Quick Start

1. Sign up for free if you haven't already. This gives you access to the app and ensures that the information you enter is saved. You’ll receive an email with a link to activate your account.
2. Log in to your account.
3. After logging in, you’ll arrive at the Plan page. A Plan represents the finances of either a single person or a couple, both now and in the future. On this page you enter high-level information, including your attitudes to risk and leaving a legacy. You can also optionally specify a Lifetime Contingency, representing money set aside for unforeseen events over the lifetime of the Plan. If you’re unsure about some items, many can be completed later. When ready, press Save Plan to create the Plan.
4. You’ll then be taken to the Members page. A Plan can have one or two Members. For each Member, start by entering the high-level Member Information: date of birth, gender, and (optionally) an adjustment to life expectancy based on personal circumstances. You’ll also enter summarised totals for various categories of financial assets owned by the Member.
   Tip: When entering dates using the calendar pop-up, select the month and year first, then choose the day.
5. After creating a Member, you can add more detailed information by selecting from the available options. These include guaranteed income (such as annuities and Defined Benefit pensions), employments, self-employments, other income, debts, life insurance, and inheritances.
6. If any Members own properties or other tangible assets, enter these on the Assets page. Tangible assets may include a main home, holiday homes, buy-to-let properties, undeveloped land, cars, works of art, and similar items.
7. Next, go to the Spending page. Here you can enter both essential and discretionary spending. It’s important to enter all essential spending. Discretionary spending is optional and represents what you currently spend, not what you plan to spend in the future. It is not used directly in projections, but if you enter it, the program will later compare it with what it calculates you may be able to afford.
8. At this point, you'll have entered everything needed for the system to generate strategies. Review your entries for any errors or omissions. When satisfied, go to the Strategy page and press Generate. This starts the strategy-generation process. If you’re busy, you don’t need to wait – the program will email you when the process is complete.
9. When ready, your generated strategy will appear on the Strategy page. It consists of high-level financial decisions derived from your inputs. It is not financial advice. Some items may not be immediately intuitive; you can view brief explanations by hovering over the green question-mark icons.
10. To explore the implications of the generated strategy, go to the Results page. Here you’ll find charts, tables, and reports that help illustrate how your financial future might unfold under the assumptions you’ve entered. A detailed explanatory report is also available.
11. If you want to explore alternative strategies, first ensure your Plan contains no errors. Then return to the Strategy page. Depending on your subscription level, you may be able to generate additional strategies or edit the strategy manually.
12. If your circumstances change, you can update your Plan at any time. After making changes, you should consider either generating a new strategy or editing the strategy manually), otherwise your strategy may not reflect your updated information.
13. Over time, even without changes on your part, the results associated with a strategy may shift. This can happen due to updates to program settings outside your control (such as tax rules, retirement legislation, or annuity rates), or simply because Members of the Plan are getting older, which affects life expectancy. For this reason, many users choose to review their strategy periodically.
14. EvolveMyRetirement^® is a modelling tool and does not replace professional financial advice. If you wish to share your Plan with someone – for example, a financial adviser or family member – you can do so easily. On the Plan page, press Share and enter their email address. They will receive an email invitation to view the Plan.