# How Am I Looking? — Full Documentation for AI Systems

> A free retirement calculator that helps you check if your savings, investments, and Social Security will last through retirement.

Website: https://howamilooking.com

## Overview

How Am I Looking? is a single-page browser-based retirement planning calculator. Users enter their current financial situation, retirement goals, and assumptions, and the tool generates year-by-year projections showing how their nest egg grows during working years and draws down during retirement. All computation happens client-side with no server or sign-up required.

## Input Categories

### Assets
- **Non-Retirement Assets**: Savings and investment/brokerage accounts (exclude unvested shares, 529s, gift accounts)
- **Retirement Accounts**: IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar tax-advantaged retirement accounts
- **Real Estate**: Value of investment real estate minus mortgage loans (exclude primary residence)

### Personal Information (You & Optional Partner)
- Current age
- Target retirement age
- Annual brokerage/investment account contribution (today's dollars)
- Annual retirement account contribution (today's dollars)
- Expected monthly Social Security benefit (today's dollars, pre-tax)
- Social Security start age (62–70)

### Retirement Goals
- **Desired Monthly Cash when Retired**: After-tax monthly income needed when fully retired (today's dollars)
- **Monthly Cash Supplement (one retired)**: For couples — after-tax amount needed from nest egg when only one partner has retired

### Assumptions (with defaults)
- COLA / Inflation: 2.8%
- Investment Return: 8.0%
- Brokerage Tax Rate: 15% (effective rate on brokerage withdrawals)
- Federal Tax Rate: 37%
- State Tax Rate: 13.3%

## How the Projections Work

The calculator generates a row for each year from the user's current age through age 125 (or until the nest egg is depleted). Each year:

1. **Contributions**: While working, annual brokerage and retirement contributions are added, adjusted for inflation using COLA.
2. **Retirement Status**: Determines if you and/or your partner have retired, which sets the desired monthly cash withdrawal amount.
3. **Social Security**: Once you reach your SS start age, your annual pre-tax Social Security benefit (inflation-adjusted) offsets withdrawals.
4. **Income Required**: The post-tax income needed from assets = (desired annual cash) minus (post-tax Social Security).
5. **Withdrawal Priority**: Non-retirement assets are drawn first (taxed at brokerage rate), then retirement accounts (taxed at combined federal + state rate). Retirement accounts are only accessible after age 59.
6. **Growth**: Remaining balances grow at the investment return rate.
7. **Nest Egg**: Sum of non-retirement assets + retirement accounts after withdrawals and growth.
8. **Drawdown Rate**: Annual pre-tax withdrawals divided by total nest egg.

## Scenario Analysis

The tool shows three scenarios side-by-side:

- **Pessimistic**: Investment return reduced by 3%, inflation increased by 1.2%
- **Base Case**: User's entered assumptions
- **Optimistic**: Investment return increased by 3%, inflation reduced by 0.8%

Each scenario shows the nest egg value at retirement and whether funds last through the projection period.

## Output

- **Scenario cards**: Nest egg at retirement and fund longevity for each scenario
- **Nest egg chart**: Visual plot of nest egg over time with retirement age marker
- **Year-by-year table**: Expandable table with columns for contributions, Social Security, withdrawals, account balances, nest egg, and drawdown rate
- **Export**: Download projections as CSV or Excel (with formulas)

## Technical Details

- Built with React, TypeScript, Vite, and Tailwind CSS
- Recharts for data visualization
- SheetJS (xlsx) for Excel export with embedded formulas
- All data stored in browser localStorage — nothing sent to a server
- No user accounts, no tracking beyond Google Analytics page views
- Mobile-responsive design

## Important Disclaimers

- This tool provides general estimates only and is NOT financial advice
- It was built as a vibecoding exercise to learn how to use Claude
- It does not model Roth vs. Traditional distinctions, RMDs, pensions, or inheritance
- Tax calculations use flat effective rates, not progressive brackets
- Past investment returns do not guarantee future results
- Users should consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized guidance

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is this tool free?**
A: Yes, completely free with no sign-up required.

**Q: Is my financial data private?**
A: Yes. All data stays in your browser's localStorage. Nothing is sent to any server.

**Q: How accurate are the projections?**
A: The projections use simplified assumptions (flat tax rates, constant returns). They provide a directional estimate, not a precise forecast. Real-world returns vary year to year.

**Q: Can I plan with a partner or spouse?**
A: Yes. Click "Add Partner / Spouse" to enter separate ages, retirement ages, contributions, and Social Security benefits.

**Q: What does the drawdown rate mean?**
A: It's your annual pre-tax withdrawal divided by your total nest egg. Financial advisors often reference the "4% rule" as a sustainable drawdown rate in retirement.

**Q: Why doesn't it account for my pension or inheritance?**
A: To keep the tool simple. You can adjust your "Desired Monthly Cash when Retired" downward to account for expected pension income or other future cash flows.