The Great Catch-Up: Asset Comparison

Evaluate catch-up assets based on YOUR numbers
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Start on the Freedom Number tab to build your plan.
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Your Freedom Number is the total amount you need saved by retirement to live comfortably. Most calculators make you guess at it. This one helps you build it from the ground up using the 4% rule, adjusted for your real inputs.

1. Your Current Expenses

What do you spend TODAY? Start with your current monthly expenses. The Retirement Adjustment below will tune this for your retirement years.

What you spend per month right now on everything
Most retirees spend 70-80% of what they spend now (no commute, kids grown, mortgage often paid). But healthcare goes UP, and travel might too. Adjust based on YOUR plans.

2. Guaranteed Income in Retirement

Every dollar of guaranteed income is a dollar your savings doesn't have to produce. This is why including these is critical.

Look it up at ssa.gov/myaccount. Average is around $1,800.
Many retirees work part-time for the first 5-10 years
Lower rate = higher Freedom Number but more safety. Higher rate = lower target but more risk of running out.

3. Your Starting Point

Where are you today, and what can you commit to each month? These three inputs plus your Freedom Number determine the annual return rate you need.

All retirement savings you have today (401k, IRA, brokerage, crypto)
How much you can realistically add each month
How long you have to build your nest egg
Your Freedom Number and these three inputs determine this rate.
Your Freedom Number
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Annualized Returns Comparison
The Bumpy Ride: How Wide Is the Range?

For any 12-month period during the selected timeframe, here's the best, worst, and average return each asset delivered. Wider bars mean wilder rides. The dot shows the average.

Maximum Drawdown (Worst Peak-to-Trough Decline)

Dollar-Cost Averaging Simulator

What if you had invested $500/month consistently? This tab shows what your actual monthly investing would have produced, as a visual journey and in exact dollar figures.

DCA Growth Over Time

What $500/month invested consistently would have grown to. Each line's final value is labeled. Y-axis uses log scale so high and moderate performers are both visible.

My Current Portfolio

Enter what you actually own today to see your real allocation. The tool uses current prices to calculate each asset's dollar value and percentage of your total portfolio.

Portfolio Builder

Drag the sliders to build your target allocation. See how blending assets affects your expected return and Catch-Up Fit Score.

Total Allocation 100%

Holding Period Backtest

For every possible starting month in the data, we measure what happened if you'd bought the asset and held it for N years. The pass rate shows what percentage of those rolling windows ended in profit. The worst case shows the most painful window you could have bought into. This tests whether the "just hold for X years" rule actually holds up.

Asset 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years 7 Years 10 Years

Each cell shows: % of rolling windows that ended profitable (sample size in parens). A "—" means the asset doesn't have enough history for that holding period.

Worst Rolling Window By Holding Period

The single worst entry point in the data, for each holding length. If you'd bought at exactly the wrong moment and held for N years, this is what you'd have lived through.

Asset Worst 1Y Worst 2Y Worst 3Y Worst 4Y Worst 5Y Worst 7Y Worst 10Y

Negative = held at a loss at the end of the period. Positive = even the worst entry would have made you money. Hover a cell for the exact start and end dates.

Important Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All data shown is historical and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. The Catch-Up Fit Score is an educational metric, not a recommendation. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.

Built for The Great Catch-Up program by J. Scott MacMillan.