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Product Info and Directions for the Simple 401(k) & 403(b) Calculator
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First, some Generic Directions that Apply to all the Financial Software on this Site

If you're still shopping, the best evaluation results are obtained by looking at the 401k calculator demo, while following along as you read these directions.

When you're using the program, things go better if you first print out these directions.

The "demo" is the actual financial spreadsheet without the formulas. It doesn't function, so you won't be able to do anything but look at it. You'll receive a working program after purchase.

Tips for working with and printing in Excel are here, here, and here.

You switch between the sheets (pages) that make up the workbook (AKA spreadsheet) by either clicking on the sheet tab names at the bottom left of the Excel window, or by pressing Control Page Up or Down (pressing the Control key and either the Page Up or Page Down key at the same time).

Basic input concept for most all of these Excel spreadsheets: Input your data into the green-shaded cells of the input sheets (or just the input areas if there are no separate input sheets). This data flows through the calculation sheets (or just areas if there are no separate calculation sheets), which will then populate the presentation areas (or the sheets to the left of the input sheets), where you look at the results. Then you fix mistakes, repeat, format, and print. If a cell is not colored green, then it's not an input cell, so you won't be able to do anything with it (if it's not an input sheet). If you could, then you may end up damaging the spreadsheet. Don't input, or type over, any formulas on the presentation sheets because then they will no longer change or function when you change your input data. Input cells usually turn a purplish-gray when a non-zero value is entered into them.

Before getting started, save an unused copy of all the programs in a separate folder, so you'll always have the original unaltered file somewhere. Then if you do something like delete a formula, you can easily fix it by copying it back using these original files. Then save files you've worked on using a different file name (and into a different folder).

Programs usually come without sample input data, but be sure to delete all of the sample / client input (everything in green-shaded cells) before inputting your data.

How to turn the zipped file attached in your e-mail into an Excel spreadsheet is explained in the text of the delivery e-mail.

If you're seeing this: ####, then either increase your Zoom magnification number (using the slider at the bottom right), or make the column width wider. If you see this: #REF! or #DIV/0! after completing your input, please respond to get a new program immediately. This means data was lost either via e-mail, unzipping, or while making a CD.

If a red Error! dialog box comes up saying your input must be confined to a range of values, and your input was within that range, then the problem is that the input cell doesn't accept pennies. Try again rounding the value to the nearest dollar.

If you're an investing consumer (not a professional financial planner working with clients), then when you read "client, prospect, or they" just think "you." You would be both the advisor and the client (or spouse).

Read about financial planning software support, where there's more generic directions like above.

Read about financial planning software integration (sharing data between the different personal finance software modules).

How to send financial plans to clients via e-mail, without sending the whole program is explained on the Excel help page

You should make CD (or at least USB flash drive) backups of all of your work at least on a monthly basis, and store the CD in a safe location, but not where your computer is. Flash drives are not safe because they're vulnerable to EMP and are in general, too flakey. It's critical to back up your data, but not programs. Don't forget to backup your MS Outlook Express e-mail folders too. Do a search for *.dbx files to find them. More generic free PC tips are here.

401(k) Calculator Directions

Most of the inputs are self-explanatory. The only thing different compared to the other programs are the employer matches. This is just how much as a percent your employer puts into your account per every dollar you do. So if you invest $1 and they invest fifty cents, then it's a 50% match (so that's what you'd input into cell A13).

Start your input in cell A4, and continue to A28. If everything went well and there were no input errors, then that's all there is to it. Just review the numbers and the graphs. This shows the value of your employer matches.

Cells A18 - 23 are for estimating how long the account will last after retirement, based on withdrawals, taxes, and increases needed because of inflation. The demo's first graph shows the total account running out of money  around age 97. All graphs are stacked area graphs, so the two parts are added together to display the combined totals.

Cells A25 - 28 are for inputting estimated growth rates, and also expenses you have to pay.

The top section calculates the part of the account that is attributable to employee contributions, and the lower, employer contributions.

The sections at the far right show estimated annual fees and expenses.

The whole purpose is just to show the impact of employer contributions. If you want a more detailed analysis, then any of the actual retirement software programs will do that job much better.

The stacked graphs then display the total amount of account balance, but in two sections (employee and employer). Stacked means that the two amounts pile up on top of each other, in contrast to one graph being behind the other (so the top of the chart is the sum of the two areas).

Please send e-mail if you'd like more clarification on these directions.

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