A quick-estimate style calculator with an elegant design, multiple ways to simply adjust assumptions and links to plenty of resource articles.

 AARP Retirement Calculator Feature Details

Tool Ease of Use:

Wizard format, nice simple design and flow.  Allows you to make edits to several things from the last page of the calculator versus clicking around multiple times.

Tool Wizards, Insights and Tips:

A running written 'you filled in the blank' description runs at the bottom of the wizard so you can easily read what you have entered so far. Excellent job of inserting explanations and tips throughout the process.

Tool Transparency:

Assumptions were simple, transparent to the user and most were configurable.

Your Investments:

Investments are entered only for the purpose of 'type' to determine whether tax deferred etc. Return on investment is a flat pre and post retirement rate, no allocation break-out is included as part of this calculator.

Your Income:

Covers the basic salary input, with Social Security estimator and place for lump sum amounts such as inheritance and property sales. A place for the inclusion of pensions, annuities and reverse mortgage situations exists as well. Adjust the timing of your income streams as needed. 

Your Spending:

Initial input allows you to estimate whether you think you will spend less, more or the same as you do currently during your retirement. You can configure this to an exact percentage (amount) as a 'what if' scenario. There is information to the left of your result set that provides you with information on LTC costs, insurance, estate planning although not explicitly contemplated within the tool.

Your Results:

Provides a chart to illustrate the shortfall or remaining retirement fund at the end of dates being planned for, can hover over to see amount left in total as time passes and provides the age at which you will need to begin spending less. Does not itemize the result set or produce any type of downloadable details

Other Important Factors:

Inflation, Taxes and Fees: Inflation rate, income tax and tax rate during retirement are factored in at what appears to be a constant rate. Investment fees are not directly contemplated. 

Scenario Analysis: At the end you can easily modify inflation rates, age of retirement, returns and most other variables as part of the Scenario Analysis options and in the 'Economic and Other Assumptions' section. Also allows you to modify your annual raise estimate for future income streams as part of 'what if' at the end.