Question 1

Is my financial data safe?

Accepted Answer

Your data is tied to your private account, encrypted in transit and at rest, never sold, and never shared. Export it as a file anytime, or delete your account and everything with it in one click.

Question 2

Do I have to connect my bank?

Accepted Answer

No, and by design you can’t. You type in round numbers (your balances, income, loans). ifso never touches your credentials or transactions.

Question 3

Do I need an account to try it?

Accepted Answer

No. The planner opens right in your browser with a sample plan already built, so you can change the numbers and see the answer before deciding anything. Your plan is saved in that browser only; create a free account when you want to keep it and have it on other devices.

Question 4

How do I sign in?

Accepted Answer

With your Google account: one click, no password to create and none for us to store. Your plans sync to your account, so they’re there on any device.

Question 5

Is this financial advice?

Accepted Answer

No. ifso is a modeling tool: it shows you the mathematical consequences of choices under your assumptions. Big decisions deserve professional advice; ifso makes you the best-prepared person in that meeting.

Question 6

How accurate is the math?

Accepted Answer

Federal brackets, FICA, long-term capital gains, IRS contribution limits, month-by-month loan amortization, and Social Security claim-age adjustments, all validated by a comprehensive and rigorous suite of tests. Every model simplifies; ours are documented.

Question 7

Does ifso work outside the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. The tax and benefits math is U.S.-specific: federal brackets, FICA, capital gains, 401(k) and IRA limits, Social Security. Accounts, loans, and growth compound correctly anywhere, but outside the U.S. the tax math won’t match your system, so consider ifso U.S.-only for now.

Question 8

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

Most people get their first answer in under ten minutes. You need rough numbers, not statements: balances, income, and any loans.

Question 9

What happens when the tax law changes?

Accepted Answer

We ship updated brackets and limits every year. Your plans automatically use the latest numbers.

Question 10

What do I get for free, really?

Accepted Answer

The full engine, real tax math, and one saved plan, forever. Not a trial. Pro adds unlimited plans, side-by-side Compare, and Monte Carlo odds.

Question 11

Who’s behind ifso?

Accepted Answer

ifso is built by Syed, a software engineer who wanted to see how his own decisions would play out, like selling a home and renting for a few years before buying again. The tools he tried were capable but cumbersome, so he built a simpler one with the math done right. It’s completely bootstrapped by himself, with no investors and no ads, and it never makes money by selling your data.

Fair questions.