FUTURE AFFORDABILITY CALCULATOR

You earn well. Is the future you want moving faster than your assets?

Price one goal, add what's working toward it, and see how much of that future is funded at these assumptions.

STEP 1 — THE FUTURE YOU WANT

What are you trying to afford?

Start with a goal, or see how an example works.

Your inputs stay in this browser.

Optional. Use a zip or metro when location drives the cost.

This costs about
today. I want it in
years.

STEP 2 — YOUR CURRENT TRAJECTORY

What do you have working toward it?

Ready to see your gap? Add assets and monthly contributions. Asset and contribution amounts stay in this browser unless you choose to save a result.

Include the assets you would realistically use to reach this goal. Round numbers are fine.

Calculated in your browser; shared only if you choose to save or email a result.

Optional. Included in your projected resources here and in the Simulator.

Assumptions behind this estimate
  • Cash & savings: assumed 4.0% — illustrative cash/HYSA assumption (FDIC national savings rate: 0.38%, Apr 2026)
  • Stocks & index funds: assumed 13.1% — S&P 500 total return over the latest source window
  • Real estate: assumed 6.5% — Case-Shiller over the latest source window
  • Other: assumed 6.0% — configurable blended default

Add total assets to calculate your result.

Enter total assets to calculate Aspire Rate and Aspire Gap at these assumptions.

GOAL COVERAGE
AT THESE ASSUMPTIONS
Rates and calculation details

All modeled values below are at these assumptions.

Aspire Rate
Today's Goal
Future Cost
Wealth trajectory CAGR
Aspire Gap
WHAT'S DRIVING IT
Email a return link

The Simulator opens after the calculator has a real result to carry forward.

The moving target

10 years from nowIllustrative timeline

Your goals don’t sit still.

Markets, homes, healthcare, tuition, and everyday life compound at different rates.
That’s why your goal can move faster than the money you’re building toward it.

Illustrative example · A home

A $400k home becomes about $592k.

At these assumptions: home cost grows 4% yearly. Start with $350k, add $15k yearly, assume 0% investment growth. Rounded values.

Calculate your future

Illustrative example — not your result.

Read The Escalator Problem.

CPI
Homes
Stocks
Bitcoin

Historical annualized rates, each with its own source window. These are context for the assumptions, not forecasts. Sources and limitations.

THE RECEIPT

We publish our work.

The Aspire Index is our dated, source-stamped record of what a starter home costs in hours of ordinary work — every number traceable to a public source, every print shipped with its data and method. It exists so you can check us, not so you have to learn it.

EXPLORE

ON X

@AspireRate

Updates on goal inflation, future affordability, and the uncomfortable math behind the life people are trying to afford.

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