What is a Target-Map?

Target-Maps are an effective tool for facilitating simplified financial goal planning conversations. At their core, they provide a clear comparison between two primary variables to facilitate an easy-to-discuss funding conversation:

Capital Requirements (Desires): The dollar amount needed to achieve a specific goal.
Capital Available (Funding): The financial resources available to meet that need.

Note: Target-Maps present a client-friendly, easy-to-read funding bar that visually displays the goal's funding status (percentage funded), making complex planning scenarios accessible to clients.

Data Integration & Funding Sources

The logic of a Target-Map relies on integration with the client's broader financial picture:

Asset-Map Integration: Funding primarily flows from the client's existing Asset-Map. The more complete the Asset-Map, the more resources the system can automatically consider to fund the goal.
Manual Adjustments: Advisors can manually create additional funding resources or specific funding desires directly within a Target-Map to account for unique scenarios not captured in the base Asset-Map.

Available Target-Map Templates

Target-Maps allow financial planners to generate conversations very quickly because the conversation topics are built-in. There are five default templates available that can be run with just a few clicks:

Custom Target-Maps

In addition to the defaults, advisors can utilize a Custom template. This acts as a "blank slate," allowing the advisor to build a bespoke funding goal from scratch to address unique client specific needs outside of the standard five categories.

Configuration & Preferences

Target-Maps rely heavily on preset values found in Target-Map Preferences. These defaults serve as the essential variables and mathematical foundation for running any template.

To ensure accuracy and efficiency, advisors should manage these settings in two ways:

Global Preferences: Financial professionals should update the global Target-Map Preferences to reflect their average client's needs. This ensures that every new Target-Map starts with a solid baseline.
Per-Case Adjustments: Defaults and specific variables can be adjusted on an individual basis by editing a specific Target-Map report after it has been generated.

Target-Map Support Resource Links

Training Opportunities

Support Resource	Description
Target-Map Training	Join our no-cost weekly group training.

Target-Map Support Resources

Resource Link	Description
Create, Delete, Clone a Target-Map	The basics about running Target-Maps and planning scenarios.
Target-Map Preferences	Set your default parameters to your average client.
Cash Flow Details	Break down funding into yearly values.
Retirement Target-Map	Create a conversation representing current funding for your client's retirement lifestyle goals.
Loss of Life Target-Map	How well funded is your client today to handle this disruptive event?
Long Term Disability Target-Map	Can your client live off of part of their income?
Education Target-Map	How well funded are you today to send your dependent to college?
Long Term Care Target-Map	Does it make sense to self-fund a long term care event in the later years?
Other Funding Illustrations	Downsize home Wide Age Gap in Retirement Layer Long Term Care event in Retirement Pension lump sum vs annuitized payout Multiple education expenses Offset education expenses with loans and scholarships Saving for a big purchase Tiered expenses over time Tiered incomes over time
Double-check your Retirement Target-Map	My Target-Map looks odd! What's wrong? This resource gives pointers of what to look for.

12/2025