Retirement Planning Resources
These are the free, trustworthy tools and websites I recommend most often to people preparing for retirement. Most come straight from government agencies and nonprofit organizations, so you can use them without worrying about a sales pitch. They’re organized to match the eight areas of the Retirement Readiness Blueprint. This page is updated regularly as I review new tools and write new guides.
Start Here: Your Free Retirement Readiness Blueprint
Not sure where to begin? The Blueprint is a free, 30-minute self-assessment and 90-day action plan. It shows where you stand across eight areas of retirement readiness and what to focus on first.
Retirement Income & Social Security
Know where your retirement paycheck will come from and make your Social Security decision on purpose.
My Social Security Account
Download your Social Security statement, check your earnings record for errors, and see your estimated benefits at different claiming ages. (Social Security Administration)
Social Security Benefit Calculators
Official calculators that estimate your benefit and show how claiming earlier or later changes your monthly payment. (Social Security Administration)
Planning for Retirement
Plain-language guidance on when to claim Social Security, managing a pension, using home equity, and handling debt. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Savings & Investments
Understand what you’ve built, find accounts you may have lost track of, and vet anyone who manages your money.
Investor.gov
The SEC’s free education site, with investing basics, retirement and RMD calculators, and a section for seniors. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
Retirement Savings Lost and Found
Search for an old 401(k) or pension from a former employer that you may have lost track of. (U.S. Department of Labor)
FINRA BrokerCheck
Look up any broker or investment advisor’s employment history, licenses, and disciplinary record before you work with them. (FINRA)
Spending, Budget & Debt
What you spend matters as much as what you’ve saved.
CFPB Consumer Tools
Free, unbiased guides on budgeting, managing debt, checking your credit reports, and avoiding scams that target older adults. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
Your Blueprint Budget Worksheet
Page 9 of the Retirement Readiness Blueprint compares your spending today with your expected spending in retirement and shows your monthly gap or surplus.
Healthcare & Medicare
Enroll on time, compare your options, and plan for costs Medicare doesn’t cover.
Medicare.gov
The official Medicare website: how Medicare works, when to enroll, and what’s covered. (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Medicare Plan Finder
Compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and prescription drug plans in your area side by side. (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
SHIP: Free Medicare Counseling
Trained counselors in every state give free, unbiased one-on-one help with Medicare decisions. They don’t sell insurance.
HealthCare.gov
Retiring before 65? The Health Insurance Marketplace is one option for coverage until Medicare begins.
Long-Term Care Planning
The federal guide to long-term care: what it is, what it costs, and how people pay for it. (Administration for Community Living)
Housing & Aging in Place
Decide where you’ll live, and make sure your home will still work for you as you age.
Eldercare Locator
A free public service that connects older adults and families with local help, including home modifications, transportation, and housing assistance. (Administration for Community Living)
Your Blueprint Housing Worksheet
Page 6 of the Blueprint helps you estimate your housing costs in retirement and decide whether your home will still work for you at 80.
Estate Planning & Legal Help
Make sure your wishes are clear and the right people can act for you.
Lawyer Referral Directory
Estate planning rules vary by state. This directory lists lawyer referral services in your area that can connect you with a qualified estate-planning attorney. (American Bar Association)
Your Blueprint Document Checklist
Pages 11 and 14 of the Blueprint help you track which documents you have, which need updating, and where they’re kept.
Finding Professional Help
Some decisions are worth getting expert help with. Here’s where to start, and what to ask.
NAPFA: Find a Fee-Only Financial Planner
NAPFA members are fee-only advisors, meaning you pay them directly rather than through commissions on products they sell. Search for advisors near you.
Questions to ask any financial professional:
- Are you a fiduciary at all times, required to act in my best interest?
- How are you paid: flat fee, hourly, a percentage of assets, or commissions?
- What credentials do you hold, and can I look you up on BrokerCheck?
- What types of clients do you usually work with?
- What will working together cost me each year?
Coming Soon: Honest Reviews
I’m working on in-depth guides and honest reviews of retirement planning software, budgeting tools, and books for people preparing for retirement. As always, I’ll explain before I recommend. Get the free Blueprint and you’ll hear about new guides first.
*The information and links on this page are for educational purposes and don’t constitute individualized financial, legal, insurance, or tax advice. My Retirement Navigator is not affiliated with or endorsed by any agency or organization listed. This page currently contains no affiliate links; if that changes, they will be clearly disclosed in line with our [Affiliate Disclosure](https://myretirementnavigator.com/affiliate-disclosure/).*