Question 1

How much should I be saving each month?

Accepted Answer

There's no universal figure, since it depends on your income, outgoings and goals, but common guidance suggests aiming for a meaningful percentage of net income once essential costs are covered. This calculator estimates your likely net take-home pay from your salary and gives you a benchmark savings-rate figure to compare against.

Question 2

Does this financial health check need me to enter all my outgoings?

Accepted Answer

No — it works from your salary alone, using our salary take-home engine to estimate net income, then scores savings rate, pension adequacy and protection gaps from that starting point. It's designed to be quicker than a full budget planner, though a detailed budget will always be more precise if you have the time for one.

Question 3

What counts as an emergency fund and how much do I need?

Accepted Answer

An emergency fund is cash set aside to cover essential expenses if your income stops unexpectedly — commonly discussed in terms of months of expenses covered. This calculator's protection and savings-rate scoring gives you a starting benchmark, though the right amount for you depends on job security, dependants and existing cover.

Question 4

Is this the same as a net worth calculator?

Accepted Answer

Not quite — a net worth calculator totals your assets minus liabilities at a point in time, whereas this tool estimates your net income from salary and scores your ongoing savings rate, pension adequacy and protection cover. It's a financial health check rather than a balance-sheet snapshot.

Permanent Employee Financial Profile Calculator

An instant financial health check from your salary alone

What this calculator estimates

Frequently asked questions