Household
Last updated October 20, 2026
Household is who's in the plan and when: your age, retirement age, filing status, dependents, and how long the plan runs.
Your current age and target retirement age anchor every age-based rule in your results, when required distributions start, when Social Security timing options open up, and how many years the simulation runs. "Plan to age" (95 by default) is the last year simulated: push it later and the same savings have to stretch further.
Filing status picks which federal tax table applies and, if you're married filing jointly, unlocks a full set of spouse fields (age, retirement age, plan-to age) alongside your own, each spouse gets an independent Social Security and required-distribution schedule.
If you set a target retirement age before 59½, a note about the 10% early-withdrawal penalty appears, with an option to elect a 72(t) "substantially equal periodic payments" schedule that avoids it. Choose how the payment is calculated: the required minimum distribution method, which follows your balance each year, or fixed amortization, which pays the same dollars every year at an interest rate you choose (5% unless you enter another). Both use the IRS Single Life Expectancy table.
The wizard's own Household step has a "Help me find it" button that sweeps possible retirement ages to find one that clears your success target: it only solves for the primary person's age, not a joint solve for both spouses at once.
Kids get a name and current age here; their college plans live on the Spending & goals section, not here.