Check your inputs and understand model limits

Resolve uncertain inputs that could change your decision

Review inputs after a material household change and before relying on a result to change retirement timing, saving, spending or benefits. If an unknown benefit or estimated expense could change your choice, establish a useful estimate and test plausible alternatives. An intentional zero should describe a source fact you have checked.

Use Plan Editor to correct the affected inputs, then refresh analyses that depend on them. Dashboard Action Items identifies unknown or unconfirmed saved inputs; general calculation boundaries are explained here and beside relevant comparisons. Confirming an input records your source review and does not make a future outcome certain.

Review inputs and model suitability before a decision

Review the saved inputs in Plan Editor after a material change or before relying on a retirement, claiming, conversion or legacy comparison. Keep useful estimates in the plan and test alternatives when an uncertain input could change your choice. This review does not certify completeness or prevent analysis. Variable Sweeps, Compare Strategies and Coast FI also show relevant model checks beside the comparison.

Unknown means an amount has not been established; a zero placeholder is not evidence that the cost or benefit is absent. Estimate means a useful approximation. Confirmed input records your source review, not certainty about the future. Intentional zero means you confirmed that no own-worker benefit is expected; any modeled spouse benefit is separate. In Income & Benefits, set each person’s Social Security input status separately from the amount. Older zero values without that evidence need confirmation. When an amount changes, review its status again; confirmation of a different amount no longer applies.

Estimated balances and allocation remain estimates until refined. Review spending, planning horizon, growth and inflation as assumptions, even when they are saved. Healthcare zero values need your review; the model cannot infer free coverage from zero.

While saving or working, verify gross pay, household versus employer deposits, eligible pretax treatment, affordability and take-home cash. The model funds contributions but does not calculate contribution limits, matching formulas, eligibility phaseouts or payroll taxes. Own Traditional IRA withdrawals before 59½ include the 10% additional tax on taxable amounts; Roth conversions are excluded. Before early retirement, inspect bridge funding, workplace-plan access, other exceptions, Roth basis and seasoning.

Before Medicare, enter net premiums after employer payments and subsidies. ACA credits and reconciliation are not calculated; recheck the premium when retirement, claiming or conversion changes income. For taxable sales and conversions, reconcile brokerage basis and the combined after-tax basis of each person’s own Traditional IRAs. Enter each part of the IRA basis total only once. Average-basis sales do not select tax lots. Modeled portfolio gains, dividends, taxable interest and nonqualified annuity income participate in NIIT; passive rental/business classification and complete Form 8960 adjustments remain outside this subset. Itemizing, AMT and full state rules require separate review.

For legacy decisions, the estimate covers after-tax financial accounts, with property and liabilities separate. Recorded trusts, titles and insurance proceeds do not calculate legal distribution, transfer taxes or complete insurance contracts. Compare the result with actual beneficiary records, legal documents and policy terms.