Goal Progress Calculator

How goal progress tracking works

The base formula is straightforward: % completed = (current_value / goal) · 100%. The time-based reference adds a second axis: % planned = (days_elapsed / total_days) · 100%. Dividing one by the other gives the Schedule Performance Index: SPI = % delivered / % planned. SPI below 1 means you are behind schedule; above 1 means ahead. For savings goals where the money also earns interest, the time-to-goal under a single deposit is t = ln(goal / current) / ln(1 + i); with monthly contributions, you solve for PMT in the future-value formula.

A concrete example: emergency fund target of R$ 30,000 (six months of essential expenses at R$ 5,000), starting from R$ 6,000, contributing R$ 1,500 per month at Tesouro Selic yielding roughly 1% per month net of tax. After 12 months you have around R$ 25,000 — about 83% of the goal, on track to hit it near month 15. SMART goal framing helps here: Specific (R$ 30,000), Measurable (monthly balance), Achievable (R$ 1,500 fits the budget), Relevant (covers six months of expenses), Time-bound (18 months).

Real-world applications

Progress tracking applies to building the emergency fund (six months of essential expenses is the consensus baseline), home down payment (typically 20% in Brazil for financing under SFH), retirement under the 25× rule (accumulate 25 times annual expenses, then withdraw 4% per year — the safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study), debt payoff (reverse goal — current balance falling to zero), fitness milestones, study targets and family goals. Visualizing the gap between % delivered and % planned is what separates wishful thinking from execution.

FAQ

How big should my emergency fund be? The common rule is 6 months of essential expenses if your income is variable or your job is volatile, 3 months if both income and job are stable. Park it in instant-liquidity, low-risk vehicles (Tesouro Selic or CDB with daily liquidity).

What is the 4% rule and how is it linked to the 25× rule? The Trinity Study (Cooley, Hubbard, Walz, 1998) found that withdrawing 4% of an inflation-adjusted portfolio per year had a high probability of surviving 30 years. Inverted, accumulating 25× annual expenses gives you that 4% withdrawal — the FIRE community's reference number.

What if I'm behind on my goal? Three levers: increase the monthly contribution, push the deadline out, or accept a lower goal. The SPI quantifies how much each lever needs to move — if SPI is 0.8, you are 20% behind, so either contributions go up ~25% or the deadline extends ~25%.