Guide · Forecast
Understanding your forecast
Your forecast shows how your money could change year by year, based on your figures and assumptions.
Each bar shows what you could have at that age, split into money you can spend and wealth tied up in property or possessions.
The line flattens or falls when spending outpaces income and growth. Open a year to see what’s happening.
If some answers are missing, the forecast is a working estimate and tells you what’s left out.
What happens to your spare money?
By default, any money left after tax and spending is added to your savings. If a year falls short, savings, investments and then pensions are used to cover it.
Only income counts as spare money. Sale proceeds, inheritances, borrowing and loans repaid to you are capital, so they are shown separately and never treated as income.
Gifts and charitable donations you add in Planning are paid in the years you choose. A gift you mark as part of your usual spending is not taken off a second time. Money moved between people in your household is not a gift and doesn’t add to household wealth.
Choosing where your spare money goes, such as investments, a bigger pension or paying off your mortgage, is coming. Until then, the forecast keeps adding it to savings.
When there’s no spending or your balances are £0
If your monthly spending is £0, the forecast can’t say whether your money would cover your living costs, so it tells you that no spending is included.
Balances never go below £0 in the forecast. A year that can’t be paid for is shown as a shortfall instead. If every balance is £0 from the start, the forecast says your balances remain at £0 throughout. If they start above £0 and later reach it, it shows the age they reach £0. It only says balances stay above £0 when they do so in every year.
The cash flow chart shows the money used for spending each year. When income, spending and withdrawals are £0 in every year there’s nothing to draw, so the chart says there are no cash movements to display.
Explore in your plan
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FLYNQD provides planning illustrations and general information, not personalised financial advice. Forecasts depend on the figures and assumptions used.