Score Methodology
How Joey Planner calculates your Retirement Readiness Score.
Overview
Your Retirement Readiness Score is a number from 0 to 100 based on 7 weighted factors. It is designed to give you a quick sense of how prepared your plan is — not to predict the future or replace professional advice.
The score uses the inputs you provide and applies simple mathematical models. It does not account for taxes in detail, market volatility, or changes in personal circumstances. It is a planning aid, not a guarantee.
Score Bands
Your plan is well-positioned. Continue monitoring and adjust as circumstances change.
Your plan is on a reasonable track. Consider addressing the weaker factors to strengthen it.
Your plan has gaps that could significantly affect your retirement. Review the improvement suggestions.
Your plan requires meaningful changes to achieve retirement readiness. Consider professional guidance.
Scoring Factors
The total score is the sum of all 7 factors, capped at 100.
Funding Adequacy
Max 35 pointsHow well your projected portfolio covers your estimated retirement spending needs over your full retirement horizon.
Compares your projected portfolio at retirement against inflation-adjusted lifetime spending. A ratio of 1.2x or higher earns full points; below 0.5x earns minimal points.
Contribution Strength
Max 15 pointsHow much of your income you are saving, and whether contributions are set to grow over time.
Based on your savings rate as a percentage of income. Saving 20%+ earns near-full points. A contribution growth rate of 2%+ adds bonus points.
Time Horizon
Max 10 pointsHow many years remain until retirement. Longer horizons allow compounding to do more work.
30+ years earns full points. Under 5 years earns minimal points. This factor rewards starting early.
Debt Impact
Max 10 pointsHow debt obligations affect your retirement readiness, especially debts that extend into retirement.
No debt earns full points. Debts extending into retirement and debt payments during retirement reduce the score.
Inflation Resilience
Max 10 pointsHow much purchasing power your portfolio retains after inflation.
Compares real (inflation-adjusted) portfolio value to nominal value. Retaining 60%+ of purchasing power earns near-full points.
Income Sustainability
Max 10 pointsWhether your withdrawal strategy can sustain spending through your full retirement.
Income-only mode (preserving principal) scores high. Spend-down mode scores based on how far past retirement the portfolio lasts. Hybrid mode scores based on whether the spending target is sustainable with legacy preservation.
Forecast Confidence
Max 10 pointsHow confident the assumptions behind your savings sources are.
Based on the confidence levels you assign to each savings source. High confidence = 1.0, Moderate = 0.75, Low = 0.5, Very Low = 0.25. The weighted average determines points.
Limitations
- ! The score uses simplified models. Actual retirement outcomes depend on many factors not captured here.
- ! Tax treatment is simplified to a single effective rate. Real tax depends on account types, income levels, and jurisdiction.
- ! Investment returns are assumed to be constant. In reality, returns vary year to year, which can significantly affect outcomes.
- ! The score does not account for Social Security claiming strategies, pension details, or insurance products.
- ! Healthcare costs, long-term care, and other variable expenses are treated as fixed spending categories.
- ! This score is an educational planning aid. It is not financial advice and should not be the sole basis for retirement decisions.
Last updated: April 2026