As its name implies, the Fixed Rate form would be used to compute any Mortgage or Loan question. However, the mortgage or loan would have to have a fixed rate. In other words a rate that was fixed over a period of time. For example: If you took out a mortgage for 25 years and signed a term for 3 years, the interest rate would be fixed for 3 years. After three years, you would renegotiate the mortgage and the rate. In this example you would use the interest rate negotiated and set the period for 25 years. Consequently you could solve for any “What if” questions. The schedule will show a constant interest rate for whatever period of time you have selected.

Most mortgages and loans are fixed, unless you have negotiated a Variable loan. In a Variable loan, the interest rate constantly changes or floats a few points higher than the PRIME lending rate. If you had this type of loan, you would use the Adjustable Rates form option.

The Fixed Rate Form can also be used to compute other types of questions. If you need to compute Balloon Loans or Straight Line lease information, the Fixed Rate form is the form you would need.

As the name states, the Irregular Payments form can handle any irregular mortgage

or loan scenario. This includes loans that have fluctuating prime plus one interest rates or payments that have been made at odd or delinquent times. Basically you can track various types of loan payments or extra amounts borrowed simultaneously. And unlike the Adjustable Rates form, you can also compute any unknown value.

The Present Value form like the Fixed Rate form is very flexible. Naturally as the name implies, you can compute the present value amount that must be deposited in order to withdraw a lump sum of money in the future, or a stream of withdrawals over a period of time - taking into account interest earned, inflation and other increases on a regular basis.

The key word here is WITHDRAWALS. The Present Value form revolves around the fact that you would like to withdraw money. Therefore, you can make various “What if” assumptions using all of the variables allowed, but you must keep in mind that the underlining concept is focused on Withdrawals that you would like to make. For example: How much money do I have to deposit in the bank today in order to withdraw $2500 per month for 10 years? If I only have $10,000 in the bank now and need to withdraw $1000 per quarter for 25 years, what interest rate do I need to earn?...

As you can see you can build various stepping of wage increases, inflation factors, skipped withdrawal amount etc. into your assumptions. This is a very powerful form when it comes to financial planning specifically retirement planning!

If you need to make computations regarding Deposit Type questions or need to compute the PRESENT VALUE of a lump sum of money in the Future or the Present Value of making a series of Deposits then you must use the FUTURE VALUE FORM.

If the Present Value Form computes questions and variables related to WITHDRAWALS and the Future value form handles questions and variables related to making DEPOSITS.

Here you can compute any type of question that involves projecting future accumulations from making either a one time deposit or a stream of deposits. You can also project these accumulations, taking into account Percentage or Dollar increases which may reflect wage increases or even skipping deposits on a regular interval. Since you can project future amounts, you can also work backwards and compute present values of future amounts which you know you will have or would like to have. Of course you can solve “What if” scenarios working with Beginning Amount, Interest Rate, Deposit amounts and even the Percent and Dollar Stepping amounts. Once again this is a very powerful form for financial planning and can be used in conjunction with the Present Value form to solve for the exact values that are needed to plan for the future. Schedules can also be printed to show payment or withdrawal amounts or accumulation amounts over time!

This form allows you to make computation that involve a combination of Deposits and Withdrawals that were separate in the Future and Present Value forms. Although you do not have the stepping capabilities, you can still compute and variable and more importantly track a stream of irregular deposits and withdrawals on the same form. This is useful for tracking your bank account or for verifying and auditing streams of cash flows. In this form, you can also compute the average rate of return for the range of entries. The relevant chapter in this Guide gives you two examples that will clarify this form’s capabilities more thoroughly.

The NEW option provides access to the 5 types of calculation forms.

Move you mouse pointer on one of the form labels and click it to access the form.

If a form is already open and you have clicked the FILE tab at the top and are trying to

select a different form, the following confirmation window will pop up.