Net Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KNet Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KFI Age
50y 1m-11moA baby changes the math. See how much.
$15K/yr daycare, term life decisions, 529 vs retirement funding, the one-income question. PeakWorth runs the lifetime cost of each — so the choices you make in the first year don't rewrite your retirement.
Cost of raising a child to 18
~$310K (USDA)
Avg infant daycare cost
$15K–$28K/yr
Average 529 funded by 18
~$30K
Term-life shortfall in new parents
70%
Sound familiar?
The problems other toolsdon't solve for new parents.
Daycare costs more than your mortgage
Two kids in infant care can outpace a $500K mortgage payment. We model that drag against everything else — retirement contributions, savings rate, FI Age.
529 vs retirement isn't obvious
You can borrow for college; you can't borrow for retirement. How much to put in a 529 depends on your kid's college timeline and the long compounding window. We model the contribution as a lever so you can see the trade-off against retirement in real dollars.
Term life is everyone's gap
Most working parents are underinsured by 5–10×. PeakWorth computes the income-replacement number that keeps the surviving family on plan — not just a generic 10× rule.
What you'll use most
The features that matter most for you.
- Year-by-year cost-of-child modeling
- 529 contribution modeled as a lever vs retirement
- Stay-at-home vs work decision tool
- Term life income-replacement gap
- Parental leave income modeling
- Multi-kid college overlap planning
Start with a calculator
Quick wins for new parents
Paycheck calculator
Free paycheck calculator. Estimate your real take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, state tax, 401(k), and benefits — for any pay frequency.
Feel-Rich Salary calculator
How much salary do you need to genuinely feel rich in your city? Adjusts for cost of living, taxes, and your real lifestyle targets.
Savings Rate calculator
Your savings rate is the single most powerful number in personal finance. Find yours, see your time-to-FI, and what each 5% bump unlocks.
Investment Growth calculator
See the future value of your investments — but more importantly, see how that growth becomes your actual PeakWorth and FI Age, not just a number.
Then run a real decision
Decisions new parents face most
How Much Do Kids Really Cost — and What Does It Do to Your FI Age?
Childcare, 529, lost income — see exactly how kids reshape your savings, retirement timeline, and FI Age.
Is the Degree Worth It? Run the Real ROI
Should you pursue grad school, refinance student loans, or pay them off aggressively? See the lifetime ROI of every education decision.
How Much Life, Disability, and Umbrella Insurance Do You Need?
Are you over- or under-insured? Calculate your real life, disability, and liability needs to protect your family and your FI plan.
Should You Take the Job, the Raise, or the Equity?
Job offer, raise, equity grant, or side hustle? Quantify the lifetime impact of any career move on your retirement and FI Age.
More across the PeakWorth network
Tools, comparisons, and benchmarks beyond new parents.
Cost of
Private school, K through 12
13 years of tuition. The trade-off for your retirement date.
Tradeoff
Childcare decisions
A 5-year choice that reshapes the next 30.
Built for
PeakWorth for the sandwich generation
Kids and aging parents at once — see what gives.
Calculator
Student loan payoff
Avalanche, snowball, or refinance — model the FI Age impact.
Decision guide
Buying a home
Rent vs buy, down payment, true cost — by the numbers.
Built for
PeakWorth for life transitions
Marriage, kids, job change, inheritance — model every scenario.
Frequently asked
Questions new parents ask first
How much should I put in the 529?
PeakWorth doesn't pick the number for you — there's no aid or state-deduction optimizer. You model 529 contributions as a lever and see the projected balance at 18 plus the trade-off against retirement and your FI Age, then pick the level that fits your priorities. For state deduction limits and expected aid, bring those from your 529 plan or the college's net-price calculator.
Can I model going down to one income?
Yes. We model lost income, recovered childcare, lost retirement contributions, lost Social Security credits, and the return-to-work haircut — combined into a single FI Age delta.
What about adoption or fertility costs?
Add as one-time expenses. We model the cash impact and the savings-rate disruption for a clear picture of the multi-year financial absorption.
See your real PeakWorth in 2 minutes.
Free Quick Start. No credit card. A real projection of where your finances are heading — and exactly which moves change the picture.