The assumptions deserve a page of their own.

The growth illustration

The annual effective return r becomes a monthly rate (1 + r)^(1/12) − 1. A start-of-month contribution enters before growth; an end-of-month contribution enters after growth and the fee. Each month’s return is rounded to cents. The ongoing annual fee percentage is divided by 12 and charged on the balance after that growth; it is capped at the available balance. Contributions, gains, charged fees and closing balances reconcile month by month.

Two different dollar views

Future dollars show the closing balance. Today’s dollars divide each future balance by (1 + annual inflation)^(months/12). Inflation is your assumption and is not a forecast. The zero-fee comparison keeps everything else equal; its balance difference includes missed compounding and differs from fees actually charged.

Scope and exclusions

The flagship assumes a constant return and fee, regular deposits, no withdrawals, no tax, no transaction charges, no bid/ask spread and no changing market conditions. It accepts negative returns down to −95% annually. It makes no TFSA/RRSP eligibility, room, suitability or withdrawal-tax calculation. Lower/higher scenarios are not probability bands.

Property and borrowing tools

Property worksheets use a pinned copy of the independent MITEY calculation engines, with each tool’s date, primary sources, fields and warnings displayed beside it. Fixed Canadian mortgage examples use the selected semi-annual convention; variable examples require the compounding specified by the lender. Rates and balances remain constant unless a tool explicitly models a change. A debt-service or insurance illustration is not an approval. Confirm local taxes, rebates, lender rules, product terms, insurance taxes, penalties and title charges for the actual date and situation.

Other worksheets

Stock metrics use manual price, shares, earnings, equity and dividends; ratios with non-positive relevant denominators are marked not meaningful. Portfolio weights divide entered holding values by their total; a zero total produces zero weights. Bridge interest is simple principal × annual rate × days / 365 plus entered one-time fees. Construction has four equally long stages at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of final principal. Retirement uses the growth model for accumulation and a finite real-return annuity for spending; it excludes pensions, tax, variable returns and longevity beyond the chosen period.