Slide-rule calculator for computing a salary replacement value

A retirement calculator for calculating a salary replacement value independent of current salary and a method of computing a total salary replacement value are disclosed. The retirement calculator is made up of a sleeve having an open end and a plurality of windows, and the calculator has an insert with a plurality of age values and a plurality of preliminary salary replacement values printed upon it. When the insert is inserted or positioned in the open end of the sleeve, one of the age values is visible through one of the windows on the sleeve. The preliminary salary replacement value corresponding to the visible age value is then visible in another window. The method of computing a total salary replacement value includes the steps of estimating a salary replacement value for social security benefits, estimating the ratio of current retirement savings to current annual pre-tax salary, adjusting the insert of the retirement calculator until one of the age values is present in the one of the windows on the sleeve, obtaining a preliminary salary replacement value for current savings corresponding to the age value and a given interest rate from another window on the sleeve, multiplying the preliminary salary replacement value for current savings by the ratio of current retirement savings to current annual salary to obtain an actual salary replacement value for current savings, estimating the percentage of current annual salary to be contributed to retirement savings in the future, obtaining a preliminary salary replacement value for future contributions corresponding to the age value and a given interest rate from yet another window on the sleeve, multiplying the preliminary salary replacement value for future contributions by the percentage of current annual pre-tax salary to be contributed to retirement savings in the future to obtain an actual salary replacement value for future contributions, adding the salary replacement value for social security benefits to the actual salary replacement value for current savings and to the actual salary replacement value for future contributions to obtain the total salary replacement value.