A client wants their plan to factor in an expected increase in yearly expenses after age 80; what's the best way to show this in Living Expenses?

• A. Increase all expenses by 5%
• B. Create an Advanced Age and modify their Living Expenses
• C. Add a separate line item called post-80
• D. Adjust asset allocation

Answer: (B)

Modeling spending as people age requires an age-triggered adjustment to Living Expenses. The best approach is to use an Advanced Age and modify Living Expenses so that when the client reaches age 80, the Living Expenses are adjusted to reflect higher ongoing costs. This integrates the change into the plan’s life-stage logic, applying consistently across the plan and across relevant expense categories rather than applying a blanket increase or creating a separate, potentially isolated line item.

Raising all expenses by a fixed percentage is too simplistic and age-insensitive, since it doesn’t pin the increase to a specific life stage or reflect how different categories may change differently. Adding a separate line item called post-80 could work, but it’s less integrated and easier to overlook in the overall expense picture. Adjusting asset allocation affects how the portfolio grows or depletes funds, not the spending side of the plan, so it won’t directly model higher living costs.