# Gold IRA Blueprint — Free Retirement Tools

> A free suite of retirement-planning calculators covering Gold IRAs, the 4% rule, Social Security claiming strategy, Roth conversions, 401(k) optimization, and portfolio diversification. All tools are free, run client-side, and require no sign-up.

Last updated: 2026-04-29
Site: https://tools.goldirablueprint.com
Publisher: Gold IRA Blueprint

## Data sources & update cadence

- **IRS contribution limits, federal tax brackets, standard deductions** — from IRS Rev. Proc. (annual). Tools currently use **2026** figures. Last reviewed: January 2026. Next scheduled review: January 2027.
- **Social Security bend points, FRA table, COLA, delayed-credit rules** — from SSA (announced annually each October). Tools currently use **2026** bend points ($1,226 / $7,386).
- **SECURE 2.0 super catch-up (ages 60–63)** — $34,750 for 2026.
- **Inflation Calculator** — pulls live monthly CPI from BLS (refreshed weekly).
- **Gold vs Stocks / Silver vs Stocks / Savings-at-Risk / Gold IRA vs Traditional IRA** — pull live daily LBMA gold + silver prices and FRED S&P 500 data, cached server-side and refreshed daily via a cron-driven webhook.
- **Net Worth Calculator** — benchmarked against the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 medians by householder age band. Re-verified each January.
- **Am I Saving Enough? + Retirement Risk Score** — savings adequacy uses Fidelity Investments age-based salary multiples (1×/3×/6×/8×/10× at ages 30/40/50/60/67). Re-verified each January.
- **Longevity Risk Calculator + Retirement Risk Score** — survival probabilities from SSA 2021 Period Life Table, with derived joint-survivorship curves for couples.
- **Dollar Devaluation Visualizer + Inflation Erosion Calculator** — BLS CPI-U purchasing power 1913–today and London PM Gold Fix annual averages 1913–today.
- **Recession Impact Simulator + Portfolio Stress Test** — historical drawdowns (S&P 500, Bloomberg US Aggregate, FTSE Nareit, LBMA gold fix) for 4 scenarios: 2008 Crisis, 2000 Dot-Com, 1970s Stagflation, 2020 COVID.
- **Gold IRA Break-Even / Tax Savings / Storage Cost / How Much Gold / Fit Assessment / Opening Checklist** — bottom-of-funnel decision tools using 2026 IRS limits, the **28% IRC §408(m) collectibles tax** for non-IRA gold, IRS-approved depository fee schedules, and World Gold Council allocation guidance (5–25%). Recommendations are tier-based on investable assets ($100k+ → premium custodian, $10k–$99k → standard custodian).
- **Programmatic state, employer, age, and conversion pages** — refreshed monthly; metal-price conversion pages refreshed daily.

## Methodology notes (for citation)

- **PIA formula**: SSA bend-point formula 90% / 32% / 15% applied to AIME using 2026 bend points.
- **Claim-age math**: 5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months early, then 5/12 of 1% beyond; 8% per year delayed retirement credit up to age 70.
- **4% rule**: Bengen (1994) / Trinity Study methodology with inflation-adjusted annual withdrawals; sequence-of-returns crash modeled as −35% year 1 followed by partial recovery.
- **Roth conversion tax**: incremental marginal-bracket math using 2026 federal brackets (single / married filing jointly / head of household).
- **401(k) projection**: future-value of starting balance plus annual contributions that grow at the user-supplied salary-growth rate.
- **Gold IRA projections**: 8% long-run gold return assumption blended with stock returns at the user-chosen allocation, net of $200/yr Gold IRA fees.

## All tools

- [Gold IRA Quiz](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-eligibility-quiz): Free Gold IRA quiz: 6 questions to find out if you qualify, the right account size for you, and the best custodian for your situation in 2 minutes. (~2 min)
- [Portfolio Diversification Checker](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/diversification-checker): Free portfolio diversification checker. Enter your stocks, bonds and cash mix to see exactly how much gold and silver belong in your retirement portfolio. (~3 min)
- [Inflation Impact Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/inflation-calculator): Free inflation calculator using official BLS CPI data 1913–today. See the future value of your savings, what past dollars are worth now, and how to hedge. (~2 min)
- [Gold IRA Fee Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-fee-calculator): Free Gold IRA fee calculator. Compare all-in setup, custodian, storage and spread costs across Augusta, Birch, Goldco and 12+ companies side-by-side. (~2 min)
- [RMD Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-rmd-calculator): Free Gold IRA RMD calculator. See your required minimum distribution at age 73+ using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — plus in-kind metal distribution rules. (~1 min)
- [Tax Impact Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-tax-calculator): Free Gold IRA tax calculator. Federal + state tax on distributions, Roth vs traditional outcome, and the 28% collectibles rate on physical metals. (~2 min)
- [Retirement Savings At Risk](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/savings-at-risk): Free retirement savings at-risk calculator. See exactly how much a 2008-style 38% crash would take from your balance — and how gold softens it. (~2 min)
- [Gold vs Stocks](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-vs-stocks): Free gold vs S&P 500 comparison tool. Compare returns, drawdowns and inflation-adjusted performance across any time period from 1971 to today, with charts. (~1 min)
- [Silver vs Stocks](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/silver-vs-stocks): Free silver vs S&P 500 comparison tool. See returns, drawdowns and gold-silver ratio context across any time period from 1971 to today, with live charts. (~1 min)
- [Gold IRA vs Traditional IRA](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-vs-traditional-ira): Free Gold IRA vs Traditional IRA comparison. Project both strategies side-by-side over 10–30 years, including a 2008-style crash, recovery and total fees. (~2 min)
- [Retirement Readiness Score](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/retirement-readiness-score): Free retirement readiness score (A–F grade). 6-factor check covering savings rate, asset mix, income gap, healthcare, longevity and inflation in 60 seconds. (~2 min)
- [Safe Withdrawal Rate Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/safe-withdrawal-rate-calculator): Free safe withdrawal rate calculator. Stress-test the 4% rule against the 1966, 2000 and 2008 crashes and see if your nest egg lasts 30 years. (~2 min)
- [Social Security Optimizer](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/social-security-optimizer): Free Social Security claiming age optimizer. Monthly + lifetime benefit at every age 62–70 and the optimal claim age for singles, couples, survivors. (~2 min)
- [Roth Conversion Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/roth-conversion-calculator): Free Roth conversion calculator. Lifetime tax savings of converting Traditional IRA to Roth, including IRMAA brackets and bracket-fill strategies. (~3 min)
- [401(k) Contribution Optimizer](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/401k-contribution-optimizer): Free 401(k) contribution optimizer. Find the right traditional vs Roth split, capture the full employer match, and see your annual tax savings. (~2 min)
- [Sequence of Returns Risk Visualizer](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/sequence-of-returns-risk): Free sequence-of-returns risk visualizer. See how return ordering can deplete a retirement portfolio decades early — and the strategies that prevent it. (~2 min)
- [Retirement Income Gap Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/retirement-income-gap): Enter your expenses and guaranteed income to see your exact savings shortfall and the monthly contribution to close it. (~3 min)
- [Precious Metals Allocation Tool](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/precious-metals-allocation): Get a personalized 5–20% gold + silver allocation target based on your age, risk tolerance, and current holdings — with rebalance dollar amounts. (~2 min)
- [Pension vs Lump Sum Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/pension-vs-lump-sum): Compare lifetime pension income vs an invested lump sum. See your break-even age, break-even return, and a clear recommendation. (~3 min)
- [State Retirement Tax Comparison](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/state-retirement-tax-comparison): Compare annual state income tax on Social Security, pension, and IRA withdrawals across up to 3 states. See your potential annual savings. (~3 min)
- [Gold & Silver Spot Price Tracker](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-silver-price-tracker): Live gold + silver spot prices with 30-day trend, gold-silver ratio, and historical context. LBMA-derived data refreshed every 30 minutes. (~1 min)
- [Catch-Up Contribution Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/catch-up-contribution-calculator): See your 401(k), IRA, and HSA catch-up limits — including the SECURE Act 2.0 super catch-up ($11,250) for ages 60–63. (~2 min)
- [Healthcare Cost in Retirement Estimator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/healthcare-cost-retirement): Project lifetime healthcare costs with 2026 Medicare premiums, IRMAA surcharges, Medigap, and pre-65 ACA gap modeling. (~3 min)
- [Inherited IRA / RMD Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/inherited-ira-calculator): Model inherited IRA distributions under July 2024 IRS final regulations. Includes 10-year rule with annual RMDs in years 1–9. (~3 min)
- [FIRE Calculator (Lean / Regular / Fat / Coast)](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/fire-calculator): Calculate years to financial independence across Lean, Regular, Fat, and Coast FIRE — based on your savings rate and target lifestyle. (~2 min)
- [Net Worth Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/net-worth-calculator): Add up assets and debts in 2 minutes. See your net worth, investable assets, and how you compare to the Federal Reserve median for your age. (~2 min)
- [Am I Saving Enough? Quiz](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/am-i-saving-enough): Free 'am I saving enough?' calculator. Benchmark against the 3×/6×/10× salary rules of thumb and see the monthly contribution needed to retire on time. (~1 min)
- [Inflation Erosion Visualiser](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/inflation-erosion-calculator): Watch your savings shrink in real terms as inflation compounds — and see how a gold allocation changes the picture. (~2 min)
- [Retirement Budget Builder](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/retirement-budget-builder): Build your retirement budget category-by-category with real inflation per line item. See your year-1 retirement cost and the nest egg required to fund it. (~3 min)
- [Recession Impact Simulator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/recession-impact-simulator): Run your portfolio through 4 real historical recessions. See your bottom, recovery year, and how a gold allocation would have changed both. (~2 min)
- [Realistic Retirement Age Estimator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/realistic-retirement-age): Find the youngest age your savings + Social Security can fund your real budget. Includes inflation, the 4% rule, and SSA life-expectancy probability. (~3 min)
- [Retirement Asset Allocation Quiz](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/retirement-asset-allocation-quiz): Free retirement asset allocation quiz. Answer 8 questions to get a personalized stock/bond/gold mix matched to your age, risk tolerance and time to retirement. (~2 min)
- [Gold vs Bonds vs Real Estate](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-vs-bonds-vs-real-estate): Free gold vs bonds vs real estate comparison. 50-year returns, inflation hedge ranking, and crash performance for each asset class with live charts. (~2 min)
- [Portfolio Stress Test](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/portfolio-stress-test): Stress-test your specific allocation against 2008, dot-com, stagflation, and COVID. See worst-case loss + diversification score. (~3 min)
- [Dollar Devaluation Visualizer](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/dollar-devaluation): See how much your dollar has lost since any starting year — and what the same money held as gold would be worth now. (~1 min)
- [Retirement Risk Score](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/retirement-risk-score): 0–100 risk score across savings, sequence, inflation, concentration, and longevity — with the single highest-impact action to take next. (~3 min)
- [Longevity Risk Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/longevity-risk): Probability you outlive your savings using SSA mortality data. Single + joint survivorship and an age-by-age balance projection. (~2 min)
- [Is a Gold IRA Right for Me?](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/is-gold-ira-right-for-me): Honest 10-question assessment with a tier-based recommendation. Tells you if a Gold IRA fits — or if a different move makes more sense first. (~2 min)
- [Gold IRA Break-Even Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-break-even-calculator): See how many years it takes for gold appreciation to outpace Gold IRA fees vs. a standard IRA — with fee drag as a % of balance. (~2 min)
- [Gold IRA Tax Savings Calculator](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-tax-savings-calculator): Compare after-tax outcomes for gold held in a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and a taxable account hit by the 28% collectibles rate. (~2 min)
- [Gold Storage Cost Comparison](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-storage-cost-comparison): Compare 10-year cost of IRS-approved depository, bank safe deposit, and home safe storage — including insurance and IRC §408(m) compliance flags. (~2 min)
- [How Much Gold Do I Need?](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/how-much-gold-do-i-need): Get a personalized gold allocation between 5–25% based on your age, total assets, and inflation concern — with the exact dollar amount to buy. (~2 min)
- [Gold IRA Opening Checklist](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/gold-ira-checklist): Generate a step-by-step rollover checklist tailored to your current account type (401k, TSP, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 403b). (~2 min)

## Optional resources

- [Sitemap](https://tools.goldirablueprint.com/sitemap.xml)
- [About / publisher](https://goldirablueprint.com)