Guides & planning tools
In-depth guides and interactive tools for tax strategy, account optimization, benefit timing, and withdrawal planning — for Canada and the US.
Planning tools
- FIRE CalculatorInteractiveCalculate your financial independence number with real tax math, not just the 25x rule. FIRE planning for Canada and the US with Monte Carlo testing.
- Free Retirement Calculator for CanadaInteractivePlan your Canadian retirement with full RRSP, TFSA, CPP, OAS and GIS math. Monte Carlo simulations and tax engines for all 13 provinces and territories.
- Free Retirement Calculator with Social Security & 401(k)InteractiveFree US retirement calculator with Social Security, 401(k), IRA and Roth accounts, federal and state tax for all 50 states, RMDs and your odds of success.
Strategy
- Pension Lump Sum vs Lifetime Income CalculatorInteractiveCompare your actual pension offer with investing a lump sum. Explore equivalent income, indexing, survivor benefits, longevity and return sensitivity.
- Debt Payoff Calculator: Avalanche vs SnowballInteractiveCompare debt avalanche, snowball, and investing your extra cash. See total interest, your debt-free date, and which strategy leaves you richest.
- Mortgage Overpayment vs Investing CalculatorInteractiveCompare extra mortgage payments with investing the same cash. See interest saved, earlier payoff, annual balances and the effect of a rate change.
- Debt Payoff vs Investing: Avalanche vs SnowballWhen to pay off debt aggressively and when to invest instead. Avalanche vs snowball, the rate thresholds that matter, and how RRSP/TFSA room helps.
- Pay Down Your Mortgage or Invest?A framework for the pay-down-mortgage-vs-invest decision in Canada and the US: the guaranteed-return math, RRSP/TFSA interactions, and when each path wins.
- Retirement Return Assumptions: What to UseReturn and inflation assumptions drive your plan. What nearly 100 years of history says, why cinder.fi defaults to 6% / 5% / 2.5%, and when to change them.
- RESP Calculator: CESG Grant & Savings ProjectionInteractiveCalculate your CESG grant this year, project total government grants, and see your RESP balance when your child turns 18. Includes contribution limits.
- Retirement Planning Glossary: 50+ Terms DefinedPlain-English definitions of retirement planning terms: RRSP, 401(k), OAS clawback, Roth conversion, RMD, IRMAA and more, with links to deeper guides.
- 529 Plan Complete Guide for American Families529 plan guide: tax advantages, contribution limits, qualified expenses, 529-to-Roth IRA rollover rules, and how it fits your retirement plan.
- Best States to Retire for Taxes (2026 Ranking)Which US states are most tax-friendly for retirees? No-income-tax states, retirement income exemptions, Social Security taxation and property tax compared.
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) GuideGuide to RMDs after SECURE 2.0: when they start, how to calculate them, which accounts are subject, and strategies to minimize the tax impact.
- RESP Complete Guide for Canadian FamiliesRESPs in Canada explained: CESG grants, contribution limits, withdrawal rules, RESP vs RRSP vs TFSA for education, and what happens to unused RESP money.
- Retirement Planning by Age: 30s, 40s, 50s, 60sWhat to focus on at every stage of retirement planning: age-specific strategies for savings, taxes, benefit timing and withdrawals in Canada and the US.
- Retirement Planning Checklist: Step by StepA retirement planning checklist for Canadians and Americans: 25+ action items by priority, from essential account setup to advanced tax optimization.
- Portfolio Line of Credit (SBLOC) in RetirementHow securities-backed lines of credit can reduce taxes in retirement by deferring portfolio withdrawals. Risks, costs, and when it makes sense.
- Savings Splitting Strategy for CouplesHow to split retirement savings between partners to minimize tax and maximize growth. Proportional, max higher earner, and equal split strategies compared.
- Historical Backtesting for Retirement PlansRun your full retirement plan through every market period since 1928 and see how savings, taxes and benefits hold up through crashes, stagflation and more.
- Monte Carlo Simulation for Retirement PlanningA 6% average return means nothing if a crash hits in year one. Monte Carlo tests your plan against 1,000+ scenarios to show the odds your money lasts.
- Retirement Withdrawal Order: Which Account FirstYour withdrawal order across RRSP, TFSA and non-registered accounts (or IRA, Roth, taxable) can save $50,000–$150,000 in lifetime taxes. Four strategies.
- Beyond the 4% Rule: Guyton-Klinger, VPW & MoreThe 4% rule is a starting point, not the answer. Compare Fixed, Guyton-Klinger guardrails and Variable Percentage Withdrawal to find your strategy.
- How Much Do You Need to Save for Retirement?Why the 25x rule and 4% rule fall short, and how to calculate your retirement number from your actual tax situation and benefits.
- RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Rates & RulesThe RRIF minimum withdrawal schedule, conversion rules, tax treatment, and strategies to reduce your tax bill in retirement.
Canadian accounts
- Spousal RRSP: Rules, Attribution, and StrategyHow the spousal RRSP works, the 3-year attribution rule, and strategies for income splitting before age 65. Avoid the most common spousal RRSP mistakes.
- Asset Location: TFSA vs RRSP vs Non-RegisteredAsset location for Canadians: which investments to hold in your TFSA, RRSP and non-registered accounts for tax efficiency, with foreign withholding tax.
- FHSA Guide: First Home Savings AccountThe First Home Savings Account explained: eligibility, contribution limits, tax treatment, FHSA vs RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, and tips for first-time buyers.
- RRSP Withdrawal CalculatorInteractivecinder.fi's RRSP withdrawal calculator shows the tax impact of withdrawals at any age. Model meltdown strategies, RRIF conversions and your best bracket.
- TFSA Growth & Contribution CalculatorInteractiveCalculate your TFSA contribution room, project tax-free growth, and see how your TFSA fits into your overall retirement plan alongside RRSP, CPP, and OAS.
- RRSP Meltdown Strategy: A Complete GuideHow the RRSP meltdown strategy can cut your lifetime taxes: when to start, how much to withdraw each year, and how to avoid the OAS clawback.
- TFSA vs RRSP: Which Should You Prioritize?How to choose between a TFSA and an RRSP based on your income, tax bracket, and retirement goals, with worked examples.
Canadian benefits
- GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) GuideGIS can add $10,000–$20,000/year in tax-free income for low-income Canadian seniors. How the clawback works and why TFSA-first strategies help most.
- OAS Clawback: How It Works and How to Avoid ItThe OAS recovery tax can cost Canadian retirees $8,000+ a year. Learn the threshold, effective rates, and five strategies to reduce or avoid the clawback.
- Pension Income Splitting in Canada: RulesHow pension income splitting works, what income qualifies, and how to optimize the split to save $5,000–$15,000+ per year in combined household tax.
- CPP, OAS & QPP Calculator: Start at 60, 65 or 70InteractiveFree CPP, OAS and QPP calculator. See what starting at 60, 65 or 70 does to your pension: 0.6% a month less early, 0.7% more late, plus CPP2, OAS and tax.
- When to Take CPP: Age 60, 65 or 70? Break-Even AgesCPP at 60 cuts your pension 36%; at 70 it adds 42%. See the break-even ages (about 74 and 82), how to apply, and how OAS, tax and a spouse change it.
US accounts
- LIRA & LIF: Locked-In Accounts GuideLIRAs and LIFs in Canada: transfer rules, minimum and maximum withdrawals, provincial differences, unlocking rules, and how to optimize locked-in money.
- HSA Retirement Strategy: Triple Tax AdvantageThe HSA is the only US account with tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free medical withdrawals. How to use it as a retirement account.
- 401(k) Rollovers & IRA Rules: Complete GuideHow to roll over a 401(k) to an IRA: direct vs indirect rollovers, tax implications, the 60-day rule, and common mistakes to avoid.
- Backdoor Roth IRA and the Pro-Rata RuleStep-by-step backdoor Roth IRA guide for high earners: the pro-rata rule, how to avoid it, and when the strategy is worth the effort.
- Traditional vs Roth 401(k): Which Is Right?Traditional vs Roth 401(k): tax treatment, employer match rules, contribution limits, and when each option wins based on your income and timeline.
- Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA: Complete ComparisonTraditional vs Roth IRA compared: tax treatment, contribution and income limits, RMDs, and a framework for choosing the right account for your situation.
- Roth Conversion Strategy: When and How MuchA practical guide to Roth conversions. Bracket filling, IRMAA thresholds, and how to minimize lifetime taxes on your retirement savings.
US benefits
- When to Take Social Security: 62 vs 67 vs 70The guide to Social Security claiming age: break-even analysis, spousal coordination, benefit taxation, and why the right age depends on your plan.
- Social Security Calculator: Best Claiming AgeInteractiveCalculate your Social Security benefit at any claiming age from 62 to 70. See break-even, spousal coordination and how benefits are taxed with IRA income.
- Medicare Before 65: Early Retirement Health InsuranceBridge the health insurance gap between early retirement and Medicare at 65: ACA subsidies, COBRA, cost estimates, IRMAA surcharges and ways to cut costs.
- Social Security Spousal & Survivor BenefitsHow Social Security spousal and survivor benefits work, coordinated claiming strategies for couples, and common mistakes that cost households thousands.
Real estate
- Buy vs Rent Calculator: Compare Both PathsInteractiveCompare buying a home with renting and investing. Include closing costs, mortgage renewal, maintenance, rent increases, and your time horizon.
- Home Equity in Retirement: HELOC & DownsizingYour home may be your largest asset. How to model downsizing, HELOC strategies, and sell-and-rent scenarios in your retirement plan.
- Rental Property Income in RetirementHow rental income interacts with taxes, OAS clawback, GIS, and Social Security in retirement. Model rental properties alongside your investment portfolio.
- Buy vs Rent: Housing and Your Retirement PlanA framework for the buy vs rent decision through a retirement lens: the 5% rule, opportunity cost of homeownership, and how housing fits your plan.
Documentation
- Money Patterns: Bills and RulesOne list for your regular bills and the rules that file your transactions: what Paid, Due and Late mean, rule order, expected payments and suggestions.
- Account Types and Tax TreatmentReference for Canadian and US retirement accounts: RRSP, TFSA, FHSA, 401(k), IRA, Roth, HSA. Contribution limits, tax rules and mandatory withdrawals.
- Budget and Spending ModesThe three spending modes for your retirement projection (Manual, Budget Plan, Actual) and how to import transactions from CSV, OFX, or YNAB.
- Understanding your cinder scoreHow the cinder score works: six weighted components that rate your retirement readiness on a 0–100 scale.
- Getting StartedSet up your retirement plan in minutes: answer a short setup, read your projection, adjust your strategy, and compare scenarios.
- Release NotesWhat's new in cinder.fi, newest first: budgeting, bank connections, family and estate planning, the strategy optimizer, and more.
- RoadmapWhat we're building next: decision tools inside your plan, smarter phase detection, glide paths, snowbird planning, and more.
- Scenarios: Compare Different PlansCreate and compare retirement scenarios. Templates for timing, spending, markets, strategy, and real estate what-ifs.
- Withdrawal Strategy & OptimizerHow to use cinder.fi's strategy settings and Strategy Optimizer to find the best withdrawal order, benefit timing and tax optimization for your plan.
Compare cinder.fi
- Compare retirement & budgeting toolscinder.fi vs ProjectionLab, Boldin, YNAB & Empower — feature by feature.
- Best retirement calculator for CanadaRRSP, TFSA, CPP & OAS coverage, head to head.
- Best retirement calculator for the US401(k), IRA, Roth & Social Security coverage, head to head.
- Best budgeting appReal bank-connected budgeting vs the alternatives.
Retirement calculators by province
Retirement calculators by state
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