How scoring works
Each question scores 0–10 points based on how complete your answer is. Maximum possible score is 120. Scoring bands follow what CFPs see in practice: under 40 means material gaps, 65–85 means a working plan, 85+ means you are in the top 10% of documented retirement plans we see.
The quiz is designed for speed, not depth. It cannot replace an actual plan document — but it will flag which three or four items deserve your next weekend. Export your results to PDF to hand to an advisor or spouse.
What a 60 actually means
We score a lot of plans in the 50–70 range. The pattern is consistent: the saver has a decent balance and a rough plan, but the execution pieces are missing. They don't know their exact Social Security claim age, haven't modeled Roth conversions, can't describe their withdrawal strategy, and have an old will. Each of those is a single-afternoon project. Do three of them and your score jumps from 60 to 85.
The quiz output is a diagnostic, not a verdict. Take the three lowest-scoring answers as your to-do list for the month.
Why this is different from a 'retirement calculator'
Calculators tell you if the math works. Quizzes and checklists tell you if the plan works. Most households have decent math and a terrible plan — or vice versa. Both need to be true for a successful retirement. Use the Retirement Savings Calculator and FIRE Calculator for the math; use this quiz and the Readiness Checklist for the plan.
What to do with your score
Below 50: Print the Retirement Readiness Checklist and work through the first three groups. Hire a one-time flat-fee CFP (NAPFA or XY Planning Network) for a $2,500 plan.
50–80: Identify your three lowest-scoring questions and fix those specifically. Run numbers through our 4% Rule Calculator and Monte Carlo Simulator. Schedule an October tax-planning session with a CPA.
80+: Annual review cadence. Re-take this quiz each January. Focus on the "optimization" layer: Roth conversions, QCDs, tax-lot harvesting, estate refinements.