FireCalc reports starting value as lowest end value when all scenarios succeed

[markds75]

In a new window, I used the default Start Here values:

• Spending: $30,000
• Portfolio: $750,000
• Full years: 30

In the result page, the portfolio value ranged from $-300,739 to $4,259,606, with an average at the end of $1,424,807.

I went back to the home page and reduced the spending:

• Spending: $3,000
• Portfolio: $750,000
• Full years: 30

Now the result page says the portfolio value ranges from $750,000 to $6,812,401, with an average at the end of $3,631,549. But the graphs below seem to be pretty clear that the lowest end value in these scenarios is over $1,389,654.

I may be remembering incorrectly, but in the past I believe the portfolio balance (low and high) matched the charts, rather than referencing the starting balance.

 

[braumeister]

Not exactly. What it's saying is that at the end of your retirement the lowest balance during the retirement was $750K, the start value. It's not saying that's the lowest end value.

 

[USGrant1962]

It a long-standing bug. FIRECalc is in maintenance mode and no longer under development so it won't be fixed. The bug fix is to pretend it does not say "at the end of your retirement"

 

[Dtail]

Not exactly. What it's saying is that at the end of your retirement the lowest balance during the retirement was $750K, the start value. It's not saying that's the lowest end value.

FWIW, I see to remember that this was a reason given for effectively a quirk in Firecalc. If the highest number suppose to represent the ending value at its highest level, why wouldn't the lower number represent the ending lowest value?
If the WR is low enough, the lower number reported will always be equal to the starting portfolio at retirement.

 

[Dtail]

It a long-standing bug. FIRECalc is in maintenance mode and no longer under development so it won't be fixed. The bug fix is to pretend it does not say "at the end of your retirement"

Yup.

 

[latexman]

First reported in 2016. Here’s a discussion on it.

The bug fix is to pretend it does not say "at the end of your retirement"