Frequently Asked Questions

Your Freedom Number is the monthly income gap between what your retirement savings will produce and what your ideal retirement actually costs.

It's not an abstract savings target like "$2 million." It's a monthly cash flow reality: "You need $3,200 more per month" or "You're covered."

Most people discover they're $2,000–$5,000/month short. That's a problem you can actually solve—once you know the number.

Most retirement calculators ask: "Will you run out of money before you die?"

This one asks: "Can you afford the life you actually want in retirement?"

The difference:

• Standard calculators: Focus on giant account balances ($1.5M, $2M, etc.)
• Freedom Number Calculator: Focuses on monthly income reality

We use the 4% Rule to translate your savings into a monthly paycheck, then show you if it covers your lifestyle. The math is simple. The clarity is priceless.

No—and that's intentional.

This is not:

• Investment advice
• Portfolio optimization
• A replacement for a CFP

This is a clarity tool. It shows you the income side of retirement so you can make smarter decisions about how to close the gap before you retire.

Think of it as a diagnostic, not a prescription.

The calculator asks 7 simple questions that take 3–5 minutes total:

1. Who you are: Job title, industry, hours you could dedicate to supplementary income
2. Current finances: Monthly income before taxes
3. Retirement lifestyle: What monthly income would let you live how you want?
4. Your savings: Total in 401(k), IRA, investments, etc.
5. Growth assumptions: Expected annual return (you control this slider)
6. Timeline: Years until retirement
7. Other income: Social Security, pension, rental income, etc.

No documents to upload. No bank account linking. Just honest inputs.

Absolutely not.

This tool doesn't connect to Plaid, your bank, or your 401(k) provider. You simply type in your estimated total savings.

We never see:

• Account numbers
• Financial institution logins
• Transaction history
• Portfolio details

You're in control of what you share.

3–5 minutes.

Seven straightforward questions. No long questionnaires or complicated financial jargon.

If you know your approximate savings and what you'd like to spend in retirement, you can complete it right now.

The math is straightforward conservative—and that's the point.

The calculator uses:

• Your inputs (savings, expected return, timeline)
• The 4% Safe Withdrawal Rule (industry standard)
• Compound growth based on your return slider (typically 5–7%)

The goal: Avoid wishful thinking.
The result: A conservative, reality-based baseline.

This isn't a guarantee of future performance. It's a clarity check: "Based on reasonable assumptions, here's where you stand."

The 4% Rule says you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio each year without running out of money over a 30-year retirement.

Example:

• You have $500,000 saved
• 4% of $500,000 = $20,000/year
• That's $1,667/month in retirement income

This rule has been tested across different market conditions and is considered a conservative standard by financial planners.

The Freedom Number Calculator applies this rule to your savings to show you your monthly retirement income.

To keep the tool fast and usable, we make standard conservative assumptions:

The 4% Rule:
We assume a 4% annual safe withdrawal rate from your portfolio.

Compounding:
We calculate growth of your current savings based on the expected annual return slider you control (typically 5–7%).

Inflation:
We assume your "Retirement Goal" is in today's dollars. (So if you say "$8,000/month," that means $8,000 in purchasing power at today's prices.)

No additional contributions:
The calculator assumes your current savings will grow, but doesn't account for future 401(k) contributions. (This makes the gap clearer—and often larger than you think.)

Yes. You control the variables that matter most:

• Total savings (401(k), IRA, investments, etc.)
• Years to retirement
• Expected annual return (ROI slider: 3–10%)
• Target monthly income in retirement
• Other income sources (Social Security, pension, rental income)

The 4% withdrawal rule is fixed (industry standard), but everything else is in your control.

Then congratulations.

If your projected income exceeds your lifestyle goal, you'll see a $0 Freedom Number. This means you're on track based on the inputs you provided.

Your options then shift from "catching up" to "optimizing":

• Retire earlier than planned
• Increase your retirement lifestyle budget
• Reduce investment risk
• Build a larger safety buffer

Most people aren't in this position. But if you are, you've earned it.

Probably not—and that's uncomfortable but valuable.

Most corporate professionals discover gaps of $40K–$80K annually ($3,300–$6,700/month). This isn't a flaw in the math. It's the reality of retirement planning.

The standard advice—"save 10% of your income"—often falls short of what's actually needed for the lifestyle people expect in retirement.

The gap exists whether you calculate it or not. At least now you know the number and can do something about it.

We collect minimal information:

For the calculation itself:

• The numbers you enter (savings, income goals, etc.)
• These are processed in real-time in your browser
• We do NOT store these in a customer-identifiable way on our servers

For email delivery:

• Your first name
• Your email address
• Your calculated Freedom Number

This information is sent to our email service provider (GetResponse) to deliver your results and occasional insights about building Encore Income.

What we DON'T collect:

• Bank account numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Portfolio holdings
• Transaction history

Your specific calculation details (exact savings amounts, ROI assumptions, etc.) are processed to generate your result but are not stored in a customer-identifiable way on our servers.

Here's what happens:

1. You enter your data
2. The calculator computes your Freedom Number
3. Only your name, email, and final Freedom Number are sent to GetResponse
4. Your detailed inputs are not saved

We respect your privacy. We're here to provide clarity, not collect data.

Yes. Contact us at the email address in your results or via our contact page, and we'll remove your information from our email list.

Your calculation data isn't stored in an identifiable way, so there's nothing additional to delete beyond your email subscription.

Yes. 100% free.

• No paywall to see your results
• No credit card required
• No hidden costs
• No trial that converts to paid

We offer "The Encore Income Projects Playbook" as an optional resource for those who want actionable blueprints to close their gap, but you never have to buy it to use the calculator.

You'll receive an email with:

• Your exact monthly income gap
• A breakdown of your retirement income sources
• Visual chart showing your income vs. expenses
• Realistic options for closing the gap

From there, you decide:

Option 1: Save more (the hard way—requires more time or aggressive returns)

Option 2: Cut your retirement lifestyle (nobody wants this)

Option 3: Build Encore Income (leverage your existing skills part-time)

Most people choose Option 3 once they see the math.

Two reasons:

1. You'll want a copy.
The results include your full breakdown, chart, and specific recommendations. Most people reference this later when making decisions.

2. This tool isn't free to run.
Hosting, development, and maintenance cost money. In exchange for your email, we send you occasional insights about building Encore Income (no spam, unsubscribe anytime).

If you're not willing to exchange your email for 5 minutes of financial clarity, that's fine—but the calculator won't show results without it.

Yes. Your results page includes a "Print / Save Results" button.

You can:

• Print directly to paper
• Save as a PDF using your browser's print dialog
• Keep the email we send you (includes all your data)

Your results don't expire, so you can reference them whenever you need.

Encore Income is supplementary income you build while you're still working, using corporate skills you already have.

It's NOT:

• A "side hustle" like driving Uber
• Passive income fantasies
• MLM or network marketing
• Social media influencing

It IS:

• Strategic, high-value work (consulting, advisory, fractional leadership)
• Part-time (5–15 hours/week)
• Built alongside your corporate job
• Designed to close your retirement gap before you retire

Think of it as using your professional expertise to generate $2,000–$8,000/month in income you control—income that can continue into retirement if you choose.

Not directly.

The calculator diagnoses the problem: "You're $3,200/month short."

It doesn't prescribe the solution. That's what The Encore Income Projects Playbook is for—50 detailed blueprints showing exactly how professionals like you close gaps like yours.

But knowing your number is the first step. You can't solve a problem you haven't defined.

This tool is specifically built for:

• Corporate managers and directors
• Professionals with 10+ years of experience
• People who have saved diligently but feel unsure if it's "enough"
• Those within 5–15 years of retirement

It's NOT for:

• People looking for "get rich quick" schemes
• Crypto speculation advice
• Passive income fantasies
• Entry-level professionals just starting their careers

If you've built a career, have real skills, and want to know if you can afford the retirement you're planning for, this is for you.

Yes—if you have the skills and put in the work.

This isn't a guarantee. It's a range based on what corporate professionals with 10+ years of experience can generate through consulting, advisory roles, or fractional leadership.

Reality check:

• $2,000/month: 8–10 hours/week, established network, clear positioning
• $5,000/month: 12–15 hours/week, specialized expertise, proven process

Most people in the "corporate superpowers" demographic (directors, senior managers with valuable skills) can hit $2,000–$3,000/month within 6–12 months if they execute.

The gap exists whether you build Encore Income or not. At least this is a path forward.

The calculator works on all modern browsers:

• Chrome (recommended)
• Firefox
• Safari
• Edge
• Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome Mobile)

Requirements:

• JavaScript enabled (needed for calculations)
• Cookies enabled (for security verification)

If the calculator isn't loading, try:

1. Clearing your browser cache
2. Disabling browser extensions temporarily
3. Trying a different browser

The submit button on the email form stays disabled until you complete the security verification (Cloudflare Turnstile).

This is an anti-bot measure that protects the tool from automated spam submissions.

Wait 2–3 seconds for the verification widget to load, then you'll be able to submit.

Check these common issues:

1. Spam folder: Look for an email from "Scott Fulbright" or "Encore Income"
2. Promotions tab: (Gmail users) Check the Promotions tab
3. Wait 10 minutes: Results are typically instant, but can take up to 10 minutes

Still missing?

Contact us via the contact form with:

• The email address you used
• Approximate time you completed the calculator

We'll resend your results manually.

Yes. Just go back to the homepage and start over.

The calculator doesn't save your previous inputs, so each calculation is fresh. You can run it as many times as you want with different assumptions to see how changes affect your Freedom Number.

Pro tip: Try adjusting these to see the impact:

• Expected return rate (conservative vs. optimistic)
• Years to retirement (retiring earlier vs. later)
• Retirement lifestyle budget (what if you spent less?)

Yes. We use:

• SSL encryption (HTTPS) for all data transmission
• Cloudflare Turnstile for bot protection
• Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent attacks
• No third-party tracking beyond essential services (GetResponse for email)

We don't store your detailed financial inputs in a customer-identifiable way, and we never sell your data.

First, take a breath. The anxiety usually drops once the problem is defined.

Then, decide your path:

If your gap is small ($0–$1,000/month):

• Minor savings increases might close it
• Consider working 1–2 extra years
• Build a small Encore Income stream as a buffer

If your gap is medium ($1,000–$4,000/month):

• Pure savings won't close this easily
• Encore Income is your most realistic path
• Explore The Encore Income Projects Playbook

If your gap is large ($4,000+/month):

• This requires strategic action
• Combining savings + Encore Income
• Consider extending your timeline or adjusting lifestyle expectations

The gap won't close itself. But now you know what you're solving for.

Three steps:

1. Identify your superpowers
Take the free Corporate Superpowers Assessment (7 minutes) to see which of your skills are most monetizable:
→ https://mycorporatesuperpowers.com

2. Get the playbook
The Encore Income Projects Playbook shows you 50 detailed blueprints for turning corporate skills into $2,000–$8,000/month:
→ Normally $97, discounted for Freedom Number Calculator users

3. Start building
Pick one blueprint. Execute for 90 days. Adjust based on results.

Most people overthink this. The gap exists. You have the skills. You just need a plan.