Retirement Calculator not working? Here's how to fix it
Most issues with the Retirement Calculator are small and fixable in seconds. Work through these in order.
1. The tool won't load
Reload the page, or open it in a fresh tab. If an extension blocks scripts, try private (incognito) mode — the calculator needs JavaScript, which is on by default in every modern browser.
2. The required corpus looks impossibly high
Check your inflation rate. A 7% inflation rate over 25-30 years compounds expenses dramatically. Try 5-6% if you expect lower personal inflation, or accept that medical and lifestyle inflation often exceed the headline CPI.
3. The projected corpus looks too low
Verify your monthly investment. You must sum ALL monthly contributions — EPF (employee + employer), PPF, NPS, SIPs, and any other systematic investments. Missing even one account can make the projection look far short.
4. The shortfall seems wrong
Confirm your expected return. If you entered 12% but hold a balanced portfolio, the real return may be closer to 9-10%. Lower the return assumption and re-check. The tool compounds returns annually, so small changes compound over 20-30 years.
5. The result does not match my financial planner's number
Planners may use different corpus multiples (30x vs 25x), factor in pension income, rental income, or stepwise expense changes in retirement. The calculator uses a standard 25-30x multiple on inflated annual expenses. Treat it as a baseline, not a comprehensive financial plan.
Verdict
Nine out of ten issues with the Retirement Calculator are solved by including all monthly investments, using a realistic return, and understanding the 25-30x corpus multiple.