Help & answers.
Everything you need to get the most out of the calculator and the Southbound app. If your question isn't here, we're one email away.
Using the plan
How does the calculator work?
You enter your age, your account balances, your Social Security estimate, and any expected windfalls. It then models the earliest year you could retire, a phase-by-phase withdrawal strategy (brokerage first, IRA at 59½, Social Security last), a Roth-conversion ladder, and the cost of living in your chosen destination — scaled to your household.
Is this financial or tax advice?
No. Southbound is an educational planning tool, not financial, tax, investment, immigration, or legal advice, and using it creates no advisory relationship. Projections assume a steady annual return with no market crashes, fees, or changes in tax law, and cost-of-living figures are researched estimates, not quotes. Before acting, talk to a CPA or a fee-only fiduciary advisor who can see your whole picture.
How accurate are the numbers?
They're a clear, honest baseline — not a guarantee. The model uses current US federal tax brackets and standard deductions and ignores state tax, ACA subsidies, IRMAA surcharges, and detailed cost-basis tracking. For your Social Security figures, enter the three amounts from your own ssa.gov Statement rather than guessing.
Does it work in Spanish?
Yes — both the calculator and the app include an English/Español toggle for the interface and navigation.
The app & your purchase
What does the app cost?
The core app and the "can I afford it, and when" answer are free. The full plan — the Roth ladder, lifetime tax analysis, the complete year-by-year ledger, scenario levers, and PDF export — is a one-time $24.99 purchase. No subscription; it's yours forever.
I paid but the full plan isn't unlocked. How do I restore it?
Open the app's Settings (the gear on the Plan screen) and tap Restore purchase, or find "Restore" on the paywall. Your unlock is tied to your Apple Account and restores free on any device signed into it. Make sure you're signed into the same Apple Account you bought it with.
Can I get a refund?
App Store purchases are handled by Apple, so refunds go through them — visit reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, and request a refund for Southbound. If something went wrong on our end, email us first and we'll help.
How do I start over or clear my data?
In the app, go to Settings → Reset everything & start over (or "Erase all my data" on the Privacy screen) to wipe your inputs and re-run the walkthrough. Your Full Plan purchase is not affected. Deleting the app removes all your data too.
Is my information private?
Yes. There's no account and no cloud — your plan is stored only on your device, and your financial figures are never sent to us. See the Privacy Policy for the details, including the two harmless network calls the app makes (destination photos and Apple purchases).
Something else
I found a bug or have a feature idea.
We'd love to hear it — email jcamber@yahoo.com with what you saw (and your device/iOS version for bugs) and we'll take a look.