Q. Why is only one person listed for our joint retirement expenses?
When you create a Retirement Target-Map for a couple, you’ll notice that under the Member column on the What you want page, only one name (usually the eldest) appears next to the living expenses.
It’s natural to ask: "If both people are retiring, why is only one person listed? Does this mean the budget is only for them?"
The short answer is: No. The dollar amount represents the total household need. The name in the Member column is simply acting as the "Timekeeper" for the plan.
1. The "Timekeeper" Concept
Think of a retirement plan like a flight schedule. Even if there are 100 people on the plane, the flight only has one "Departure Time" and one "Arrival Time."
In Asset-Map, we use the eldest member of the household as the Timekeeper (or Anchor) to set the dates for the entire project. We do this because:
Math needs a single timeline: If the software tried to track two different birthdays for the same expense line, the "Start Date" and "End Date" would conflict.
Consistency: By anchoring the expenses to one person’s age (like age 67 to 90), the system can calculate exactly which calendar years those expenses occur in.
2. The Member vs. The Money
The name in the "Member" column tells the system whose birthday to use for the calendar. It does not limit who the money is for. That is adjustable. By using the Date Reference selector you can change the default value to the exact day the client wishes to retire.
The Description is your guide: Look at the description field (e.g., "Living Expenses - 50% Primary/Spouse"). This confirms the dollar amount was calculated using the combined income of both people. This is inherited from your Target-Map Preferences.
The Total is the Goal: The Annual Amount, $180,000 (or whatever your target is), represents the total lifestyle "spend" for the household, not a per-person allowance. This dollar value is merely an estimate and can be edited.
3. What happens if I change the Member?
If you edit a line item and switch the Member, you’ll notice the Ages stay the same (67 to 90), but the Dates will shift. Because the other member might be younger, the "Age 67" happens further in the future.
Note: We default to the eldest member to ensure the retirement "countdown" starts as soon as the first person in the household reaches that milestone age.
Summary for Clients: "We use [Eldest Member] as the 'Calendar Lead' to make sure the math stays perfectly aligned with the years, but the budget itself is built to cover both of you for the duration of your retirement."
Q. Why is the Retirement Target-Map [way underfunded / way overfunded]?
A1. Check funding sources: Target-Maps pull in funding sources from the client's Asset-Map. Those are listed on the What you have page. Often the client has not provided enough information on their Asset-Map. Ensure you have listed all annual future funding sources on their Asset-Map, like pensions, before running the Target-Map. Ensure you have retirement accounts on the Asset-Map, as well. Ensure you click the What you have page to check funding sources that might not have been applied, like non-retirement accounts meant for retirement.
A2. Check current earned income on the Asset-Map: The Target-Map will estimate future living expenses based on current earned incomes listed on the client's Asset-Map. Without earned incomes on the Asset-Map, the estimated future living expense in the Target-Map will be off. The solution is to either add earned incomes on the Asset-Map before running the Target-Map, or simply edit the current Target-Map's What you want page to reflect future spending desires.
👉Tip: Watch your cash flow ages everywhere
Make certain your ages in What you have align with the ages on the What you want page. For example, if end of life is set for 90 on the What you want page, make sure pension cash flows align to that age in the What you have page. This prevents accidental overfunding. Review all input details to ensure no mistakes in age configuration or cash flow entries to create accurate and actionable retirement plans.
👉Tip: Align the Duration of Contributions
Use the circle-arrow alignment icon to refresh the duration of contributions field. This will enter a value that reflects the difference between the current age of the client and the proposed start age of retirement expenses. This will align with the earliest age/date on the What you want page.
👉 Tips for Target-Map Preferences
Adjust global Target-Map template settings.
Retirement Target-Map Preferences settings are found by clicking the advisor likeness in the upper right area. Click the Retirement tab. Ensure the start age and end age for Retirement are to your liking. Ensure the other settings and desired talking points are selected. These are default template settings used as a starting point for any Retirement Target-Map.
Remember: You can always refine the specific Target-Map after it's been created for the household.
Three default retirement talking points are provided out of the box:
Retirement Living Expenses
Retirement Travel Expenses
Retirement Medical Expenses
They are optional and can be turned off globally in the Target-Map Preferences. Each line item may be removed from the funding scenario within the created Target-Map as well.
Please remember, The Target-Map by default chooses one person (usually the eldest person) to establish an age or date for the start and end of retirement. The annual dollar amount of the estimated "What you want" spending desires is calcuated on earned incomes of the primary and spouse.
👉Tips for Taxes, COLA/Inflation, Future Value
Set your default preferred tax and COLA adjustments in your Target-Map Preferences.
Future Value and Future Value age in Asset-Map indicate when the asset becomes available and when COLA should begin. Non-future values will have cost of living adjustments start at current age.
How do I adjust future value? The Future Value setting is on the Asset-Map financial. Go to the Asset-Map and click the desired financial to edit it.
Alternatively, add an asset within the Target-Map and apply Future Value. Doing this will not impact the client's Asset-Map.
How do you handle Social Security? Please refer to our article on Social Security insurance located here.
👉Tips for Checking Cash Flow Details page
Click EXPAND to view cash flows or assets
Click the description of the financial at the top of the table to edit it. No need to go back to the What You Want or What You Have tabs.
Are all ages set properly? Do start ages and end ages fall within the plan?
Example: On the What You Want page, is the mortality age set to 90 but on the What You Have tab, is the end age of Social Security funding past 90 to age 100?
Example: How are you handling wide age gaps between spouses? Refer to our support resource located here.
👉 Tips for Using Clones (scenarios)
Tip: Edit the name of the clone scenario to reflect the changes you've made for clarity.
Is your clone in line with your conversation? If you make a change on your baseline Target-Map, your remaining clones will need to be adjusted as well for equivalent comparisons. Changes to one Target-Map are not reflected on clones or other Target-Maps automatically.
Rearrange Target-Maps on the Target-Maps Summary page by clicking and dragging the title bar up or down.
👉 Tips for Using Pin, Target, and Compare
Use the Pin to tack the desired Target-Map to the top of the Target-Map summary page.
Use the Target to choose the Target-Map that will be the standard for a client's goal.
Use the compare check-boxes to select those Target-Maps that you'd like to focus on to provide a clear picture of what you'd like to convey.
👉Tips for Handling Contributions
Contributions to a retirement asset can be done on the Details tab of the financial on the Asset-Map. They will become a funding resource on the What You Have tab in the Cash Flows section. A tax will be applied in accordance with your template preferences to frame the discussion around what is spendable during retirement.
To include retirement contributions in your cash flow planning:
Navigate to the cash flow sources available section in the Target-Map
Locate the contribution entries for the client's account
Select the checkbox to the left of the relevant contribution entries
Why should contributions be taxed when they are taken without tax from earned income? Because the Target-Map shows what is being committed for consumption at consumption. At time of consumption, a qualified asset could be considered to be taxed at the rate you select.
⭐ Need a Target-Map refresher? Join us on our bi-weekly calls. Schedule today 📆!
4/2026