Scenarios
A scenario is one set of assumptions written down so you can look at it twice. Change a single input and the same assumptions produce a different picture.
The examples on this page hold everything steady except one lever at a time, which is what makes them useful to compare.
Read the columns across the same rows. Projected balance, monthly income and the gap or surplus are calculated with identical assumptions, so the difference you see comes from the lever you moved, not from the tool.
When a projection shows a gap, treat it as a signal to consider further planning, not a crisis. The comparison table is the fastest place to spot which lever moves your number most, and the planning notes suggest what to do next.
Example scenarios
Every column below starts from the same inputs so you can see how a single change moves the projected balance at 65. All projections are hypothetical and not guarantees of future results.
| Metric | Current path | Save +$500/mo | Retire 2 years later |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected balance at 65 | $412,000 | $546,800 | $498,300 |
| Monthly income at 65 | $2,180 | $2,845 | $2,610 |
| Estimated gap or surplus | -$620/mo | +$45/mo | -$190/mo |
| Years of income covered | 18.5 | 24.2 | 22.6 |
| Balance needed for goal | $562,000 | $562,000 | $562,000 |
Assumptions held constant: 6% average annual return, 2.5% inflation, contributions continuing to age 65. Change them on the assumptions page, or run your own figures in the savings gap simulator. This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Planning Tips
Change the monthly contribution, rerun, then change the retirement age. Two levers at once make it hard to tell which one moved the projected balance at 65.
Start from today's spending rather than a round number. A target that is clearly too high produces a surplus gap that is easy to dismiss.
Note the return rate, inflation and years of contribution you used. Scenarios only mean something when the assumptions behind them stay visible.
Rebuild the same three scenarios every few months. Small, steady differences between runs are the useful signal.
A gap is a signal to consider further planning, not a crisis. Open the simulator and test the numbers yourself.
Next step
The planner runs in your browser. Set current savings, monthly contribution, and target retirement income, then read the projected gap or surplus at 65 side by side with the example scenarios on this page.