Boldin ($144/yr.), previous known as NewRetirement, and ProjectionLab ($129/yr.) are financial and tax simulators for the general public. These web-based platforms provide long-term projections and what-if scenarios for do-it-yourself financial planning. They are both excellent. Some financial planners I've seen on YouTube use RightCapital.
Boldin vs ProjectionLab: Boldin edges out ProjectionLab for its Roth Conversion Explorer and ProjectionLab edges out Boldin for its more "sticky" feature, meaning you can track the past performance of your portfolio as you update it. I would pick Boldin unless Cristy and/or Julie begin using ProjectionLab and you consult each other.
| Boldin is Better for: | ProjectionLab is Better for: |
|---|---|
| Beginner-Friendly Interface | Steeper Learning Curve |
| Tailored Recommendations | Custom Simulation Tools |
| Clean, Modern Dashboard | Data-Dense Visual Layers |
Links to YouTube videos:
In general, the ordinary income tax rates/brackets apply to all income, unless an exemption applies.
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | Standard Deduction | |
| 10% | $0 | $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,401 | $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,401 | $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 | $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 | $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,226 | $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | Standard Deduction | |
| 10% | $0 | $24,800 |
| 12% | $24,801 | $100,800 |
| 22% | $100,801 | $211,400 |
| 24% | $211,401 | $403,550 |
| 32% | $403,551 | $512,450 |
| 35% | $512,451 | $768,700 |
| 37% | $768,701 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | Standard Deduction | |
| 10% | $0 | $17,700 |
| 12% | $17,701 | $67,450 |
| 22% | $67,451 | $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 | $201,750 |
| 32% | $201,751 | $256,200 |
| 35% | $256,201 | $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,601 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | Standard Deduction | |
| 10% | $0 | $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,401 | $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,401 | $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,701 | $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,776 | $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,226 | $384,350 |
| 37% | $384,351 | No limit |
Long-term capital gains tax rates/brackets generally apply to investment assets held for over a year and to qualified dividends. Short-term capital gains (assets held for a year or less) are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. See IRS Publication 550.
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | $0 | $49,450 |
| 15% | $49,451 | $545,500 |
| 20% | $545,501 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | $0 | $98,900 |
| 15% | $98,901 | $613,700 |
| 20% | $613,701 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | $0 | $66,200 |
| 15% | $66,201 | $579,600 |
| 20% | $579,601 | No limit |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | $0 | $49,450 |
| 15% | $49,451 | $306,850 |
| 20% | $306,851 | No limit |
| Filing Status | Single or Head of Household | Married Filing Jointly (& Surviving Spouse) | Married Filing Separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGI Income Limit When 3.8% NIIT Takes Effect | $200,000 | $250,000 | $125,000 |
This rule applies to unearned income (such as dividends, interest income, and capital gains) of dependent children under the age of 18 or to full-time students younger than 24, at the end of the tax year. Under this rule:
|
Tax deductions reduce your taxable income dollar for dollar, whereas tax credits reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar.
| Charitable Donations | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-itemizers can now take a donation deduction for cash gifts | $1,000 for single, $2,000 for joint |
| Temporary Senior Deduction | Amount |
| For tax years 2025 to 2028, age 65 or older (phaseout starts at $75,000 for single filer, $150,000 for joint filer) | $6,000 per person |
| Student Loan Interest Deduction | |
| Interest on qualified education loans (phaseout starts at $170,000 for joint filers, $85,000 for all other filers) | $2,500 |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) | |
| Must have coverage under a qualifying high-deductible health plan (age 55 or over can contribute an extra $1,000) | Up to $4,400 for self, Up to $8,750 for family |
| Tip Income Deduction | |
| For tax years 2025 to 2028, phaseout starts at $150,000 for single filers or $300,000 for joint filers | Up to $25,000 |
| Overtime Income Deduction | |
| For tax years 2025 to 2028, phaseout starts at $150,000 for single filers or $300,000 for joint filers | Up to $12,500 for single filer, $25,000 for joint |
| Auto Loan Interest Deduction | |
| For tax years 2025 to 2028, phaseout starts at $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for joint filers | Up to $10,000 |
| Rate | Taxable Income | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 0% | Standard Deduction | |
| 10% | $0 | $3,330 |
| 24% | $3,331 | $11,700 |
| 35% | $11,701 | $16,000 |
| 37% | $16,001 | No limit |
| Type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum estate & gift tax rate | 40% |
| Annual gift tax exclusion | $19,000 |
| Unified gift & estate tax exemption (Note: This amount also covers the generation-skipping tax) | $15,000,000 per person |
| Annual exclusion for gifts to noncitizen spouse | $194,000 |
Taxation of Social Security benefits is based on provisional income (adjusted gross income without Social Security, plus tax-exempt interest, plus half of your Social Security benefits).
The Social Security “tax torpedo” occurs when your provisional income bumps you into a bracket where a higher amount of your Social Security benefit is taxable. Delay taking Social Security until age 70, if you can.
| Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 |
| FICA tax rate for employee | 7.65% |
| SECA tax rate for self employed | 15.3% |
| Social Security earnings limits prior to full retirement age (FRA) | |
| Younger than FRA | $24,480 |
| The year you reach FRA | $65,160 |
| Soc. Sec. cost-of-living adjustment | 2.8% |
| Maximum possible benefit at FRA | $4,152 |
| Estimated average monthly benefit | $2,071 |
| Soc. Sec. FRA (born 1960 & later) | age 67 |
| Single, widower & head of household provisional income | Taxable Portion |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | 0% |
| $25,001 to $34,000 | Up to 50% |
| More than $34,000 | Up to 85% |
| Married filing jointly provisional income | Taxable Portion |
| $32,000 or less | 0% |
| $32,001 to $44,000 | Up to 50% |
| More than $44,000 | Up to 85% |
| Calculator | |
| age | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 100% | 107% | 114% | 124% | 133% | 143% | 154% | 166% | 177% |
| 63 | 93% | 100% | 107% | 116% | 124% | 133% | 144% | 155% | 165% |
| 64 | 88% | 94% | 100% | 108% | 117% | 125% | 135% | 145% | 155% |
| 65 | 81% | 87% | 92% | 100% | 108% | 115% | 125% | 134% | 143% |
| 66 | 75% | 80% | 86% | 93% | 100% | 107% | 116% | 124% | 133% |
| 67 | 70% | 75% | 80% | 87% | 93% | 100% | 108% | 116% | 124% |
| 68 | 65% | 69% | 74% | 80% | 86% | 93% | 100% | 107% | 115% |
| 69 | 60% | 65% | 69% | 75% | 80% | 86% | 93% | 100% | 107% |
| 70 | 56% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 81% | 87% | 94% | 100% |
| 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| 63 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 80 | |
| 64 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 81 | ||
| 65 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | |||
| 66 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | ||||
| 67 | 81 | 82 | 83 | |||||
| 68 | 83 | 84 | ||||||
| 69 | Calculator | 85 | ||||||
To use the Social Security Monthly Benefits Table, select your age on the left, then move right to the age you’re considering filing. If you are age 64 and are considering filing at age 67, for example, your monthly benefits will be 25% greater than filing at age 64; 55% greater at age 70. (more...)
To use the Filing Ages Break Even Points (approximations) chart, select your first filing age decision on the left, then move right to the second filing age you’re considering. If you were choosing between age 63 and 66, for example, the break even point is age 77. Between age 65 and age 70, the break even point is 82.
| Monthly Premium | |
|---|---|
| Part A for those with <30 quarters of coverage | $565 |
| Part A for those with 30—39 quarters | $311 |
| Part B | $203 |
| Part A | |
| First 60 days-patient pays a deductible | $1,736 |
| Next 30 days—patient pays per day | $434 |
| Additional 60 lifetime reserve days (patient pays per day) | $868 |
| After all lifetime reserve days are used, patient pays all costs. | |
| Part B | |
| Deductible | $283 |
| Coinsurance | 20% |
| Part D (Prescription Drug Plan) | |
| Deductible | $615 |
| 25% coinsurance on next | $2,100 |
| Out-of-pocket (OOP) threshold (new for 2025) | $2,100 |
| Beneficiary then pays coinsurance amount for additional covered expenses. | |