Even though I've been retired for 10 yrs, my initial attempt with FIRECalc resulted in 54 of 116 cycles failing. This didn't make sense given that 95% of my annual living expenses comes from pension and SS. My own spreadsheet shows my WR from the portfolio never hits 1%. Anyway, on the Other Spending tab, if I enter actual pension date (2003) and SS date (2010) I get the results stated above and the low, high and average portfolio balances look pretty bad. Even the high balance barely exceeds current balance.
However, if I change the starting dates for pension and SS payments to 2013, then there are no failing cycles, the low balance matches current balance plus the average balance looks reasonable.
Now, I understand that FIRECalc assumes current date if you are already retires, but there are no special instructions regarding pension/SS starting dates. What is FIRECalc doing when the starting dates for other income is many years prior to when it assumes retirement begins??
However, if I change the starting dates for pension and SS payments to 2013, then there are no failing cycles, the low balance matches current balance plus the average balance looks reasonable.
Now, I understand that FIRECalc assumes current date if you are already retires, but there are no special instructions regarding pension/SS starting dates. What is FIRECalc doing when the starting dates for other income is many years prior to when it assumes retirement begins??