Set Custom Returns and Allocations
Set the overall return assumptions for a plan without messing with assumptions for each asset class.
Last published on: February 24, 2026
Ever wanted to set the overall return assumptions for a plan without messing with assumptions for each asset class? Now you can!
Go to the Plan Analysis section of Advanced Plan Settings, choose "Custom" under Method, and set overall return and inflation assumptions. Quick and easy!
Watch the tutorial to learn more.
Video: Custom Returns and Allocations
Video Transcript
0:01
Welcome. This video will walk you
0:03
through how to add custom investment
0:05
returns and asset allocations into your
0:07
income lab plans. It's important to note
0:10
this feature is only available inside a
0:12
specific plan and not available at your
0:15
overall default settings or household
0:17
level. So to get started, first we need
0:19
to get to a household.
0:25
Once you're inside the household, click
0:27
the three dot icon in the top right of
0:28
your screen. then select advanced plan
0:30
settings. Once you're inside the
0:32
advanced plan settings, locate the plan
0:34
analysis tab. Then from the dropown,
0:37
select custom at the bottom of the menu.
0:40
Then below you'll see the fields to
0:41
enter your custom capital market
0:42
assumptions. It's important to note here
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you're going to enter annual, nominal,
0:47
and gross of fee assumptions in this
0:49
custom area. Also note your custom
0:52
capital market assumptions will override
0:54
the plan's asset allocation and inputs
0:57
for return calculations. So below here,
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if we wanted to change our average
1:01
investment return assumptions, we can
1:03
just edit this field, call that 5%. Or
1:06
make our average inflation 3% here.
1:10
Also note below, you can then enter the
1:12
standard deviation of your returns as
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well as the standard deviation of
1:16
inflation.
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Once you're done, click save, then
1:20
scroll back to the top, and then hit
1:22
back to go back to your dashboard. From
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the dashboard page, if you'd like to see
1:26
the assumptions your plan is currently
1:28
using, click the balance box here. Then
1:31
inside the balance section underneath
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the pie chart here, you'll see the
1:35
average return and standard deviation
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assumptions that this plan is using.
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It's important to note when you're
1:42
entering those custom assumptions, you
1:43
are putting in gross numbers here, but
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when you're on the dashboard section
1:47
here, we are seeing those numbers as net
1:49
of inflation. That's it. Thank you for
1:52
viewing this video. Please reach out to
1:54
our team if you have any
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💡Important Note
When calculating how much of each year’s return is actually credited to the account, the default asset‑class tax assumptions will be applied. These determine how much of the return is treated as capital gains, interest, dividends, and so on. In addition, any overall investment fees will be deducted from the account’s growth before the final net increase is applied.
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