1. You enter your numbers
Every tool starts with your specific inputs — your pay stub values, your debt balance, your monthly income and spending. We don't pull from your bank account, ask for your tax ID, or assume anything about you that you didn't tell us.
2. We calculate using published reference data
The math behind each tool uses authoritative public sources:
- Federal income tax: IRS Publication 15-T (the same percentage method employers use).
- FICA: SSA wage-base announcements + IRS Publication 15.
- State income tax + state disability: each state's Department of Revenue or equivalent withholding publication.
- Debt amortization: the standard formula used across consumer credit products.
Every result page cites which source produced the number and the date the source data was last verified. If you ever wonder “where did this $X come from?” — the result page tells you.
3. We explain the result in plain language
Each tool presents the headline numbers up top (per paycheck, per month) and provides a “how we got there” breakdown showing every deduction line. Notes on the result call out edge cases relevant to your situation (e.g. additional Medicare withholding above $200K, or local-tax exclusions for your state).
4. We route you to a logical next step
Tools are connected. The Cash Flow Lens pre-fills your monthly income from your most recent Paycheck Snapshot. If your debt payments dominate your cash flow, the Cash Flow Lens points you to the Debt Clock. Decision-making is iterative; the tools are designed to support that, not to be standalone calculators.
5. We don't tell you what to do
You'll never see “we recommend,” “best option for you,” or “you should” on Aplomia. That's a deliberate constraint — we're a decision-support layer, not an advisor. We show you the numbers and what they mean; you make the call.
6. We don't collect what we don't need
No Social Security number. No bank account. No address. No full name. The only personal information we accept is your email — and only if you choose to receive your result. See our Privacy Policy for the full picture.
Annual updates
Tax brackets and rates change every year. Our calc engine ships with a per-year data directory (ty2025, ty2026, etc.) so the diff between years is visible in our code review and the “last verified” date on each tool reflects the most recent check.