Money in United States
Plan your money in the United States with free calculators built for American accounts and loans, plus links to the agencies that set the rules.
Free calculators for United States
These open in USD automatically. You can switch currency on any tool.
Key rules to know
Tax-advantaged retirement accounts
Workplace 401(k) and 403(b) plans and IRAs come in traditional (tax break now) and Roth (tax-free later) versions. Contribution limits change most years — check the IRS for this year’s numbers.
Never miss the employer match
Many employers match part of your 401(k) contributions. Contributing enough to get the full match is one of the highest-return moves available.
Credit scores drive borrowing costs
FICO scores range from 300 to 850. Payment history and credit utilization matter most. You can get free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
FDIC deposit insurance
FDIC insurance covers deposits at member banks up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.
Self-employed? Plan for SE tax
Freelancers pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare through self-employment tax, and usually make quarterly estimated payments.
Check your Social Security estimate
A free my Social Security account shows your earnings record and estimated benefits at different claiming ages.
Official sources
Rates, limits and allowances change. Always confirm current figures with the official source.
- IRS — Tax brackets, retirement contribution limits, Free File
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Guides and complaints about banks, loans and credit
- Investor.gov (SEC) — Investing basics and adviser checks
- Social Security Administration — Benefit estimates and retirement planning
- FDIC — Deposit insurance and bank lookup
- AnnualCreditReport.com — Official free credit reports
- Federal Student Aid — Federal student loans and repayment plans
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Business loans, grants and planning
Common questions
Should I pay off debt or invest first?
A common order: get any employer match, build a starter emergency fund, pay off high-interest debt like credit cards, then increase retirement and other investing.
Roth or traditional?
Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today; traditional tends to win if you expect a lower one. Many people split contributions to hedge.
This page is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.