This tool projects the future value of a retirement savings arrangement that combines features of both traditional defined benefit and defined contribution plans. It estimates the final account balance based on projected pay credits and interest accruals over the participant’s working life. An example would be an individual inputting their current age, salary, expected salary growth, and the plan’s specific credit and interest rates to forecast their potential retirement funds.
Its significance lies in its ability to offer a more transparent and portable benefit than traditional pensions, while retaining some of the guaranteed growth characteristics. Employees can readily visualize their retirement savings and its growth trajectory, promoting better financial planning. Historically, these arrangements emerged as a response to the need for more flexible retirement plans that could better suit a mobile workforce.