best opportunity. Your Tax Engine page shows exactly how much you can convert without jumping tax brackets.

What are RMDs and why do they matter?

Required Minimum Distributions — the IRS requires withdrawals from pre-tax accounts (Traditional IRA, 401k) starting at your RMD age (73 or 75, by birth year). The amount is your account balance divided by an IRS life expectancy factor.

Why plan ahead: Large RMDs can push you into higher tax brackets, increase Medicare premiums (IRMAA), and make Social Security more taxable. Converting some pre-tax money to Roth before 73 reduces future RMD amounts. Your RMD schedule is projected automatically in the Tax Engine.

What is IRMAA?

Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — extra Medicare premiums triggered when your income exceeds $212,000 (married, 2025). A large Roth conversion could temporarily push you over this threshold, adding $74-$444/month per person to Medicare costs. Your Tax Engine shows all five IRMAA tiers so you can plan conversions to stay just under the thresholds.

What's the Smile Curve spending plan?

Research shows retirees typically spend MORE early in retirement (travel, activities), LESS in the middle years (settled lifestyle), and slightly more again late in life (healthcare). Graphed over time this looks like a smile. Your plan sets three spending phases:

Phase 1: Active years — higher spending on experiences
Phase 2: Settled years — core lifestyle spending
Phase 3: Later years — reduced travel, more healthcare

What's the difference between the SS column and the Projected SS column?

In the Income Engine on your Dashboard you'll see two Social Security columns:

SS (Social Security) — Your actual confirmed monthly benefit amount entered in Inputs. The real number from ssa.gov at your Full Retirement Age.

Projected SS — What the plan actually uses each year. It differs because:
• Start year proration: July start = 6 months counted, not 12
• COLA growth: grown by your SS COLA rate (default 2.5%/yr) every year
• Not started yet: shows $0 in years before your SS start date

Survivor Benefit — Automatically Handled
When one spouse passes, the survivor automatically receives whichever is higher — their own SS benefit OR their deceased spouse's benefit — as long as they are age 60 or older. This is the real Social Security survivor rule and your plan applies it automatically in every projection year after the first spouse's death.

Example: If Partner 1's SS is $2,544/mo and Partner 2's is $2,493/mo, after Partner 1 passes, Partner 2's Projected SS automatically becomes $2,544/mo (the higher amount) for the remainder of their life. This is reflected in the Survivor Plan chart on your Dashboard.

My numbers look wrong — what do I check first?

Check these five things in order:

1. Named Accounts in Inputs (Section VI) — are account balances entered for each account?
2. Column A of Named Accounts — is "Include?" set to Yes for each active account?
3. Partner names in Inputs — are both names filled in?
4. Plan start year — is it set to the current year?
5. Hard refresh — press Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) on the Dashboard

What does the Stress Test show and how do I use it?

The Stress Test on your Dashboard shows how your plan holds up under four scenarios:

Base Scenario — Normal market returns as projected. This is your plan as entered.

Year 1 Down 20% (Mild Bear Market) — Your entire portfolio drops 20% in the first year of retirement. This is historically the most dangerous scenario — a crash right when you start withdrawing is called "sequence of returns risk." The plan calculates your projected ending balance if this happens.

Year 1 Down 30% (Severe Bear Market) — A crash the size of 2008-2009 or the early 2020 COVID crash. If your plan still shows ✅ here, you have a very resilient strategy.

High Inflation (5%) — If inflation runs at 5% instead of your planned 3%, your expenses grow faster and your real purchasing power drops. This tests whether your spending plan can absorb higher-than-expected inflation.

How to improve your stress test results:
• Increase your Roth allocation (Roth withdrawals don't create taxable income)
• Keep 2-3 years of expenses in cash/stable value (reduces sequence risk)
• Lower your planned spending in Phase 1 of the Smile Curve
• Delay Social Security to maximize guaranteed income (reduces portfolio dependency)

You can test different strategies by changing numbers in Inputs and refreshing the Dashboard.

How do I share this with my financial advisor?

The easiest way: go to the Summary page and click Print / Save PDF. This creates a professional 4-page PDF with all your plan details, income, accounts, tax strategy, stress test results, and key milestones — everything a financial advisor needs to review your plan.

Alternatively, click the Share button on the Summary page to copy a live link your advisor can open to see real-time data.

FIRE Planning — Safe Withdrawal Rate, FI Date, Coast FIRE

Your Dashboard's FIRE Intelligence panel shows four key FIRE metrics:

Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR) — Your planned portfolio withdrawal divided by total portfolio. The famous 4% rule says withdrawing 4% per year sustains a 30-year retirement. Under 3% = very safe. Over 5% = consider adjusting spending or timeline.

FI Date (Financial Independence) — The year your portfolio can sustain all expenses without any salary. This is the FIRE milestone — when work becomes optional, not mandatory.

FIRE Type — Based on your annual spending: Lean FIRE (<$30K) · Regular FIRE ($30-60K) · FIRE ($60-100K) · Fat FIRE (>$100K)

Coast FIRE Number — The portfolio size at which you could stop ALL contributions today and let compound growth alone reach your FI number by retirement. If you're past this number — you've "coasted" and can stop saving without impacting your retirement timeline!

Early Retirement — Rule of 55, 72(t) SEPP, Roth Ladder

Retiring before 59½ creates a challenge: most retirement accounts charge a 10% penalty for early withdrawals. Here are the main workarounds:

Rule of 55 — If you leave your employer at age 55 or older, you can withdraw from THAT employer's 401k penalty-free immediately. Doesn't apply to IRAs or old 401ks from previous employers. Very useful for traditional early retirees (55-59).

72(t) SEPP — Substantially Equal Periodic Payments. You commit to withdrawing a calculated equal amount from your IRA every year for at least 5 years or until age 59½ (whichever is longer). No penalty, but you CANNOT change the amount once started. Use this for very early retirees who need IRA income before 55.

Roth Conversion Ladder — Convert pre-tax money to Roth each year during a low-income period. After 5 years, those conversions can be withdrawn penalty-free (not the growth, just the converted principal). This is the most flexible FIRE strategy and your Roth Conversion Solver helps you optimize it.

Taxable Brokerage — No age restrictions. Many FIRE retirees bridge ages 40-59 with taxable brokerage accounts, then switch to retirement accounts at 59½. Your plan accounts for all account types in its withdrawal hierarchy.

HSA — The Triple Tax Advantage

The HSA (Health Savings Account) is the most tax-advantaged account in the US tax code:

Tax #1 — Contributions are pre-tax (deducted from income, like a 401k)
Tax #2 — Growth is tax-free (invest it like a brokerage, no capital gains)
Tax #3 — Withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free forever

Advanced strategy: Pay all medical expenses out-of-pocket while working, save every receipt, and reimburse yourself years later tax-free. Meanwhile the HSA compounds untouched for decades.

After age 65, HSA withdrawals for non-medical purposes are taxed like a Traditional IRA (no penalty, just ordinary income tax) — making it an excellent supplemental retirement account. Your plan tracks HSA separately in the account mix so you can see it grow and plan its use.

Key Concepts — Plain English

Retirement planning terms explained without the jargon

What is FIRE? (New to this concept?)

FIRE = Financial Independence, Retire Early. A financial philosophy built around one core idea: accumulate enough invested assets that your portfolio's investment returns cover your living expenses forever — making paid work optional, not required. You don't have to quit your job; you just reach the point where you could.

Key terms you'll see in this tool:

FI = Financial Independence — The milestone where your investments generate enough passive income to cover your expenses indefinitely. Your "FI Date" is the year this tool projects you'll hit that milestone.

FI Number — The total portfolio size you need to be financially independent. Calculated as: Annual Expenses ÷ 0.04. If you spend $80,000/year, your FI Number is $2,000,000.

SWR = Safe Withdrawal Rate — The percentage of your portfolio you withdraw each year. The famous "4% Rule" (from the 1994 Trinity Study) found that withdrawing 4% per year gave a portfolio a very high chance of lasting 30+ years through all historical market conditions. Your SWR is shown on the Dashboard.

Coast FIRE Number — The portfolio balance at which you could stop contributing entirely and let compound growth alone carry you to your FI Number by retirement age. If your balance is already above your Coast number — congratulations, you've "coasted" and every dollar you save now just accelerates your timeline.

The FIRE Spectrum — different flavors for different goals:

Lean FIRE — Retiring on a very frugal budget, typically under $40K/year. Usually involves living in a low cost-of-living area, minimizing expenses, and having very little margin for surprises. Requires a smaller portfolio but much less flexibility.

Regular FIRE — The middle ground: $40K–$80K/year. A comfortable lifestyle without extravagance. This is where most people in the FIRE community aim.

Fat FIRE — Retiring with a high income replacement, typically $100K+/year. You don't give up the nice vacations, restaurant dinners, or helping your kids financially. Requires a larger portfolio but provides the most lifestyle flexibility.

Barista FIRE — Named after the idea of working part-time at a coffee shop. You've saved enough that a small amount of part-time income covers the gap — often used specifically to get employer health insurance before Medicare at 65. Your portfolio does the heavy lifting; you just work enough to avoid drawing it down early.

Coast FIRE — You've saved enough that compound growth will get you to your FI Number on its own by a target retirement age — so you can stop making retirement contributions entirely. You still work (to cover current living expenses), but you're no longer racing to save. The math is doing the work for you.

You don't have to be pursuing early retirement to benefit from FIRE thinking. Even someone retiring at 65 with a traditional pension and Social Security benefits from understanding their SWR, knowing their FI Date, and stress-testing their plan against a market crash. That's exactly what this tool gives you.

Pre-Tax vs. Roth vs. Taxable Accounts — What's the Difference?

Pre-Tax (Traditional 401k/IRA) — You didn't pay taxes on this money going in. You will pay taxes when you take it out in retirement. The more you have here, the bigger your tax bill when RMDs force you to withdraw at 73.

Roth (Roth 401k/IRA) — You already paid taxes on this money. It grows tax-free and comes out tax-free. No RMDs. The gold standard for retirement accounts.

Taxable (Brokerage) — A regular investment account. You pay taxes on dividends and capital gains each year, but withdrawals themselves aren't taxed again.

HSA (Health Savings Account) — Triple tax advantage: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free. After 65 it works like a Traditional IRA for non-medical expenses.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) — What Are They?

The IRS requires you to start withdrawing money from your Pre-Tax retirement accounts beginning at your RMD age (73 if born 1951–1959, 75 if born 1960 or later) — whether you want to or not. The amount is calculated by dividing your account balance by a life expectancy factor (about 26.5 at age 73, meaning you must withdraw about 3.8% of the balance). If you have a large pre-tax balance, RMDs can push you into a higher tax bracket and trigger Medicare surcharges. This is why Roth conversions before age 73 are so valuable.

Roth Conversions — Moving Money to Save on Taxes

A Roth conversion means moving money from your Pre-Tax 401k/IRA into a Roth IRA. You pay income tax on the amount converted that year — but never again. The ideal time to convert is after you retire (income drops) and before RMDs begin at 73 — your "prime window." Converting enough to fill up your current tax bracket each year can save tens of thousands in lifetime taxes. The Roth Solver on the Inputs page calculates the optimal amount automatically.

Smile Curve — Why Spending Isn't Flat in Retirement

Research shows retirees actually spend in a "smile" pattern: more in early retirement (active years — travel, hobbies), less in middle retirement (settling in), and more again late in retirement (healthcare costs). Your Inputs page lets you set three phases with different spending weights. Phase 1 is typically 115% of base spending, Phase 2 is 100%, Phase 3 is 90% — but these are customizable. The solver then calculates what your base spending can be while still hitting your legacy goal.

The Healthcare Bridge — One of the Biggest Surprises in Early Retirement

If you retire before age 65, you lose employer health insurance but Medicare doesn't start until 65. You'll need to buy coverage through the ACA marketplace (healthcare.gov) or COBRA. Costs vary widely by income — if your retirement income is low enough, you may qualify for substantial subsidies. The Healthcare Bridge calculator on the Inputs page estimates your total pre-Medicare healthcare cost. This is often $50,000–$150,000+ for a couple retiring at 60 — a number many people miss completely.

IRMAA — The Medicare Surcharge You Didn't Know About

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. If your income (including Roth conversions) exceeds certain thresholds, Medicare charges you extra for Part B and Part D coverage. In 2025, the threshold for married couples is $212,000. The Roth Solver shows you if a planned conversion would push you over this threshold — and warns you to consider converting a smaller amount to avoid the surcharge.

The 5-Year Rule — When Can You Access Roth Money?

Each Roth conversion has a 5-year waiting period before you can withdraw it penalty-free. If you're under 59½, you must wait 5 years from the conversion date before touching that money without a 10% penalty. However, once you're over 59½, the 5-year rule applies to your original Roth IRA only (the account must be at least 5 years old), not to each individual conversion. The Roth Solver shows your earliest penalty-free access date automatically.

Sequence of Returns Risk — Why Market Timing in Early Retirement Matters

This is one of the most important and least understood retirement risks. If the market drops 30% in your first year of retirement and you're withdrawing $60,000/year, you're forced to sell assets at low prices — permanently reducing your portfolio's ability to recover. The same 30% drop 10 years into retirement is far less damaging because you have fewer years of withdrawals ahead. The Stress Test panel on the Dashboard shows you exactly how a Year-1 crash would affect your plan. A resilient plan survives a 30% Year-1 drop with your legacy goal intact.

Account Owner — Why It Matters for Contributions and Taxes

Each account in the system is owned by Partner 1, Partner 2, or is Joint. This matters for two reasons:

1. Contributions: Contribution amounts and employer match flow to the correct partner's columns in the Master spreadsheet, so the projection knows exactly how much each person is saving.

2. RMDs: RMDs are calculated per person, not per household. Knowing who owns which accounts ensures the system calculates the right RMD amounts at the right ages.

The Show on Summary? column (column H) controls which accounts appear on your printed Summary Report PDF. Set to Yes for your main accounts — 401k, Roth, brokerage. Set to No for small, legacy, or closed accounts you don't want cluttering the report. All accounts still appear in projections and the Dashboard regardless of this setting.

Always assign each account to the correct owner — don't leave everything as "Joint" unless it truly is a joint account.

Contribution Dates — What Each Date Field Means

In the Named Accounts section, each account has three date fields:

Contrib Start Date — When you started or will start contributing to this account. Usually your hire date or account opening date. Used to calculate partial-year contributions.

Contrib End Date — When contributions stop. Usually your retirement date or the date you plan to stop making contributions. If you retire June 30, contributions are prorated to 50% for that year.

Withdrawal Start Date — When you can start withdrawing from this account. Usually retirement date, but some plans have restrictions (e.g., some 403b plans require you to be 59½ before withdrawing). Leave blank if your retirement date applies.

Using the Roth Conversion Solver

Step-by-step guide to optimizing your tax strategy

Set the Analysis Year

Choose the year you want to analyze. The solver will look up your projected taxable income for that year from your Master spreadsheet and show it automatically. The best years to convert are typically your first few years of retirement — when your salary income has ended but Social Security and RMDs haven't begun yet.

Choose Your Target Tax Bracket

The solver shows which bracket you're currently in for the chosen year. Your target bracket is how high you want to fill — typically one bracket above where you are. For example, if you're in the 12% bracket with room to spare, converting enough to fill it up but not spill into 22% is the sweet spot. The solver calculates the optimal conversion amount automatically based on your choice.

Review the Solver Results

Est. Taxable Income — Your projected income before any Roth conversion for that year. Comes directly from your Master spreadsheet.
Optimal Conversion — How much you can convert to fill your target bracket without crossing into the next one.
Tax Cost Now — What you'll pay in taxes on the conversion this year.
Lifetime Tax Savings — The estimated lifetime benefit of converting now vs. letting the money stay in pre-tax and paying higher taxes later at RMDs. Green = convert, Red = consider waiting.
Est. RMD at RMD age — Your projected annual Required Minimum Distribution based on your current pre-tax balance and expected growth rate.
IRMAA Warning — If your income + conversion would exceed the Medicare surcharge threshold ($212K for couples in 2025), a warning appears.
5-Year Rule — Shows whether you're past 59½ (no restriction) or how long until the converted funds are fully accessible.
State Tax — Toggle this on if your state taxes Roth conversions — it adjusts the tax cost calculation.

Enter Your Planned Conversions

In the Roth Conversion Plan table below the solver, enter the dollar amount you plan to actually convert each year — for each partner. These amounts feed directly into your Master spreadsheet and affect your projections. The table runs up to 100 years from your plan start date, covering your full conversion window through both partners' projected lifespans. The grand total at the bottom shows your lifetime planned conversions for each partner and combined.

Tip: The "Should I Convert?" signal at the top (green/yellow/red) gives you an instant recommendation based on whether converting now at your current rate saves money vs. paying taxes later at your projected RMD rate. Green means convert — you'll save money. Red means the math doesn't favor conversion at this time (your future rate is expected to be lower).

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you were wondering but didn't know to ask

I closed my browser — do I need to reconnect? ▾

No! Your sheet connection is saved in your browser. Just open the Inputs page and your data loads automatically. You only need to reconnect if you clear your browser history/data, or switch to a different browser or device.

Can I use this on multiple devices? ▾

Yes — your data lives in your Google Sheet so it's always current no matter which device you use. You just need to reconnect on each new device. Go to Setup, skip Steps 1 and 2, and paste your sheet URL in Step 3. Takes 30 seconds.

Is my financial data safe and private? ▾

Yes. Your data lives entirely in your own Google Sheet — secured by your Google account and Google's encryption. We can only read your sheet because you shared it with us, and you can revoke that access any time by removing retireblueprintpro@gmail.com from your sheet's Share settings. We never store your financial data on our own servers.

What is a Legacy Goal and should I set one? ▾

Your Legacy Goal is the minimum dollar amount you want remaining when the plan ends — typically when the last surviving partner passes. Common reasons to set one: leaving an inheritance for children, maintaining a buffer for unexpected late-life costs, or charitable giving. Set it to $0 if you want to spend everything down. A common starting point is 1–2 years of living expenses as a buffer, or the amount you'd like to leave to heirs.

What is the Survivor Reduction % and what should I set it to? ▾

This is the percentage reduction in spending when one partner passes. Research shows surviving spouses typically spend 60-70% of what the couple spent together (some fixed costs like housing don't change, but food, travel, and entertainment often drop). A common setting is 30-40%, meaning the survivor spends 60-70% of the couple's prior spending. Social Security also changes when a spouse passes — the survivor keeps only the larger of the two SS benefits.

What is a Roth conversion window and why does it matter? ▾

A Roth conversion window is the period between when you retire (income drops) and when Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73. During this window — often 5–15 years — your taxable income is at its lowest, making it the ideal time to convert pre-tax money to Roth at a lower tax rate. Every dollar converted during this window is one less dollar subject to RMDs and potentially higher taxes later. The Tax Engine and Roth Solver pages guide you through this process.

Why does my Social Security show $0 in some years? ▾

Social Security only appears in the years after your SS Start Date. If your plan starts in 2026 but you don't plan to claim SS until 2033, the columns for 2026–2032 will show $0 for SS income — that's correct. The plan is showing your actual income picture each year. Make sure your SS Start Date is entered correctly on the Inputs page for each partner.

What does "Expected Return (%)" mean for my accounts? ▾

This is the average annual investment return you expect this account to earn, entered as a percentage. A diversified stock/bond portfolio might average 6-8% over a long period. More conservative investments (bonds, CDs) might return 3-5%. This is one of the most important inputs in your plan — even a 1% difference in return rate has a huge effect over 20-30 years. Be realistic rather than optimistic. The Master spreadsheet applies this rate to the account balance each year to project growth.

What are stress tests and how do I interpret them? ▾

Stress tests show your ending portfolio balance under adverse conditions. The Dashboard shows four scenarios automatically:

Base: Normal market returns as projected.
Down 20% Year 1: A mild bear market in your first year of retirement — similar to 2001 or 2011.
Down 30% Year 1: A severe crash like 2008 in your first year.
High Inflation (5%): What if inflation runs 5% instead of your projected rate?

A well-built plan should still show a positive ending balance even in the 30% down scenario. If these numbers worry you, consider: keeping 2 years of expenses in cash (so you don't sell stocks at low prices), having a flexible spending plan, or adjusting your timeline.

How do I use the Social Security Breakeven Analysis? ▾

The SS Breakeven Analysis appears automatically under your Social Security section on the Inputs page. It shows your monthly benefit at three claiming ages:

Claim at 62: Reduced benefit — permanently lower, but you get more years of payments.
Claim at FRA (Full Retirement Age): Your standard benefit, typically at 67.
Delay to 70: Maximum benefit — 8% more per year for each year you delay past FRA.

The "Breakeven Age" tells you at what age the higher monthly benefit from waiting outweighs the payments you missed. If you expect to live past the breakeven age (typically 79-82), delaying pays off. Health, other income sources, and whether you need the money now all factor into this decision.

What should I enter for the Appreciation Rate on my home/mortgage? ▾

The Appreciation Rate is your estimate of how much your home's value increases each year, as a percentage. Historical average US home appreciation is about 3-4% per year, though it varies significantly by location. Enter your best estimate for your specific market. This rate is used to project your home's future value on the Dashboard home equity panel. For the Current Value, use your home's current estimated market value (Zillow is a common source, though not always precise).

Should I take my pension as monthly income or a lump sum? ▾

This is one of the most important retirement decisions you can make, and it's largely irreversible. The Pension vs. Lump Sum calculator on the Inputs page (under the Pension section) helps you analyze this. Generally:

Monthly pension favors: Longer life expectancy, no strong investment skills, desire for guaranteed income, no heirs to leave money to.
Lump sum favors: Shorter life expectancy, strong investment skills, desire to leave money to heirs, flexibility needs.

The breakeven age shows how long you need to live for the pension to "win." Enter your lump sum offer and expected lifespan to see the analysis. Always consult a financial advisor before making this decision — it's permanent.

The Effective Federal Rate shows a dash (—) — is that normal? ▾

Yes, if you see a dash on first load it just means the data hasn't finished loading from your Google Sheet. Wait a moment and press Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) to refresh. The Effective Federal Rate is calculated directly from your Master sheet's tax projections — it's the percentage of your taxable income that goes to federal taxes in year one of your plan.

Why are some numbers on the Dashboard read-only? ▾

The Dashboard reads directly from your Google Sheet's Master projection, which calculates everything automatically. Numbers like your Safe Spending Capacity, Portfolio Sustainability, and Tax Efficiency are outputs — your sheet calculates them based on the inputs you entered. You change them by updating your Inputs and saving, not by editing the Dashboard directly. Think of Inputs as the dial you turn, and the Dashboard as the gauge that responds.

How do I update my plan after I actually retire? ▾

Just update your Inputs page to reflect your new reality: set your salary to $0 (or your actual part-time income), update your account balances to current values, confirm your Social Security start date, and update your monthly expenses if they've changed. Click Save, then Cmd+Shift+R on the Dashboard — your entire plan recalculates instantly. Do this annually using the Annual Check-In page to track how you're doing vs. the projection.

Can I share my plan with my financial advisor? ▾

Absolutely. The easiest way is to use the Summary Report page (click "Summary" in the navigation bar) — click the Print button and save as PDF, then email that PDF to your advisor. For deeper access, you can share the Dashboard URL directly. If they want the underlying numbers, share your Google Sheet (open the sheet → Share → add their email). No login required for the web pages.

Why does "Save" say "Saving... verifying in 5s"? ▾

Because of how web security works, the save goes out and we wait 5 seconds before checking if it arrived. If it says "✅ Saved and verified!" — you're all set. If you see any issues, open your Google Sheet directly and confirm the data is there. Always wait for the green confirmation before closing the browser tab.

My plan shows I'll run out of money — what do I do? ▾

First, don't panic — the plan is doing exactly what it's supposed to: showing you reality before it happens so you can adjust. Common levers to pull:

1. Reduce spending — even 5-10% less spending has a major long-term impact.
2. Work a bit longer — even 1-2 more years of saving + one less year of withdrawing is powerful.
3. Delay Social Security — waiting from 62 to 67 or 70 increases your lifetime SS income significantly.
4. Do Roth conversions — reducing your future tax bill keeps more money in your pocket.
5. Increase returns — consider whether your investment allocation is appropriate for your timeline.
6. Reduce legacy goal — if you planned to leave a large inheritance, consider whether that's flexible.

Often a combination of small adjustments across multiple areas solves the problem without any single dramatic change.

Ready to start planning?

Go to My Inputs →

Fill in your Inputs first → Save → then visit your Dashboard to see your full plan

RetireBlueprint ProSetup Guide

RetireBlueprint Pro
Setup Guide