Slide-rule calculator for computing a salary replacement value

A method of computing a total salary replacement value using a retirement calculator having a sleeve with an age window, a current savings window, and a future contributions window, and an insert with age values, preliminary salary replacement values for current savings, and preliminary salary replacement values for future contributions printed upon the insert, comprising the steps of:

• estimating a salary replacement value for social security benefits;
• estimating the ratio of current retirement savings to current annual pre-tax salary;
• adjusting the insert of the retirement calculator until one of the age values is visible in the age window of the sleeve;
• obtaining a preliminary salary replacement value for current savings corresponding to the age value and a given interest rate from the current savings window of the sleeve;
• multiplying the preliminary salary replacement value for current savings by the ratio of current retirement savings to current annual salary to obtain an actual salary replacement value for current savings;
• estimating the percentage of current annual salary to be contributed to retirement savings in the future;
• obtaining a preliminary salary replacement value for future contributions corresponding to the age value and a given interest rate from the future contributions window on the sleeve;
• multiplying the preliminary salary replacement value for future contributions by the percentage of current annual pre-tax salary to be contributed to retirement savings in the future to obtain an actual salary replacement value for future contributions;
• and
• summing the salary replacement value for social security benefits, the actual salary replacement value for current savings, and the actual salary replacement value for future contributions to obtain the total salary replacement value.

A retirement calculator for computing a salary replacement value independent of current salary, comprising:

• an insert having:
• a plurality of primary salary replacement variables printed upon said insert, and
• a plurality of preliminary salary replacement values printed upon said insert;
• and
• a sleeve having:
• an open end adapted to receive said insert,
• a cutout area, and
• a plurality of secondary salary replacement variables printed upon said sleeve adjacent said cutout area;
• said primary salary replacement variables and said preliminary salary replacement values being arranged upon said insert such that when said insert is positioned in the open end of said sleeve, at least one of said primary salary replacement variables and at least one of said preliminary salary replacement values is visible in said cutout area;
• and
• said visible preliminary salary replacement value corresponding to the visible primary salary replacement variable and to the secondary salary replacement variable printed on said sleeve immediately adjacent the visible preliminary salary replacement value.