Questions people ask before typing in their numbers.

Do I have to connect my bank?

No, and there is no way to. You type in your balances, income, loans, and expenses yourself. ifso never sees your credentials or transactions.

Do I need an account to try it?

No. The planner opens in your browser with a sample plan already built, so you can change the numbers and see the answer first. That plan is saved in the browser only. A free account keeps it and makes it available on other devices.

How do I sign in?

With a Google account. There is no password to create and none for us to store.

Is my data safe?

Your plans belong to your account, encrypted in transit and at rest. They are never sold or shared. You can export everything as a file at any time, or delete the account and everything in it.

Is this financial advice?

No. ifso works out what your numbers and assumptions add up to. Change an assumption and the result changes with it. For a decision this size, it is worth talking to a professional, and ifso is a good way to arrive prepared.

What does the math account for?

Federal brackets, FICA, and state tax worked out each year from that year's income. 401(k) and IRA contribution limits, employer match caps, traditional or Roth, and the age you can withdraw. Mortgages that amortize month by month, with property tax and insurance. Rentals, with rent, vacancy, and upkeep. Capital gains when investments or a property are sold, including the primary residence exclusion. Social Security adjusted for the age you claim it. Required minimum distributions from the year the IRS says they start, taxed as income. Inflation, shown in today's or future dollars. Every model simplifies somewhere; ours is covered by a large test suite.

Can I plan with my spouse?

Yes. Add your spouse to a plan and they get their own age, income, retirement date, retirement accounts, and Social Security claim, so each of you can retire on your own timeline. Taxes are worked out for married filing jointly. It is included in the free plan.

Does it handle required minimum distributions?

Yes. From the year you reach the IRS start age (72, 73, or 75, depending on the year you were born), each traditional 401(k) and IRA has to pay out at least last year's balance divided by the IRS life expectancy figure for your age. ifso takes that minimum whether or not you need the money, taxes it as income, and moves whatever is beyond what your plan needs to draw that year into your primary account. Your spouse's accounts follow their own age. Roth accounts are exempt. Two simplifications: the first minimum is taken in the year you reach the start age rather than the following April, and there is no exception for a 401(k) at an employer you still work for.

Does it work outside the U.S.?

Not well. Accounts, loans, and growth compound the same anywhere, but the tax and benefits math is U.S. specific, so outside the U.S. the after-tax numbers will not match your system.

How long does setup take?

A few minutes. You need rough numbers, not statements: balances, income, loans, and what you spend in a month.

What happens when tax law changes?

Brackets and limits are updated each year and every plan uses the current ones.

What is free, and what does Pro add?

Free is the full engine and one saved plan, for as long as you like. Pro is $9 a month or $69 a year and adds more plans, comparing two side by side, and Monte Carlo.

The math itself is described on the front page.