If you would like to discuss any problems you might be having with our software or have any questions, comments or suggestions for us, please use our Message Board. Why is the manual so short? The VisionWorks manual and Quick Start booklet provide an overview of VisionWorks. For detailed instructions, refer to the on-line Help features. Professional counsellors use VisionWorks with clients, so on-line Help is more appropriate. If you need assistance, a quick reference to Help ensures that you appear competent and experienced. Why can’t I change a date of birth on the About You page? VisionWorks performs highly complex calculations, such as how much you can contribute to pension plans and when plan payments must begin. Because so many entries depend on your age and are interrelated, birth dates are fixed. I have grandchildren (or other relatives). Can I model things that I’d like to do for them, such as sending them to private school? The “parties” in your plan can include you, your spouse or partner, and dependent children. “Other” parties can include parents, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. All parties are "interconnected" — change an entry for one, and all relevant output for all other parties also changes. VisionWorks manages this for you, because relationships between people, tax and estate laws are complex and vary by province or territory. My spouse (or partner) and I don’t always agree when it comes to financial planning. Can VisionWorks help us resolve our differences? As you create and quantify entries, use the Notes window to record different points of view. Use the Solutions tab on the Solutions page to create as many What if?” scenarios as you like. All Solutions are saved in one file. Use the Compare tab to compare and understand their different implications. You’ll be able to make informed decisions together. Why is a “dynamic” model so different than a static” model? Virtually all financial-planning software is “static.” It allows one amount over time for each entry. For example, you can’t model semi-retirement or a less active lifestyle as you age. In contrast, VisionWorks is a “dynamic model” — you can change entries over time. Static models are wrong. They presume that you consume the same amount every year throughout your retirement — that you’ll lead as active a lifestyle at age 90 as at 60. But because we usually consume less as we age, capital needs are less than static models tell us. And often, so is the investment risk that you need to assume. How does VisionWorks use “today’s” dollars and “inflated” dollars? Today’s” dollars represent the present cost of an item. For example, a widget costs $1 today. But because of inflation (if, for example, there is a 3% annual inflation rate), a widget will cost $1.03 a year from now. We think in terms of today’s dollars, because we can relate to them. However, we’ll have to deal in terms of “inflated” dollars in the future. VisionWorks asks you to enter data in today’s dollars, but in the background, converts all calculations to inflated dollars, where appropriate. Where do I enter my investment portfolio holdings, like my stocks, bonds, and mutual funds? VisionWorks does not model specific securities, such as individual stocks. That’s because you can change them often, and VisionWorks is designed to help you with long-term life planning. Instead of modelling specifics, VisionWorks models four asset classes and up to seven sub-classes for each asset class. Many studies have clearly indicated that asset allocation is the most important factor in long-term returns, not specific securities. I want to be a more conservative investor during my retirement. Can I model being a growth-oriented investor now and an income-oriented investor after I retire? Of course. VisionWorks is dynamic. Whatever you can change over time in life, you can model with VisionWorks. For asset allocation changes, use the Allocation tab on the Solutions page. Make sure that you refer to Help. How do I calculate how much insurance I need? These calculations are simple to do. Use the Insurance tab on the Financial Entries and Details pages to model your insurance policies. To calculate your insurance needs, go to the Solutions page, click the Insurance tab, then click the Life, Disability, Critical Illness, and Long-Term Care sub-tabs. VisionWorks automatically calculates your insurance needs for you. How do I make VisionWorks larger on my computer monitor? It’s small and in the middle. VisionWorks displays best at a resolution of 800 by 600 pixels, with small fonts. To adjust how VisionWorks appears on your monitor, click Start, Settings, and Control Panel. Double-click Display and click the Settings tab. Set the Color palette to True Color (24 or 32 bit), the Desktop area to 800 by 600 pixels, and the Font size to Small Fonts. Or, you can use the Size list box on the opening splash screen (the Main page).