MonteCarlo calculations

Questions:

I have a dilemma. Hopefully you can help. My investment adviser recently provided me with a retirement plan using another product.

Income, future assets etc. were comparable to what I calculate using RetireWare.

However, for the same scenario, RetireWare is indicating a 100% probability of success. The competing software shows a 14% failure. The adviser recommends up to 10% failure as acceptable.

I assume that both programs should yield generally comparable Monte Carlo results?

Answer:

Please note that there is a setting in the Options page that counts small shortfalls as a success, so by setting the threshold to $0, the probability may go down.

Also note that Naviplan probably uses a different approach for their simulations. For example, they may use only one expected return and volatility, or maybe only fixed income and equities for asset classes. In any case, with such calculations resting heavily on assumptions and methodologies, one may view a 14% failure as equivalent to a 10% failure. Also, since this is the product of an advisor, there is an incentive to err on the conservative side since your success is at stake, so he may be extra careful to recommend higher spending.

One way to assess your plan is to look at the various results produced by the software. You have the odds of success, a deterministic projection based on your selected expected returns (or RetireWare's standard, which is fairly conservative). You also have a projection assuming you earn poor investment returns in the future. Then there is the risk analysis that "stress tests" the plan against the main risks under various economic conditions.

Our idea in making decisions when facing an uncertain future is to take a "holistic" approach. If you see that most indicators are favourable, then you probably are OK.

One last thought. If you find you experience lower than expected returns or higher expenses after a year or two, you are able to correct the course by monitoring your plan and adapting your spending going forward to set you back on solid footing to meet your expenses throughout retirement.

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Written by RetireWare / Equisoft