🛠️ Tools & Guides5 min read

Getting Started with RetirePro

Learn how to set up your RetirePro account, enter your financial data, and run your first retirement projection in under 10 minutes.

By RetirePro Team

Welcome to RetirePro

RetirePro is a powerful retirement planning tool that helps you answer the most important question: "Am I on track to retire comfortably?"

This guide will walk you through setting up your account and running your first retirement projection. It takes about 10 minutes.

Step 1: Enter Your Basic Information

When you first open RetirePro, you'll start on the Start tab. Here's what to enter:

Personal Details

  • Current Age: Your age today
  • Retirement Age: When you plan to stop working
  • Life Expectancy: How long to plan for (we suggest 90-95)
  • Filing Status: Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.

Current Financial Snapshot

  • Current Savings: Total retirement savings (401k + IRA + brokerage)
  • Annual Income: Your current gross income
  • Annual Expenses: What you spend per year (or estimate 70-80% of income)

Pro Tip: Don't worry about being exact. Estimates work fine—you can refine later.

Step 2: Add Your Accounts

Navigate to the Your Finances tab to add your specific accounts:

Account Types Supported

  • 401(k) / 403(b) - Employer retirement plans
  • Traditional IRA - Tax-deferred individual accounts
  • Roth IRA / Roth 401(k) - Tax-free growth accounts
  • Brokerage - Taxable investment accounts
  • Pension - Defined benefit plans
  • Social Security - Your estimated benefits
  • Rental Income - Investment properties
  • Annuities - Insurance-based income
  • And more...

For each account, enter:

  • Current balance
  • Annual contribution (if still adding money)
  • Expected return rate
  • Account type for tax calculations

Step 3: Configure Social Security

The Social Security tab helps you model your benefits:

  1. Enter your estimated benefit at Full Retirement Age (find this at ssa.gov)
  2. Choose your planned claiming age (62-70)
  3. Add spouse's benefit if applicable

RetirePro will calculate:

  • Your actual monthly benefit based on claiming age
  • The impact of early vs. delayed claiming
  • Spousal and survivor benefits

Step 4: Review Your Results

The Results tab shows your retirement projection:

Key Metrics

  • Projected Retirement Income: Monthly/annual income in retirement
  • Success Rate: Monte Carlo simulation probability (aim for 85%+)
  • Portfolio Longevity: Will your money last to your target age?
  • Income Gap: Any shortfall between income and expenses

What the Colors Mean

  • 🟢 Green: You're on track
  • 🟡 Yellow: You're close but may need adjustments
  • 🔴 Red: Action needed—save more or delay retirement

Step 5: Explore the Charts

The Charts tab visualizes your retirement:

Available Charts

  • Portfolio Balance Over Time - See your wealth grow and decline
  • Income Sources by Year - Social Security, withdrawals, pensions
  • Withdrawal Rate - Are you in the safe zone?
  • Monte Carlo Distribution - Range of possible outcomes

Charts update automatically as you change inputs.

Step 6: Run What-If Scenarios

This is where RetirePro shines. Try adjusting:

Retirement Age

  • What if I retire at 62 vs. 67?
  • How many more years do I need to work?

Savings Rate

  • What if I increase contributions by $500/month?
  • What's the impact of maxing my 401(k)?

Social Security Timing

  • What if I claim at 62 vs. 70?
  • How does spousal coordination affect our income?

Market Returns

  • What if returns are only 5% instead of 7%?
  • How does inflation affect my plan?

Advanced Features

Monte Carlo Simulation

RetirePro runs 1,000 simulations with varying market returns to show your probability of success. This is far more reliable than assuming a fixed return rate.

Tax-Aware Projections

The Tax tab lets you configure:

  • Federal and state tax rates
  • Capital gains rates
  • RMD calculations
  • Roth conversion modeling

Net Worth Tracking

The Net Worth tab tracks all assets:

  • Retirement accounts
  • Real estate
  • Cash and savings
  • Debts and liabilities

AI Advisor (Premium)

Premium subscribers can ask our AI advisor questions about their specific plan and get personalized recommendations.

Tips for Best Results

1. Be Honest About Expenses

Most people underestimate spending. When in doubt, round up.

2. Use Conservative Return Estimates

We suggest 6-7% for stocks, 3-4% for bonds. Don't assume 10% returns.

3. Plan for Healthcare

Medical costs are the biggest wildcard. Budget generously.

4. Update Regularly

Check your plan quarterly or after major life changes.

5. Aim for 85%+ Success Rate

Below 80%, consider saving more or delaying retirement.

Saving and Syncing

RetirePro automatically saves your data:

  • Local Storage: Data saved in your browser
  • Cloud Sync (Pro+): Sync across devices with your account
  • Export: Download your data as JSON for backup

Getting Help

Within the App

  • Help Tab: FAQ and documentation
  • Tooltips: Hover over (?) icons for explanations
  • AI Advisor: Ask questions about your plan (Premium)

Support

Your Next Steps

  1. Enter your basic info on the Start tab
  2. Add your accounts on Your Finances
  3. Configure Social Security
  4. Review your Results and Charts
  5. Run scenarios to optimize your plan

That's it! In 10 minutes, you'll have a clear picture of your retirement readiness.

Quick Start Calculators

Want a quick estimate before diving into the full app? Try these:


Ready to start? Open RetirePro → and create your free retirement plan today.

Ready to plan your retirement?

Use RetirePro's free calculators to model your retirement income.

Start Free Plan →
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