Your RetirePro Dashboard
RetirePro displays dozens of metrics, charts, and projections. This guide explains exactly what each one means and how to use it for better retirement planning.
Core Metrics
Retirement Age
The age when you plan to stop working full-time and begin drawing down your savings.
How it's used: Determines when you shift from accumulation to withdrawal mode, when Social Security might begin, and how many years your money needs to last.
Tip: Try adjusting this ±2-3 years to see the impact on your success rate.
Life Expectancy
How long you're planning for your money to last.
How it's used: The longer you plan, the more you need saved. This affects withdrawal rate calculations and Monte Carlo simulations.
Tip: Plan to at least 90. Women should consider 95. Having money "left over" is better than running out.
Current Savings
Your total retirement savings across all accounts.
Includes: 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage accounts, and other investment accounts.
Doesn't include: Home equity, cars, or other non-liquid assets (unless you plan to sell them).
Annual Contribution
How much you're adding to retirement accounts per year.
Includes: Your 401(k) contributions, IRA contributions, and brokerage deposits.
Also include: Employer match—this is part of your total annual addition.
Results Tab Metrics
Monthly Retirement Income
Your projected monthly income during retirement from all sources.
Includes:
- Social Security benefits
- Pension payments
- Portfolio withdrawals
- Rental income
- Annuity payments
- Any other income sources
Portfolio Withdrawal Rate
The percentage of your portfolio you're withdrawing annually.
| Withdrawal Rate | Sustainability |
|---|---|
| 3.0% or less | Very safe |
| 3.5-4.0% | Generally safe (classic 4% rule) |
| 4.5-5.0% | Higher risk |
| 5.0%+ | Potentially unsustainable |
Calculation: Annual portfolio withdrawal ÷ Portfolio value at retirement
Success Rate (Monte Carlo)
The percentage of 1,000 simulated market scenarios where your money lasted through your planned retirement.
Target: 85% or higher
What affects it:
- Withdrawal rate (biggest factor)
- Asset allocation
- Retirement length
- Guaranteed income sources
Years of Money Remaining
In the median scenario, how many years your portfolio lasts.
What you want: This number should exceed your life expectancy.
Warning sign: If this is close to or less than your life expectancy, your success rate will be low.
Social Security Metrics
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)
Your monthly Social Security benefit if you claim at Full Retirement Age (FRA).
Where to find it: Your Social Security statement at ssa.gov
Full Retirement Age (FRA)
The age when you receive 100% of your PIA.
| Birth Year | FRA |
|---|---|
| 1943-1954 | 66 |
| 1955-1959 | 66 + months |
| 1960+ | 67 |
Claiming Age Adjustment
Social Security adjusts your benefit based on when you claim:
- Claim early (62): Reduced ~6-7% per year before FRA
- Claim at FRA: 100% of PIA
- Delay past FRA: Increased 8% per year until 70
Estimated Monthly Benefit
Your projected Social Security based on your chosen claiming age.
Calculation: PIA × adjustment factor for claiming age
Portfolio Metrics
Asset Allocation
The mix of investments in your portfolio.
Typical categories:
- Stocks (domestic and international)
- Bonds (government and corporate)
- Cash/Money market
- Real estate (REITs)
- Alternative investments
Expected Return
The assumed annual growth rate for your portfolio.
Typical assumptions:
- Aggressive (80%+ stocks): 7-8%
- Moderate (60/40): 6-7%
- Conservative (40% stocks): 4-5%
Important: These are long-term averages. Individual years vary wildly.
Inflation Rate
The assumed annual increase in prices/cost of living.
Default: 2.5-3%
Historical average: ~3% over the past 100 years
How it's used: Your retirement expenses increase by this rate each year.
Income Sources
Guaranteed Income
Income that arrives regardless of market performance:
- Social Security
- Pension payments
- Annuity payments
Why it matters: More guaranteed income = lower dependence on portfolio = higher success rate.
Portfolio Income
Withdrawals from your investment accounts.
Calculation: Your expenses minus guaranteed income = what your portfolio must provide.
Total Retirement Income
The sum of all income sources:
- Social Security
- Pension
- Portfolio withdrawals
- Rental income
- Part-time work
- Annuities
- Other
Expense Metrics
Annual Retirement Expenses
What you expect to spend per year in retirement.
Rule of thumb: Most people spend 70-80% of their pre-retirement income.
But consider:
- Healthcare costs increase
- Mortgage may be paid off
- Kids are independent
- Travel may increase (early retirement)
- Later years often see reduced spending
Essential vs. Discretionary
Some planners split expenses into:
- Essential: Housing, food, healthcare, utilities (must pay)
- Discretionary: Travel, hobbies, dining out (can cut if needed)
This helps model "flexible spending" strategies.
Chart Explanations
Portfolio Balance Over Time
Shows your projected portfolio value from now through the end of retirement.
What to look for:
- Does it stay above zero through your life expectancy?
- When does it peak? (Usually around retirement)
- How fast does it decline?
Income by Source Over Time
Shows where your income comes from each year.
Useful for:
- Seeing when Social Security kicks in
- Understanding the role of different income sources
- Identifying gaps (e.g., between retirement and SS claiming)
Monte Carlo Distribution
Shows the range of outcomes across all simulations.
Bands typically show:
- 10th percentile (worst case)
- 25th percentile
- Median (50th percentile)
- 75th percentile
- 90th percentile (best case)
Withdrawal Rate Over Time
Shows your withdrawal rate each year.
Healthy pattern: Should stay around or below 4% Warning sign: Spiking above 5-6% in later years
Tax Metrics
Effective Tax Rate
The overall percentage of your income paid in taxes.
Calculation: Total taxes ÷ Total income
Marginal Tax Rate
The tax rate on your next dollar of income. Important for Roth conversion planning.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Mandatory withdrawals from traditional retirement accounts starting at age 73.
Calculation: Account balance ÷ IRS life expectancy factor
Why it matters: RMDs can push you into higher tax brackets even if you don't need the money.
Advanced Metrics
Present Value of Retirement
Today's value of all your future retirement income needs.
Useful for: Understanding the total "cost" of retirement in today's dollars.
Funded Ratio
How much of your projected retirement is currently funded.
Calculation: Current savings ÷ Present value of retirement needs
| Funded Ratio | Status |
|---|---|
| 100%+ | Fully funded |
| 75-99% | On track |
| 50-74% | Needs attention |
| Below 50% | Significant gap |
Safe Withdrawal Amount
The maximum annual withdrawal your portfolio can sustain with an 85%+ success rate.
Calculation: Portfolio × safe withdrawal rate (typically 3.5-4%)
Using Metrics Together
The Key Relationships
- Withdrawal rate + Success rate: Higher withdrawal = lower success
- Guaranteed income + Portfolio dependence: More SS/pension = less portfolio needed
- Retirement age + Portfolio size: Later retirement = more time to save, fewer years to fund
- Life expectancy + Withdrawal rate: Longer life = need lower withdrawal rate
Red Flags to Watch
- ❌ Success rate below 75%
- ❌ Withdrawal rate above 5%
- ❌ Portfolio depleted before life expectancy
- ❌ No guaranteed income before Social Security kicks in
- ❌ RMDs pushing you into high tax brackets
Green Lights
- ✅ Success rate 85%+
- ✅ Withdrawal rate 4% or below
- ✅ Portfolio lasting 5+ years past life expectancy
- ✅ Strong guaranteed income base
- ✅ Tax-diversified accounts
Ready to explore your dashboard? Open RetirePro and examine your metrics with this guide. View your dashboard →