Setup, activation, and how to get the most from RetireSmart 2026.
RetireSmart is a single HTML file that runs in your browser. There is nothing to install. Open the file and it works immediately.
Your license key activates on one device. On first activation, your browser's unique fingerprint is saved against your key on our server. No other machine can use the same key.
Offline use: After the first activation check, RetireSmart works completely offline. You do not need an internet connection to use it.
New computer: If you get a new computer, email Ashborneprojects@gmail.com and we will reset your device so you can re-activate. One reset per year is free.
Important: Your plan data is stored in your browser's local storage. If you clear your browser data, your plan data will be deleted. Always export a backup before clearing your browser. See Section 12.
From the Home screen, enter a name for your plan and click Create. You can have multiple plans saved — useful for modelling different scenarios.
If you used RetireSmart last year, the Home screen will offer to import your prior year data. This carries over your profile, accounts, home information, and settings — W-2 and bank statements start fresh for the new year.
Go to the Profile page and click "Import W-2". Enter the numbers from your W-2 form — you can use your paper copy, PDF, or the figures from your tax software.
RetireSmart reads the following boxes:
All W-2 data stays on your device only. Nothing is sent to our server.
Go to the Spending page. You have two options:
Import CSV — Download a CSV export from your bank or credit card website and import it. You can import from multiple accounts. Each import is labelled separately (e.g. Chase Sapphire, BofA Checking).
Enter manually — Switch to the Manual tab and enter your average monthly spending per category. Useful if you don't want to import bank files.
RetireSmart automatically categorises transactions into 13 categories. You can re-categorise any transaction and exclude one-time purchases that won't repeat in retirement.
The Accounts page tracks all your retirement and savings accounts — 401(k), Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, HSA, brokerage, and more. Each account shows a live contribution limit bar so you know how much room you have left.
Accounts imported from your W-2 are added automatically. You can also add accounts manually and enter your current balance and monthly contribution.
Go to the Results page after filling in your profile, accounts, and spending. RetireSmart calculates your projected retirement balance, monthly income, and how long your money is expected to last based on your current trajectory.
Key inputs that drive the projection: current age, retirement age, life expectancy, investment return rate (default 7%), inflation rate (default 3%), and Social Security estimate.
The Analysis page runs 1,000 simulated retirement scenarios using randomised market return sequences. This tests your plan against both good and bad market conditions — not just the average.
The result shows your success rate (percentage of simulations where you don't run out of money) and four scenario comparisons: optimistic, base, conservative, and stress test.
The Card Optimizer uses your real spending data to show what you earned with your current cards versus what you could have earned with the optimal strategy.
Add your cards on the Setup tab. Choose your goal — cash back, travel points, or balanced. The Optimization tab shows which card to use for each spending category and calculates the annual gap between your actual earnings and the best possible outcome.
If you use debit cards only, check the "debit only" option to see how much you're missing out on compared to a simple cash-back credit card paid in full each month.
The Decision Center models the long-term financial impact of major decisions. Every result shows the retirement impact — what the monthly savings become at retirement if invested at 7%.
The Location page compares all 50 US states and 20 international retirement destinations. For each location it shows the state income tax rate, whether Social Security is taxed, cost-of-living index, and a plain-English summary of retirement tax advantages.
Enter your monthly spending goal and projected nest egg to see how long your money lasts in each location and which options save you the most per month.
Your plan data is stored in your browser's local storage. To protect it:
Always export a backup before clearing your browser, switching browsers, or getting a new computer.
RetireSmart is designed around privacy.
What stays on your device: W-2 data, bank statements, account balances, retirement projections, spending analysis, journal entries, and all plan data.
What contacts our server: Your license key and a device fingerprint during the one-time activation check. No personal financial data is ever sent anywhere.