Financial Planning Calculators Instructions

Instructions for Using the Calculators

General Note

These tools provide an estimate and may match the figures on your individual pay check.

All Calculators

To use an estimator, please fill in the fields with the requested information. The more accurate your information is, the more accurate your results will be. Your paycheck stub is a valuable source of information. If you are not sure about the information that needs to be entered in a field, click on the field name and a help box will pop up with information related to that field. When you are done, click on “close” and then fill in the field information. After using each estimator, you may choose to go directly to another estimator. Simply select the desired estimator and click on the “GO” button. Information that has been entered in one estimator will be carried forward to the new one, but only during the current session. Once you leave the site or your session times out, your personal information will be deleted.

Paycheck Calculator

To get an accurate estimate, please have a paycheck stub on hand. As you fill in the fields, we suggest that you duplicate the information on your paycheck stub as closely as possible. If your estimated result is close to what your paycheck stub shows for net take-home pay, then you know you are entering the information in the correct fields. Now you can adjust the deduction fields to see the affect that changes will have on your net take-home pay. With this estimator, you can look at contribution levels to the Thrift Plan; estimate FSA contributions; or use the “Other Deductions” field to estimate life insurance premiums, MetPay premiums, and even charitable contributions.

Thrift Plan Savings Calculator

This tool will help you estimate the overall value of your contributions to the Thrift Plan over time. When entering the "Employee Contribution" percent, combine both your before-tax and after-tax contribution percents.

For example, If your before-tax contribution is 5 percent and your after-tax contribution is 5 percent, you should enter 10 percent in the "Employee Contribution" box.

The "Employer Contribution" matching percentage cannot exceed 4 percent and you can ignore the "Employer Contribution Matching Limit" box.

Also, on a per Web session basis, any information you enter into the Paycheck Calculator will transfer to the 401(k) calculator.

W-4 Assistant

By answering a series of questions, you can estimate the number of tax exemptions you are allowed on your W-4 form. A completed W-4 form will be prepared for you to print. Or you may print out a blank W-4 form to complete yourself.