Official References
All calculations on RetirePlanCalc.com are based on the following official U.S. government publications and data sources. These references ensure our estimates align with current IRS rules, SSA benefit formulas, and Federal Reserve economic projections.
We refresh every figure on this page at the start of each tax year and again whenever a federal agency publishes a mid-year revision. When a number shown here conflicts with a primary source, the primary source governs. Our calculators produce educational estimates only — they are not filed with any agency and may differ from your actual tax bill or benefit letter.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS publications below drive our contribution limits, Required Minimum Distribution tables, and Roth conversion math. The Nest Egg, 401(k) vs IRA, RMD, and Roth Conversion calculators read contribution ceilings and the Uniform Lifetime Table directly from these documents, and SECURE 2.0 provisions are reflected in every applicable calculation.
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IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements
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IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements
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IRS Publication 560 — Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans)
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401(k) Limit — Internal Revenue Code §402(g)
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IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (RMD)
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SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 — Key Provisions
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social Security benefit estimates — including the bend points, the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula, and early/delayed retirement credits — are modeled on the formulas published by the SSA. Our Social Security Estimator uses the current year's bend points and Cost-of-Living Adjustment to project your monthly benefit at each claiming age, and the break-even tool compares lifetime payouts across strategies.
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SSA — Benefit Calculation: Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)
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SSA — Bend Points (Annual Update)
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SSA — Early & Delayed Retirement Credits
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SSA — Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
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SSA — Maximum Taxable Earnings
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my Social Security — Personal Benefit Statement
Federal Reserve & Economic Data
Long-run inflation assumptions default to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, while historical CPI series from the Bureau of Labor Statistics inform the cost-of-living and purchasing-power scenarios built into the Nest Egg and FIRE planners. These inputs shape real-return estimates, not nominal ones.
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Federal Reserve — Long-Run PCE Inflation Target (2%)
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Bureau of Labor Statistics — Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
The CFPB retirement resources inform our plain-language explanations of fiduciary duty, fee structures, and safe withdrawal practices — particularly within the Early Withdrawal and 72(t) SEPP calculators, where understanding penalties and exemptions is essential before acting.
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CFPB — Retirement Planning Resources
Academic Research
The Trinity Study underpins our default 4% safe-withdrawal baseline. We present it as a starting point, not a guarantee, and let you stress-test that rate against Monte Carlo simulations that vary market returns and sequence risk.
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Trinity Study — Cooley, Hubbard & Walz (1998): "Retirement Savings: Choosing a Withdrawal Rate That Is Sustainable"AAII Journal, February 1998 — Foundation for the 4% safe withdrawal rule
Estimates vs. official figures: Every calculator on RetirePlanCalc.com is built for education and planning, not as a substitute for filing with the IRS, SSA, or your plan administrator. The links above are the authoritative sources — confirm any final number with the primary agency or a licensed CPA or fiduciary advisor before making decisions that affect your retirement.