Wildly Variable Portfolio Balances in First Year?

[CherylGrrl]

I'm confused about the FIRECalc results. My Year-by-Year Portfolio Balance graph shows beginning Portfolio amounts that are wildly different, even in year 1! Why would this be? My Spending graph starts at a single point, why wouldn't my Portfolio Balance start at a single point as well?

[REWahoo]

It is showing the value of your portfolio at the END of year one, when the results of that first year's investment returns have been applied.

I recommend you take a look at "How FIRECalc Works" as it can answer many of your questions.

[CherylGrrl]

Thank you REWahoo! I actually did read it, but just didn't "get" it! This looks similar to the retirement projections my financial analyst did for me using a Monte Carlo simulator. Great tool, much better than simple straight-line calculators!