Back to Help PageThe Two-Stage Journey
Stage 1: Define Your Vision (Lifestyle Goals Planner)
Discover your archetype, explore curated goals, and build your personal Lifestyle Blueprint. This is the dreaming stage - no numbers required, just possibilities.
Stage 2: Build Your Financial Plan (10-Module Planning Wizard)
Now it's time to translate your vision into practical numbers and see your complete 25-year retirement projection. The wizard takes you through 10 simple modules:
Modules 1-6: Your Financial Picture
These modules capture your current situation and retirement plans:
· Core Assumptions: Your age, planned retirement date, and basic parameters
· Lifestyle Baseline: How much annual income you'll need (using research-backed benchmarks or your own estimate)
· DC Pensions: Your workplace and personal pension pots
· DB Pensions: Any final salary or career average pensions
· Savings & Investments: ISAs and other savings that will supplement your income
· Other Income: Rental income, part-time work, or other sources
You can complete all these modules in one sitting, or return later - your progress saves automatically, even if you don't sign in. We do recommend signing in however so that you can access your progress securely from any device.
Module 7: Your Position At Retirement
This is where it comes together. Based on everything you've entered, you'll see:
· Your total assets at retirement (pensions, savings, investments)
· Your projected annual income (from all sources)
· Your target spending (from Module 2)
· Whether you'll have a surplus or shortfall
Interactive sliders let you explore "what if" scenarios: what happens if you retire a year later? What if you increase your pension contributions? What if markets perform better or worse than expected?
Module 8: Life Events
Add the experiences and purchases you don't want to miss - bucket list trips, home improvements, helping family with house deposits. These one-off or recurring expenses show up in your projection so you can plan for them properly.
Module 9: Drawdown Sequencing
Configure how you'll draw on your assets during retirement. The calculator automatically applies a tax-efficient sequence (drawing from pensions, then taxable savings, then ISAs), but you can adjust the strategy to suit your preferences.
Module 10: Your 25-Year Projection
See your entire retirement mapped out, year by year. This detailed projection shows:
· How your pension pots, ISAs, and savings evolve over 25 years
· Your income and spending each year
· When (and if) any assets run out
· The impact of life events on your finances
The table view shows every detail; the charts give you the big picture at a glance. You can export everything to spreadsheet format for deeper analysis.
Important note: All financial figures are estimates based on multiple assumptions over many years. Projections are guidance, not guarantees, and should not be considered financial advice. Always consult a regulated financial adviser when you're unsure or contemplating significant changes to your arrangements.