SmartHelping / Retirement Income Planning / Excel
Retirement Income Planner
Compare projected investment income with the expenses you expect to cover in retirement. Build a 50-year forecast using annual yields, tax rates, and inflation, under the assumption that principal stays untouched and investment income funds living expenses.
Immediate download after purchase. By purchasing, you agree to the Terms of Service.
Video walkthrough & spreadsheet preview
See how the investment and expense assumptions fit together.
Review the walkthrough and screenshots to follow the retirement income calculations and the effect of inflation.
Investments, income & living costs
Build the plan around the income your investments could produce.
Adjust the assumptions to explore the investment amounts and yields needed to cover your planned expenses over time.
Up to 20 investment entries
Enter each investment's description, invested amount, start month, and assumed annual dividend or distribution yield.
Tax rate by investment
Enter an income tax rate for each investment to estimate the income available after taxes.
Up to 22 expense lines
Enter planned monthly living costs with start and end months, allowing different expenses to apply during different parts of the forecast.
Forecast timing & inflation
Set the first investment month and the expected inflation rate used over the 50-year forecast.
An income-based retirement scenario
Compare income with expenses while keeping principal unchanged in the model.
The model assumes that dividends or other investment income are used for living expenses and are not reinvested.
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Enter the investment assumptions
Use the yellow input cells to define investment amounts, start months, annual distribution yields, and tax rates.
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Set the expense and inflation assumptions
Enter monthly living costs, their start and end months, and the inflation assumption used in the forecast.
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Review income coverage over time
Compare projected earnings with planned expenses and see when the forecast indicates that income may no longer be enough.
Core model assumption
Principal remains untouched. Investment income funds living expenses.
This is a model of spending the income generated by investments while leaving the principal unchanged. Income is not compounded through reinvestment, and principal withdrawals are not used to cover an income shortfall.
Income coverage & purchasing power
Review cash flow before and after the inflation adjustment.
See how projected after-tax income compares with planned expenses and how inflation changes that income's buying power.
Monthly & annual detail
Review investment income, taxes, planned expenses, and remaining cash flow across the 50-year monthly and annual schedules.
Ten-year summary
Use the summary table to review the first ten years of income, expenses including taxes, and free cash flow.
Inflation-adjusted income
The model adjusts after-tax income for cumulative inflation, then compares that adjusted amount with planned expenses to show the resulting surplus or shortfall.
Three cash flow charts
Review monthly free cash flow, annual free cash flow, and inflation-adjusted annual free cash flow in the summary charts.
Questions before you buy
A few useful details.
How long is the forecast?
The model includes 50 years of monthly and annual projections, plus a summary table for the first ten years and cash flow charts.
How many investments and expenses can I enter?
The template has 20 investment entries and 22 expense lines. Investments have start months, and expenses have start and end months.
What kind of retirement plan does this model?
It models investments that produce annual income, with that income used for living expenses and principal left untouched.
Does the model reinvest the income?
No. Dividends or other income generated by the investments are assumed to be used for living expenses rather than reinvested.
How does it account for inflation?
It adjusts after-tax investment income for cumulative inflation and compares that amount with planned expenses. The resulting cash flow view shows the effect on purchasing power under the entered inflation assumption.
Can investments have different tax effects and yields?
Yes. The model includes assumptions for investments with different annual yields and tax effects.
Can I model spending down the principal?
This template assumes principal remains untouched. It focuses on whether investment income can cover expenses under that assumption.
How do I get the template?
The Excel template is available to download immediately after the $45 one-time purchase.
Plan retirement income in Excel
Connect investment income to the expenses it needs to cover.
Get the Retirement Income Planner. Have a question? Contact SmartHelping.
