Review data and run the TIME MACHINE

Before a TIME MACHINE run, a preflight check looks for missing or inconsistent information that could prevent the financial plan from being calculated correctly.

If required information is missing, this page identifies the area that needs attention. Follow the links provided, or return to the Dashboard to review the relevant entries. The TIME MACHINE cannot run until any blocking problems have been corrected. Other notices may recommend reviewing information without preventing a run.

Quick start: For a first run, select Run TIME MACHINE. When it finishes, explore the reports to see how the information entered throughout the MoneyReady App is used to create the financial plan.

Once the preflight check passes, select the simulation tool to run. There are eight main tools:

  1. Run TIME MACHINE: Project the current scenario from today into the future.
  2. Run TIME MACHINE with Market Crashes: Apply the market-crash scenario configured in RATES/YIELDS/CURRENCIES. If no crash scenario has been configured, a link is provided to set one up.
  3. Run TIME MACHINE with one Market Model Simulation: Run the scenario once using simulated market returns. If no Market Model has been configured, a link is provided to set one up.
  4. CHOOSE YOUR LEGACY: Determine how expenses could be adjusted to avoid cash-flow problems while leaving the desired liquid legacy.
  5. TIME MACHINE + WITHDRAWAL OPTIMIZER: Run the TIME MACHINE and optimize withdrawals from accounts in retirement. It is often useful to run the regular TIME MACHINE first so the results can be compared.
  6. CPP/QPP and WITHDRAWAL OPTIMIZER: Find the optimal age to begin CPP or QPP, and optimize retirement withdrawals. This option is shown only when applicable.
  7. Run 100+ Market Model Simulations: Examine sequence-of-returns risk by running many random Market Model simulations. Spending guardrails are applied when required.
  8. Parameter SCAN: Compare results while varying the values or dates of entries in the scenario. Pre-built SCANS are also available.

The optional Year Check-in

Paid subscribers can launch the current year’s Year Check-in directly from this page. It combines an estimate of the period from January 1 through today with the TIME MACHINE projection from today through December 31. Additional year-to-date information can then be entered to improve the elapsed-year results.

During the free trial, a regular TIME MACHINE run comes first so that the plan from today onward and its standard reports can be explored before adding the more advanced elapsed-year analysis. The Year Check-in then becomes available from those reports at no additional cost. Improving that Check-in will not use another trial run as long as the underlying scenario has not changed.

Run TIME MACHINE, Run TIME MACHINE with Market Crashes, and Run TIME MACHINE with one Market Model Simulation are available during the free trial. The other advanced simulation tools require a paid subscription. Some tools require many TIME MACHINE calculations and can take considerably longer than a single run. A progress bar is provided while they run.