Sources & Methodology
Financial Quest runs on three kinds of information: official IRS figures, named assumptions, and the numbers you type in. This page shows all three, so you can check any recommendation the quest makes.
The data you give it
There are no accounts, no analytics on your figures, and no server that ever sees them. Everything below is read live from this browser tab, which is the only place it exists.
The official numbers
Every contribution limit in the quest comes from an IRS document, cited below. Projected years are estimates until the IRS publishes official figures (typically each November), and are labeled that way in the app too.
2026
official| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b) employee limit | $24,500 | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| 401(k) catch-up (50+) | $8,000 | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| 401(k) total combined cap | $72,000 | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| IRA limit | $7,500 | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| IRA catch-up (50+) | $1,100 | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| HSA limit (self-only) | $4,400 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 |
| HSA limit (family) | $8,750 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 |
| HSA catch-up (55+) | $1,000 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 |
| HDHP minimum deductible (self) | $1,700 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 |
| HDHP minimum deductible (family) | $3,400 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 |
| Standard deduction (single) | $16,100 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| Standard deduction (married joint) | $32,200 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| Standard deduction (head of household) | $24,150 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
Official IRS figures.
2027
projected| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b) employee limit | $25,500 | ProjectedIRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 baseline) |
| 401(k) catch-up (50+) | $8,000 | ProjectedIRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 baseline) |
| 401(k) total combined cap | $73,500 | ProjectedIRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 baseline) |
| IRA limit | $7,500 | ProjectedIRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 baseline) |
| IRA catch-up (50+) | $1,100 | ProjectedIRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 baseline) |
| HSA limit (self-only) | $4,500 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 |
| HSA limit (family) | $9,000 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 |
| HSA catch-up (55+) | $1,000 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 |
| HDHP minimum deductible (self) | $1,750 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 |
| HDHP minimum deductible (family) | $3,500 | IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24 |
| Standard deduction (single) | $16,550 | ProjectedIRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 baseline) |
| Standard deduction (married joint) | $33,100 | ProjectedIRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 baseline) |
| Standard deduction (head of household) | $24,900 | ProjectedIRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 baseline) |
Mixed year: HSA and HDHP figures are OFFICIAL per Rev. Proc. 2026-24 (May 2026). 401(k), IRA, and standard deduction figures are inflation projections until the IRS announces them (~Nov 2026). Update then.
The assumptions
When the quest estimates a payoff (like "this saves you $1,300 in tax"), the estimate leans on the assumptions below. Each one also appears next to the number it powers, behind the "Show the math" disclosure.
- Assumed federal marginal tax bracket
- Tax-savings estimates for HSA contributions assume the 22% federal bracket. Your actual bracket may differ.
- Assumed bracket for 401(k) max estimates
- People with room to max a 401(k) typically sit in the 24% bracket, so those estimates use 24%.
- FICA payroll tax rate
- 7.65% (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). Payroll HSA contributions also avoid FICA.
- Assumed HYSA interest rate
- A conservative 4.2% APY average across major high-yield savings accounts.
- Expense estimate when you have no budget
- If you do not track expenses, the quest starts from 80% of take-home pay (the 50/30/20 rule's needs + wants).
- Moderate-debt interest assumption
- Payoff plans for 4-7% debt assume a 5% APR, amortized monthly. Only the extra payment above your existing minimum is allocated, since minimums already live in your expense budget.
- Low-interest-debt assumption
- Payoff plans for sub-4% debt assume a 3.5% APR, amortized monthly. Only the extra payment above your existing minimum is allocated.
Why the steps come in this order
The ordering follows one rule: guaranteed returns first, then the most tax-advantaged space, then everything else. An employer match (50-100% instant) beats paying 20% APR debt, which beats a triple-tax-advantaged HSA, which beats an IRA, and so on down to the taxable account. Each step below states its own case.
Foundation · Know your numbers
- 1. Tax yearEvery limit in this quest changes by tax year, so the year comes first.
- 2. IncomeYour monthly take-home pay is the budget the whole quest allocates.
- 3. ExpensesIncome minus expenses is your free cash flow. Everything after this step spends it.
Protect · Guaranteed wins first
- 4. Starter fundOne month of cash keeps a surprise bill from becoming high-interest debt, which would undo every later step.
- 5. Employer matchA match is a 50-100% instant, guaranteed return. Nothing later in the quest can beat it.
- 6. High-interest debtPaying off 20% APR debt is a guaranteed 20% return. Only the match outranks it.
- 7. Full emergency fundWith the fires out, 3-6 months of cash makes every investment after this safe to leave alone.
Grow · Fill the tax shelters
- 8. HSAThe only account that is tax-free going in, growing, and coming out (for medical costs). Triple beats double.
- 9. IRAYour best remaining tax shelter with full control over the investments inside it.
- 10. Moderate debtDebt at 4-7% roughly ties expected market returns, so it slots between the shelters and pure investing.
- 11. Max 401(k)Back to the employer plan to fill the rest of its tax-advantaged space.
Optimize · Every last dollar
- 12. Future goalsMoney you need within 5 years does not belong in the market. Fund near-term goals before long-term investing.
- 13. Education / 529Tax-free growth for education, once your own retirement is on track. Airplane oxygen-mask rules.
- 14. Mega backdoorIf your plan allows it, this unlocks tens of thousands more in Roth space per year.
- 15. Low-interest debtBelow ~4%, investing usually wins the math. Paying it off buys peace, not returns. Your call.
- 16. Taxable accountNo limits, no penalties, full flexibility. The bridge to early retirement takes every remaining dollar.