Financial Calculator Update 6/30/2003
The quarterly update for 06/30/2003 is a large update, affecting many calculators, however most of the updated items are optional changes to definitions and other non-calculation items.
If you have not updated your calculators in a while you should definitely refresh you existing documents with the new ones. All updates are cumulative, so if you start fresh with this update you will have all previous calculator updates as well. If you would like you can review our 6/30/2003 update: 6/30/2003 Update. (The 6/30/2003 update includes all changes included in previous updates, you do not need to download any other updates to have the most current versions of all of the calculator components.)
Update instructions:
- Download the latest version of your calculators from your download site, found on your update e-mail notice.
- Execute the Calc.exe file from your download. This is a self-extracting zip file. (Or unzip the Calc.zip file if you are using a non-windows platform.)
- When prompted for a directory, you may use the default of "java" or enter your own. It is recommended that you extract the update to a new directory and then move the required files to your production environment. One directory will be created. It will have three subdirectories.
- Replace the contents of your current KJEgui, KJEgraph and KJEcalculation directories with the new version
- Replace your current dinkytown.jar file with the new version
- Replace all files with the extension "class" with the new versions
- Make required changes to any HTML documents as describe later in this document or replace all of your existing HTML documents and reapply your web-site custom changes.
If you have NOT made any changes to the HTML Files used in your deployment you can simply replace all HTML files with the new versions in your download. If you have made changes to your HTML files, please review the changes below.
To clear your Browser's cache:
When you test the new version of the calculators, make sure that the browser you are using uses the new files instead of any it may have in its cache. You may need to clear the browser's cache manually to ensure the new versions are loaded.
Internet Explorer:
Chose "Internet Options" under the "Tools" menu and on the "General" tab click on the "Delete Files�" button.
Netscape:
Chose "Prefrences�" under the "Edit" menu. Click on the "Advanced" category and then "Cache" option which appears under it. Click the "Clear Memory Cache" button, then click the "Clear Disk Cache" button.)
Master Changes (HTML Modification required, affects all calculators)
- None
Master Changes (no HTML changes required, affects all calculators)
- Reporting with Netscape 6 (all platforms) and IE for the Mac has been improved to provide a more flexible format when the applet HTML viewer is used. No other browsers or operating systems are affected by this change.
Updates that require modifications to HTML documents
- Payroll Deductions: Payroll.html has been updated to include the changes required by �The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003�. The definitions and description contained in Payroll.html have been updated to reflect these changes. The Java� class PayrollCalc.class for this calculator has also been updated to use the new rate tables.
- 1040 Tax Calculator: Tax1040.html has been updated to the new rules passed in the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003". This includes the description, definitions, and the report. It is recommended that you reapply format changes to the new Tax1040.html and deploy the new calculator.
- 1040 EZ Tax Calculator: TaxEZ1040.html has been updated to the new rules passed in the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003". This includes the description, definitions, and the report. It is recommended that you reapply format changes to the new TaxEZ1040.html and deploy the new calculator.
- Marginal and Effective Tax Rates: TaxMargin.html has been updated to the new rules passed in the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003". This includes the description, definitions, and the report. It is recommended that you reapply format changes to the new TaxMargin.html and deploy the new calculator.
- Default tax income tax rate of 27% has been changed to 25%: This reflects the rate change for "The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003" in the following calculators:
Calculator HTML File Affected Updated Parameter Variable Annuity Annuity.html <PARAM name="CURRENT_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Auto Loan vs Home Equity Loan AutoEquityLoan.html <PARAM name="FED_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Emergency Savings Calculator Emergency.html <PARAM name="FED_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Debt Consolidation Consolidate.html <PARAM name="INCOME_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Biz Debt Consolidation BizConsolidate.html Consolidate.html <PARAM name="INCOME_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Loan & Credit Line Tax Savings LineTaxes.html <PARAM name="FEDERAL_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Mortgage Refinance Breakeven MortgageRefinance.html <PARAM name="INCOME_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Mortgage comparison: 15 years vs. 30 years MortgageCompare.html <PARAM name="MARGINAL_TAX_RATE" value="25.00"> Rent vs. Buy MortgageRentvsBuy.html <PARAM name="TAX_RATE" value="25"> Mortgage Tax Saving Calculator MortgageTaxes.html <PARAM name="FEDERAL_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Traditional IRA Calculator RegularIRA.html <PARAM name="CURRENT_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Retirement Income Calculator RetirementIncome.html <PARAM name="CURRENT_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Retirement Shortfall Calculator RetireShort.html <PARAM name="FED_TAX_RATE" value="25"> 401(k) Spend It or Save It Calculator Rollover401k.html <PARAM name="FEDERAL_TAX" value="25.00"> Roth IRA Calculator RothIRA.html <PARAM name="MARGINAL_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Roth IRA Conversion Calculator RothTransfer.html <PARAM name="TAX_RATE" value="25"> <PARAM name="TAX_RATE_INVEST" value="15"> Which is better: a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA? RothvsRegular.html <PARAM name="CURRENT_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Savings, Taxes and Inflation SavingsVariables.html <PARAM name="FED_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Benefit of Spending Less SpendLess.html <PARAM name="FEDERAL_TAX_RATE" value="25"> Investment Returns InvestmentReturn.html <PARAM name="TAX_RATE" value="15"> - OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENT: Mortgage ARM vs. Fixed: MortgageArmvsFixed.html. New functionality has been added to display the breakeven point for a Fixed rate mortgage vs. the ARM. To have this new message appear you can either reapply your changes to MortgageArmvsFixed.html or add the following HTML code to the MortgageArmvsFixed.html document:
<TR><TD colspan=3>BREAK_EVEN_NOTE*<P>*This only applies to the Fully Amortizing ARM vs. Fixed Rate Mortgage.</TD></TR>
This should be placed immediately after the line:
<TR><TD><b>Payment savings for five years</b></TD><TD>SAVINGS_ARM_FIVE_YEAR</TD><TD>SAVINGS_IO_FIVE_YEAR</TD></TR>
- OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS: Minor changes have been made to the definitions of the following calculators. These changes are for better readability and do not affect the overall functionality of the calculator.
Estate Tax Planning EstatePlan.html How much do you owe? DebtAmount.html Rolldown your Credit Card debt! DebtRolldown.html Credit Card Payoff PayoffCC.html Credit Card Optimizer CardOptimizer.html Consolidation Loan Investment Calculator InvestmentDebt.html Auto Lease vs. Buy BuyvsLease.html Home Equity vs. Auto Loan AutoEquityLoan.html Net Worth Calculator NetWorth.html Checkbook Balancer CheckBook.html Long Term Care Calculator LongtermCare.html Life Expectancy Calculator LifeTime.html Rent vs. Buy MortgageRentvsBuy.html Mortgage Points Calculator MortgagePoints.html Mortgage Tax Savings Calculator MortgageTaxes.html Mortgage Required Income MortgageIncome.html Maximum Mortgage MortgageMaximum.html Stock Option Calculator StockOptions.html Annual Stock Option Grants StockGrants.html Investment Returns InvestmentReturn.html Investment Loan InvestmentLoan.html Future Contracts Calculator FutureContracts.html Retirement Planner RetirementPlan.html Retirement Pension Planner RetirementPlan3.html Retirement Income Calculator RetirementIncome.html Roth vs. Traditional IRA RothvsRegular.html Roth IRA Calculator RothIRA.html Traditional IRA Calculator RegularIRA.html Roth IRA Conversion RothTransfer.html Variable Annuity Calculator Annuity.html How important is Social Security? NoSocial.html 401(k) Savings Calculator Retire401k.html 72T Calculator Retire403b.html Require Minimum Distributions RetireDistrib.html Beneficiary Required Minimum Distributions RetireBeneficiary.html 403(b) Savings Calculator Retire403b.html Retirement Shortfall Calculator RetireShort.html Pension Plan Retirement Options PensionOptions.html 401(k) Spend it or Save it Calculator Rollover401k.html College Savings CollegeSavings.html Savings Goal Savings.html Savings Calculator CompoundSavings.html Savings, Taxes and Inflation SavingsVariables.html Cool Million Millionaire.html Compound Interest CompoundInterest.html Emergency Savings Calculator Emergency.html Benefit of Spending Less SpendLess.html Lunch Savings Calculator LunchSaver.html Don't Delay Your Savings! WaitCost.html Savings Distribution Calculator DistribSavings.html Inventory Analysis Inventory.html Cash Flow Calculator CashFlow.html Working Capital Needs Capital.html Business Debt Consolidation Calculator BizConsolidate.html Equipment Buy vs. Lease BizBuyvsLease.html Alternative Payment Frequencies ComplexLoan.html Debt Consolidation Calculator Consolidate.html Line of Credit Payoff PayoffLine.html Equity Line of Credit Payments PaymentLine.html Loan Prequalification Calculator LoanPrequal.html
Updates that require do not require to HTML documents
- 403(b) Calculator: Retire403b.html. Maximum employee contribution has been increased to 50% of salary. Amounts over 20% can now be entered directly into the data entry field for contribution.
- Mortgage Points Calculator: MortgagePoints. class. Number of mortgage points purchased may now be entered as a negative number to indicate a rebate. If a negative number is entered for the number of points, the mortgage rate should be (but is not considered required to be) higher. The mortgage balance for the Mortgage without points will be higher by the rebate amount.
- Mortgage Qualifier Calculator: MortgageQualifier. class. Small rounding error has been addressed where a very small ending balance may remained after the final payment of the loan has been made. All loan balances now correctly end at $0.00 after the term of the loan has expired. This did not affect the qualifying amount calculation, only the last payment on the amortization schedule was occasionally affected.
- Savings Distribution Calculator: DistribSavings. class. Error on the slider for amounts under $100,000 has been corrected.
- Social Security: SocialSecurity.class has been improved to provide better viewing with the SUN Java� Plugin 1.4.