Money & Family
NestEggRunway.com
A compound interest lesson that got out of hand.
Why it exists
It started as a teaching tool. I wanted my kids to see compound interest — not hear a lecture about it, but watch what happens to money over 40 years, and what delaying by five years actually costs. A chart does what no amount of dad-talk can.
Then I realised that with more inputs the same engine answered much bigger questions. My questions. When could I actually retire? How long would the pot last? What happens to the runway if I draw down at different rates, retire earlier, or the market underperforms?
What it is
A free, visual financial runway planner:
- Compound growth, visualised — contributions, growth rates and time horizons on an interactive chart. The “cost of delay” is the single most persuasive view: wait five years to start and watch the end number fall.
- Pension planning mode — model your pot against target retirement ages and contribution levels.
- Drawdown simulation — the part most free calculators skip. Post-retirement, how long does the pot survive at a given lifestyle? What changes if you flex spending or retire a year later?
It deliberately does not manage investments or recommend products. It manages the thing above the investments: the long-term aim, and whether the plan actually gets you there.
What it proves
Good products come from real questions. One tool now serves both jobs — my kids understand why they should start saving at 20, and I understand when I can stop working. Same engine, both ends of the timeline.