FAQ
Common questions about BucketSavers.
Is BucketSavers financial advice?
No. BucketSavers is educational software for self-directed research. It does not create an adviser relationship and does not replace a financial planner, tax professional, attorney, accountant, broker, custodian, or fiduciary.
Do my calculator inputs go to a server?
The calculators are designed to run locally in your browser. Plans can be saved as local
.buk files so you control the data.
What is a .buk file?
A .buk file is a BucketSavers plan file. The first version is plain JSON, which
makes it easy to inspect and move between computers. Treat it like any sensitive financial
document.
What makes the Roth conversion calculator different?
Most calculators show the tax bill. BucketSavers also shows the future value of the tax dollars used to pay that bill. That matters whether the taxes are paid from outside funds or withheld from the conversion.
Does the Roth conversion tool calculate my full tax return?
No. Version 1 uses simple federal ordinary-income bracket math and warning messages. It does not calculate state taxes, Social Security taxation, Medicare IRMAA, ACA subsidies, credits, deductions, capital gains interactions, AMT, or NIIT.
Why mention Medicare premiums if the tool does not calculate them?
Because a Roth conversion can increase income for the year, and higher income can affect Medicare premium surcharges. The tool gives a heads-up when that may matter without pretending to model the full Medicare calculation.
Will BucketSavers have subscriptions?
The starting goal is free, privacy-preserving tools. If the site ever uses sponsorships, affiliate links, donations, or paid products, those relationships should be disclosed and should not change calculator results.