AARP Launches New Retirement Calculator

Re-Designed Calculator Balances Usability and Accuracy to Provide Retirement Planning Resources for All Americans

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --As millions of Americans watched their savings and retirement accounts take a hit during difficult economic times, many were left wondering if retirement was still an option for them. For many, the first step to evaluating their financial future includes a retirement calculator to determine when they can retire and what is needed to do so. Today, AARP launched its new Retirement Calculator.

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"Based on user feedback and a changing retirement landscape, AARP revamped its retirement calculator to enhance usability, but maintain accuracy in its results," said Jean Setzfand, Director of Financial Security at AARP. "Whether an individual is starting at square one or needs to re-evaluate their original plans the AARP Retirement Calculator is a tool that can set them off on the right foot and help them determine what needs to be done next."

<p>Where many calculators are designed only to produce a quick snapshot, the lack of information returned and resources made available often leaves users confused or with inaccurate results. Other calculators are complex, requiring too much information or too deep an understanding of economic principles many aren't familiar with. These calculators often result in low completion rates and lost opportunities to educate an individual about their retirement needs.

"We feel our new calculator strikes the right balance between giving users the information they want while making it engaging and easy to use," said Setzfand. "It streamlines the process through the use of pre-populated answers, but allows for customization and adjustment of the assumptions if 'power users' choose to."

New features of the AARP Retirement Calculator include the ability to develop a retirement plan for a dual-income home, calculate and include individual Social Security benefit estimates as a part of retirement income, easy to navigate tabs, easy to understand explanation of where an individual is currently at in their retirement planning and the ability to experiment with various retirement scenarios to create a plan that is right for each individual. Upon completion of the calculator, individuals will be provided links to a number of AARP resources to learn more about Social Security, financial planning and health care in retirement. The new AARP Retirement Calculator does not promote any product or service.

Research has shown that using a tool like a retirement calculator can be one of the best ways to help people focus on the steps many need to take to get their financial lives in order. With the information individuals receive from the AARP Retirement Calculator, users can quickly evaluate their current retirement possibilities and see the possible pathways to reach their desired retirement goals.

To try out the new AARP Retirement Calculator, visit www.aarp.org/retirementcalculator.

For more information about retirement and financial planning, please visit www.aarp.org/money.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social welfare organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP