HOW IT WORKS
No spreadsheets. No jargon. Just your numbers in, your plan out.
FROM THE BLOG
If you're saving for a child's education, a 529 plan lets the money grow completely tax-free. Here's how they work, in plain English, plus the newer flexibility that removes the old risk.
Read guide →The amount a bank will lend you and the amount you can comfortably afford are two very different numbers. Here's how to find the one that won't make you 'house poor.'
Read guide →The single most important question in investing isn't 'which fund?' — it's 'when do I need this money?' Here's how your timeline should shape where you put it.
Read guide →WHY WE BUILT THIS
Most financial planning tools are distribution platforms in disguise — they earn commissions when you pick the products they recommend. OwnFinancialPlanning was built with no product to sell, no commission to earn, and no reason to steer you anywhere. Just your numbers in, your optimal plan out.
Every calculation runs in your browser. We never see your income, your debts, or your goals. The plan belongs to you — not to a database somewhere.
No product sales
Funded by display ads, not product commissions. We have no relationship with any bank, brokerage, or fund company — ad revenue has zero influence on your plan.
No financial data collected
Your numbers stay in your browser. We cannot see them.
No login required
Start planning immediately. No account, no email, no sign-up.
Read our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.
Crafted by
Jyotimoi Hazarika
BI & Analytics Consultant who believes financial planning should be free, private, and unbiased.
LinkedIn
Shilpi Saikia
Design artist — brought clarity, warmth, and thoughtful detail to every screen.
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FAQ
No. OwnFinancialPlanning is an educational planning tool, not a registered investment advisor. Nothing on this site is personalized financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Return estimates are historical averages — your actual results will vary. Always consult a qualified, licensed professional before making significant financial decisions. See our full disclaimer.
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. We don't have a database or server that receives your data. Close the tab and it's gone.
Yes, completely free. No premium plan, no credit card, no hidden fees. We may add optional features in the future, but the core planner will always be free.
We use historical averages: Equity Index Funds ~10% /yr (30-yr historical avg), Treasury Bills / CDs ~4–5% /yr, Bond Index Funds ~4–5% /yr. Short-term rates are periodic estimates based on prevailing US rates. Actual returns vary — this is a guide, not a guarantee.
Based on your goal timeline, we recommend: HYSA / Money Market Funds (≤6 months), Treasury Bills / CDs & I-Bonds (≤18 months), S&P 500 Index Funds (e.g. VOO) & Bond Funds (≤5 years), Total Market (VTI) + International (VXUS) + Dividend ETFs (SCHD) for long-term goals. All fund names are unsponsored examples.
You can plan up to 5 goals simultaneously. You set the priority by ordering them top to bottom — if your surplus can't cover everything, the shortfall lands on your lowest-priority goals first. A common starting point: emergency fund first, then your biggest medium-term goals, then retirement.
Nothing, unless you choose otherwise. By default your existing bank savings and investments are left untouched, and your monthly amounts are calculated to fund each goal in full on their own. On your plan you can opt to put that money toward your goals — and pick separately for your bank savings and your existing investments — which lowers how much you need to invest each month. You stay in control of every dollar.
Never. We are a planning tool, not a distribution platform. We have no commercial relationship with any bank, fund company, or brokerage. Our recommendations have zero sales bias.
Tax treatment depends on your account type. Roth IRA and 529 plans grow completely tax-free. A 401(k) is tax-deferred — you pay taxes on withdrawal. A taxable brokerage account is subject to capital gains tax (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income and holding period). For tax optimization specific to your situation, consult a CPA or tax advisor.
Our equity return estimates (~10% /yr) are 30-year historical averages that already include major crashes — 2008, 2020, and others. Short-term drops are normal and expected. For long-term goals (5+ years), disciplined monthly investing through market cycles has historically recovered and grown. For short-term goals (under 2 years), the plan avoids equities entirely and uses HYSA, T-Bills, and I-Bonds instead.
Not at all. Everything runs right in your browser — no account, no email, no password, and no sign-up. Your financial data never leaves your device. Just open the page and start planning.
Your goal targets are automatically adjusted for inflation so the plan reflects future purchasing power, not today's dollars. You can toggle inflation on or off for each goal individually — leave it on for most goals, and turn it off only if you already know the exact future cost (like a contractor's fixed quote).
The return estimates, account types (401(k), Roth IRA, 529), and investment instruments (T-Bills, I-Bonds) referenced in the planner are based on US markets. If you're outside the US, the goal-based planning method still applies, but you may need to adapt the account types and vehicles to what's available in your country.
