Spending, Investing and Splurging

One of the key benefits of having a financial plan is how it can inform decisions regarding spending patterns and investment strategy. There are two questions that often come up during the process of developing a financial plan: How much risk should I take in my portfolio, assuming different spending levels and if I seem to have enough to cover routine expenses, how much splurge spending is possible in periods of excess returns? Ultimately, the answers to these questions depend on many personal perspectives. However, simulation analyses can provide directional insights and conclusions. In this paper, Glenmede simulates an analysis for a generic client.