Diagnose retirement risks early

See the risks that can derail your retirement before they do.

RetirementRiskIQ is a data-backed diagnostic, not a calculator. We blend public, defensible sources with location-aware context to surface blind spots. No advice, no pressure—just the context you need to make confident moves.

Start the risk checkView the methodologyNo advice. No forced calls. Your choice.
Snapshot
Data-backed
Coverage
50 states + DC

Location-aware scoring with state + city context.

Signals
Public & defensible

SSA, BLS, CMS, IRS, and state policy data.

Primary user
Ages 45–70 with $250k–$3M assets

Seeking validation without sales pressure.

Promise
Diagnose → Educate → Offer help (optional)

Trust-first sequencing, never fear-based.

The assessment flow

A progressive assessment that gives you partial feedback as you go and a full Retirement Risk Score at the end. Email capture is framed as access to your PDF, not marketing. Referrals stay opt-in.

Diagnose

Location-aware inputs with immediate, directional feedback on the six pillars.

Educate

Plain-English context, explainers, and data sources so you know why a score moves.

Decide

Download a PDF summary and compare locations; referrals remain strictly opt-in.

Guardrails
  • Risk-first, not product-first.
  • No fear-based or urgency tactics.
  • No forced calls; opt-in only.
  • Location-aware insights for every state and city.
  • Data-backed scoring; directional accuracy over false precision.
Compliance notes: clear disclosures, no fiduciary claims, no personalized investment advice, and privacy-first handling.

What goes into the Retirement Risk Score

Each user receives a composite score (0–100) with sub-scores for each risk pillar. Signals are sourced from public, defensible datasets—SSA life tables, BLS CPI, CMS costs, IRS thresholds, state policy data, and housing/insurance indices.

Longevity risk

If you outlive your current plan, every other risk gets harder. A longer horizon amplifies sequence risk, inflation drag, healthcare/LTC costs, and housing/tax exposure.

  • Your horizon uses SSA life tables + county deltas to estimate remaining years by age/sex.
  • If your horizon is 30+ years, early-sequence losses hurt more.
  • State/county differences in longevity and costs shift your withdrawal needs.
Read the explainer

Market & sequence risk

Timing matters: a bad market in your first decade of retirement can derail a plan even if long-run averages look fine. Your score weights early-sequence stress and local cost pressure.

  • Volatility proxy: 10-year std dev of unemployment rate (BLS LAUS) by state/county.
  • Early decade focus: Drawdowns near retirement hurt most; location costs drive withdrawal pressure.
  • Buffers + flexibility: Cash reserves and COLA flexibility can lower risk in high-volatility locations.
Read the explainer

Inflation risk

Inflation eats purchasing power. If your area runs hotter than national averages, fixed income erodes faster and withdrawals rise.

  • Your score uses BEA RPP (All items) to measure relative cost pressure by state.
  • Medical/housing: Separate adjustments feed healthcare and housing pillars.
  • Planning: Hotter price levels and inflation-sensitive categories raise withdrawal needs.
Read the explainer

Healthcare & LTC risk

Coverage gaps, medical inflation, and late-life care can blow up a budget. Location affects premiums, access, and LTC pricing.

  • Your score uses BEA RPP Services: Other as a regional healthcare/LTC proxy.
  • Medicare timing, IRMAA exposure, and coverage mix influence real costs.
  • LTC probability and duration vary; location shifts pricing and access.
Read the explainer

Tax risk

Taxes, RMD timing, and IRMAA shape your after-tax income. Location matters for net withdrawals over decades.

  • Your score starts with top marginal rates as a proxy and expands to pension treatment/credits as data is added.
  • Federal overlays: RMD and IRMAA timing can spike taxes/premiums.
  • Sequencing: Withdrawal order interacts with state policy across years.
Read the explainer

Housing & location risk

Housing, insurance, utilities, and property taxes can climb faster than expected. Location pressure raises your fixed costs and withdrawal needs.

  • Your score uses the BEA RPP housing component for relative cost levels.
  • Insurance/tax: This expands as state-level insurance and property tax datasets are added.
  • Flexibility: Ability to move/downsize lowers exposure to high-cost areas.
Read the explainer

Designed for thoughtful pre-retirees

Ages 45–70, homeowners with $250k–$3M in retirement assets, and a research-heavy mindset. Users want validation, not sales pressure, and often make decisions with a spouse or partner.

Tone

Calm, explanatory, transparent. Never alarmist.

Promise

You stay in control of next steps; help is optional and qualified.

How we use data

Public, defensible data only—SSA, BEA RPP, BLS LAUS, state tax rules, and city population basics. Scores are relative, not predictive, and refresh as releases land.

  • • Location-aware scoring across six pillars.
  • • Transparent sources and explainers for every pillar.
  • • Educational first; referrals stay strictly opt-in.
  • • No fear tactics, no sales pressure.