Worksheets, calculators, and financial support: These free tools can help you prepare for retirement, protect your income, and more.
Creating a budget. Tracking your retirement savings progress. Figuring out how much disability insurance you might need. Those are just a few of the financial questions you might need to answer from year to year.
Luckily, these calculators and tools can help you get started. Some require you to log in to your Principal account. (Need to set yours up or have questions about access? Use our log in help page.) Some are available for use without logging in. But all can help you get organized and create a plan for your current financial goals.
Budgeting and financial goals worksheet: Review expenses, as well as set short-, mid-, and long-term goals, with this interactive "budget for your goals" worksheet (PDF).
Budgeting tool (login required): Link accounts and track expenses to get an overall picture of your finances with this budgeting option in your Principal dashboard.
Emergency fund calculator (Enrich account & login required): Figure out how much you may want to set aside for unexpected expenses with this emergency fund calculator.
Will and other documents (ARAG account & login required): Find free estate planning forms for creating a will, power of attorney for health care, durable power of attorney, living will, medical records release HIPAA, and authorization for minor’s treatment.
Cost of cashing out calculator (login required): If you’re leaving a job or need to consolidate accounts and are considering cashing out, there are costs, including significant tax implications. This cashing out calculator can help you review your options. (Use the link, or under your 401(k) account, click on “Planning resources" then "Education hub.")
Defined benefit estimator tool (login required): Enter your personal data and the provisions of your plan to get an idea of your potential defined benefits after you retire. (Use the link, or under your defined benefit account overview, click on “Estimate my benefits.”)
Impact on paycheck calculator (login required): Use this tool to help understand what effect increasing your retirement savings deferral will have on your paycheck. (Use the link, or under your 401(k) account, click on “Planning resources" then "Education hub.")
Required minimum distribution calculator (US Securities and Exchange website): Enter your account balance and age for a calculation of your required minimum distribution.
Retirement budget worksheet: Use this interactive retirement budget worksheet (PDF) to create your personal budgeting strategy for your post-work years.
Retirement countdown (login required): Have you put a date on the calendar and are curious how many days are left? Find out with this retirement countdown tool.
Retirement income calculator (login required): Adjust factors such as health, savings rate, and current pay to see your retirement income needs. (Use the link, or under your 401(k) account, click on “Planning resources" then "Education hub.")
Retirement Wellness Planner (login optional): Track how well you’re progressing toward your retirement savings goal with a personalized Retirement Wellness Score (login required). Or, if you don’t have an account with Principal, visit the public Retirement Wellness Planner.
Roth elective deferral calculator (login required): Use this tool to determine whether traditional pre-tax or Roth post-tax elective deferrals (if offered by your retirement plan) are right for you. (Use the link, or under your 401(k) account, click on “Planning resources" then "Education hub.")
Social Security estimator (Social Security Administration website): The My Social Security Retirement Estimate helps calculate your potential benefits based on the age you may begin receiving Social Security.
Income protection calculator: Find out how much coverage you may need, and its potential cost, to help insure your income if you’re ever too sick or hurt to work with this income protection calculator.
Nonqualified deferred compensation planner (login required): Determine how much you may receive for nonqualified deferred compensation.
In addition to tools and calculators, logging in to your Principal account can help you see how much you’re saving and easily adjust deferrals. You’ll also find links to sign up for e-delivery of your eligible documents and statements, including tax forms.
