Disclaimer

Educational Purposes Only

All content on VetFIRE.co - including calculators, projections, articles, and other resources - is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Our goal is to help veterans understand financial concepts and explore hypothetical scenarios.

This disclaimer applies to all calculators and tools on VetFIRE.co, including:

• VetFIRE™ Calculator (FIRE projection)
• VetFIRE™ Pro (premium FIRE projection)
• VetFIRE™ Junior (simplified projection)
• Rating Compensation Calculator
• Emergency Fund Calculator
• Lifetime VA Value Calculator
• 2026 VA Compensation Rates reference

The information presented should not be relied upon as the sole basis for making financial decisions. Every individual's situation is unique, and what works in a hypothetical scenario may not apply to your specific circumstances.

Paid Products Disclaimer

VetFIRE LLC offers certain premium tools, including VetFIRE™ Pro, for a one-time purchase price. Purchasing a paid product does not change the educational nature of our tools. Paid products are subject to all disclaimers on this page and throughout our Terms of Service.

The purchase price reflects access to enhanced educational features - not access to professional financial guidance. You remain solely responsible for all financial decisions, regardless of whether you used a free or paid VetFIRE™ tool.

Not Financial, Legal, or Tax Advice

Our content and tools are not intended to be, and should not be used as:

• Financial planning or investment advice
• Tax planning or tax advice
• Legal advice or guidance
• Recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any securities
• Professional financial planning services
• Retirement planning advice

Always consult qualified professionals - such as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or licensed attorney - before making financial, tax, or legal decisions.

Investment Assumptions

Our calculators use hypothetical investment return assumptions to illustrate potential outcomes. These assumptions are based on historical averages but do not represent actual investment products or guaranteed returns.

Understanding Our Default Assumptions

Calculator Assumptions Explained

Our calculators make simplifying assumptions to provide estimates. Real-world outcomes depend on many factors we cannot predict or model:

• Market volatility: Returns vary significantly year-to-year. A 7% average doesn't mean 7% every year - some years may see +30%, others -40%.
• Sequence of returns risk: When you experience gains and losses matters as much as the average return.
• Taxes: VA disability compensation is currently excluded from gross income under federal law (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(4)). Our calculators treat VA disability income as tax-exempt under current law. Other income sources (employment, investments) are subject to applicable taxes. Your actual tax situation may significantly impact results.
• Fees: Investment fees reduce returns. We don't model specific fee structures.
• Life changes: Health, family, employment, and other life events affect financial outcomes in ways we cannot predict.
• Legislative changes: VA benefit rates, tax laws, and other regulations may change.
• Retirement account modeling: Our Pro calculator models Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) using IRS Uniform Lifetime Table III divisors under SECURE Act 2.0 rules (RMD age 73 for those born 1951–1959; age 75 for those born 1960 or later). This is a simplified model — it does not account for joint life expectancy tables, qualified charitable distributions, Roth conversion strategies, or individual RMD calculations that may differ from the Uniform table. Spouse and primary retirement accounts are merged into a single balance for modeling purposes.
• Withdrawal methodology: Post-FIRE projections use a gap-based withdrawal model where portfolio withdrawals cover only the shortfall between income sources and spending needs, subject to safe withdrawal rate caps. This is a simplification — actual withdrawal strategies may include guardrails, dynamic spending rules, or bucket approaches that differ from our model.
• Tax on withdrawals: Brokerage withdrawals are taxed using a simplified average cost basis method for long-term capital gains. Retirement account withdrawals use a blended Roth/pretax fraction. Actual tax treatment depends on specific lot identification, short- vs. long-term holding periods, state taxes, and other factors not modeled here.
• Hypothetical investment projections: Some calculators (such as Lifetime VA Value) include an optional projection showing what may happen if VA compensation were invested over time. These projections use simplified assumptions (default 7% annual return before inflation) and do not account for taxes on investment gains, individual risk tolerance, specific investment vehicles, or timing of contributions. They are purely hypothetical illustrations and should not be interpreted as investment recommendations.

Past Performance Disclaimer

Historical market returns are used for illustration purposes only. The stock market has historically provided positive long-term returns, but:

• Past returns do not predict future returns
• Markets can decline significantly and remain down for extended periods
• Some investors lose money even in rising markets due to timing, fees, or behavior
• Historical data may not reflect future economic conditions

Any projections shown are hypothetical illustrations only. Actual investment results will vary and may be substantially different from projections.

VA Affiliation Disclaimer

VetFIRE LLC is a private company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to:

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• The U.S. federal government
• Any state or local government agency
• Any military branch or service

VA disability compensation rates and benefit information shown on this site are based on publicly available data from VA.gov. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee the information is current or complete. Always verify benefit information directly with the VA.

Links to VA.gov are provided for convenience. We have no control over the content, availability, or accuracy of external websites.

VA Claims Warning

Our Rating Compensation Calculator shows the financial impact of different disability ratings for educational purposes only. This information is:

• Not a recommendation to file or increase a claim
• Not medical or legal advice about your specific conditions
• Not a guarantee of any particular rating or benefit amount

VA disability ratings are determined by medical evidence of service-connected conditions evaluated according to VA regulations. If you believe you are entitled to a higher rating based on legitimate medical evidence, consult with:

• An accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
• A VA-accredited claims agent or attorney
• Your VA regional office

VA Rating Reductions

All calculators on VetFIRE.co assume your current VA disability rating remains constant over the projection period. In reality:

• Ratings under 100% that have been in effect for fewer than 5 years may be reduced if a re-examination shows improvement
• Ratings in effect for 5 or more years are subject to additional protections but can still be reduced under certain circumstances
• Ratings in effect for 20 or more years generally cannot be reduced below the lowest rating held during that period
• Only ratings classified as "permanent and total" (P&T) by the VA are protected from routine re-examination

Our calculators are designed to show you what is mathematically possible based on the inputs you provide. They are not a basis for making financial decisions. A rating reduction would significantly change any projection shown by our calculators. Do not assume your rating will remain unchanged unless the VA has classified it as permanent.

If you have questions about the stability of your rating, consult with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or a VA-accredited attorney.

Accuracy & Reliability

While we strive to provide accurate information and calculations, we make no warranties or guarantees about:

• The accuracy, completeness, or reliability of calculator results
• The currentness of VA benefit rates or other data
• The suitability of any information for your specific situation
• The availability or functionality of our website

Calculator results should be considered rough estimates for educational purposes only. Important figures should be verified with official sources and qualified professionals.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, VetFIRE LLC and its owners, operators, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for:

• Any financial losses resulting from reliance on our calculators or content
• Any decisions made based on information from this website
• Errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in our content or calculations
• Any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of data, profits, or business opportunities

You use this website and its tools entirely at your own risk. You are solely responsible for your financial decisions and their outcomes.

This website is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

Questions About This Disclaimer

If you have questions about this disclaimer or our content, please contact us:

VetFIRE LLC (Entity #14659944-0160)
386 W 500 S
P.O. Box 2053, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Email: legal@vetfire.co