Help me understand Today's Currency vs Actual Currency.
ProjectionLab allows you to view your money in Today’s Currency vs. Actual Currency on your plans.
Today’s Currency adjusts for inflation and expresses values in terms of current purchasing power. For example, a chocolate bar cost 10 cents in 1950; due to inflation, that same chocolate bar may cost $2.00 in 2026.
Actual Currency represents a fixed dollar amount regardless of the year in question.
Where do I change from Today’s Currency to Actual Currency?
- Open a Plan and find the icon above the graph on the right side.
- Click the icon to open the Display Options menu.
- Click Inflation and select Show projections in Actual Currency or Today’s Currency.
Your graph will automatically update when you make the change.
How do I know what inflation is set to?
- Open a Plan and click the Settings dropdown on the right side of your screen.
- Click Rates: the Fixed inflation rate defaults to 3%.
- Click 3% to adjust the rate.
Living Expense Example
In 2026, you spend $50,000 annually. In the Expenses section of your Plan, you can adjust your living expense to match inflation, which is set to 3% in ProjectionLab.
- In Today’s Currency: the $50,000 will continue to show as $50,000 throughout your plan without increasing.
- In Actual Currency: the same $50,000 you are spending in 2026 will show as an increasing number over time.
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