Search found 79 matches

by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:55 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Question about percent of expenses funded
Replies: 1
Views: 9200

Re: Question about percent of expenses funded

I am having a hard time getting my arms around the “% of expenses funded” figure and want to see if I’ve got it: The Median Total Withdrawal is the amount, “chosen” during the iterations, where half of the income figures used come in above the amount specified as annual spending and half come in be...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:48 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Are there any planner inputs that don't adjust for inflation
Replies: 1
Views: 6595

Re: Are there any planner inputs that don't adjust for inflation

Most of the additional input values are automatically adjusted for inflation. However there are some "no cola" options on some of the income types that don't adjust for inflation. Also, you could set the inflation rate to 0 if you need to as part of something you're trying to model.
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:43 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Question on taxation of non-retirement portfolio assets
Replies: 3
Views: 12944

Re: Question on taxation of non-retirement portfolio assets

Hello, You are correct that taxable investment gains are taxed each year at the investment tax rate and taxable investment funds are not taxed when they are withdrawn to fund expenses. So yes, a low turnover portfolio will be "overtaxed" until they are withdrawn. Usually, the effect of thi...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:43 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Using the planner to decide on taking social security early
Replies: 2
Views: 12160

Re: Using the planner to decide on taking social security early

To concisely answer your questions: 1) Yes, I think this is a reasonable approach . That being said, it may be that the difference between your two choices is smaller than the "error signal" of the tools you're using. All of these tools are making guesses of the future and in the grand sch...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:37 pm
Forum: Problems installing and running the program
Topic: Blank screen and "Class not found" error launching planner?
Replies: 4
Views: 23429

Re: Blank screen and "Class not found" error launching planner?

It looks like there's something else going on that's interfering with your ability to run the planner. Have you tried updating your version of Java to the latest version? You can get the latest version from this link: http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp Also, if you wouldn't mind telling me what O...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:35 pm
Forum: Problems installing and running the program
Topic: Blank screen and "Class not found" error launching planner?
Replies: 4
Views: 23429

Re: Blank screen and "Class not found" error launching planner?

Thanks for trying the planner. The last time someone reported this symptom it was because their browser's Java permission was set to high safety. The planner will run fine at medium safety, which is the Windows XP default setting. I noticed that your browser is provided by Comcast. Maybe they adjust...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:18 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: A question about "Retirement Income Start Age"
Replies: 2
Views: 8825

Re: A question about "Retirement Income Start Age"

The Retirement Income Start Age is the age when you start receiving the income amount in the above field. It's not related to the Withdrawal amount field (maybe I should put more space between them :) Usually, the retirement income is from a pension or social security and often the retirement income...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:10 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: How to input data for couple with different retirement ages?
Replies: 1
Views: 9889

Re: How to input data for couple with different retirement ages?

If you don't plan to make any withdrawals from your portfolio in the years between when your wife retires and when you retire, you can simply ignore the payments she gets for the interim years. Prior to retirement, the planner doesn't consider your overall income, only the contributions that you mak...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:07 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Should "Retirement Spending" input include expected taxes?
Replies: 1
Views: 7942

Re: Should "Retirement Spending" input include expected taxes?

Thanks for writing about the planner. I assume you are asking about the retirement spending field in your question about taxes. The answer to that is yes, the retirement expenses field should not include taxes. The retirement income field on the main page is assumed to be 100% taxable at the income ...
by admin
Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:04 pm
Forum: General questions and comments
Topic: Can I model a decreased exposure to stocks as I age?
Replies: 3
Views: 12730

Re: Can I model a decreased exposure to stocks as I age?

I do have a question about the Additional Input "Misc. Income". Can this be used to simulate working for the first X years of retirement? Yes it can. You can use it for any type of retirement income. Just be sure to correctly select whether it should be cola'd or not As far as I can tell,...