METHODOLOGY

How your retirement projections work.

Last updated August 21, 2026

NestClock projections are educational estimates, not promises or individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.

Your plan starts with your information

NestClock combines the assumptions you enter—including retirement age, savings, annual contributions, spending, Social Security, pension or property income, expected investment return, and planning horizon—to create a household retirement outlook.

Testing uncertain markets

The retirement-readiness percentage tests your plan across 1,000 simulated market paths. Returns vary from year to year around the return and volatility assumptions in your plan. The percentage shows how often the simulated portfolio supports the spending and income assumptions through the selected planning horizon.

What the percentage means

• 90–100%: a strong result under the assumptions entered.
• 75–89%: some risk remains and the plan is worth reviewing.
• Below 75%: the plan needs attention or different assumptions.

A high percentage does not guarantee a result. A low percentage does not mean retirement is impossible. It identifies where changes to timing, savings, spending, or income could matter.

Important limitations

Real investment returns, inflation, taxes, healthcare costs, laws, benefits, lifespan, and household circumstances will differ from estimates. Simplified projections cannot represent every account rule, debt schedule, tax situation, survivor benefit, or life event. Review important decisions with qualified professionals who understand your complete situation.

Keep your plan current

Results are only as useful as the information and assumptions entered. Revisit your plan after changes in income, spending, investments, household circumstances, health, Social Security estimates, or retirement timing.