Patent Publication Number: US-2015066722-A1

Title: Management Of Contributions For A Goal

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/647,948 filed Oct. 9, 2012, entitled “Management Of Contributions For A Goal.” 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates, in general, to goal management and, more particularly, to management of contributions for a goal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The costs associated with purchasing certain items, such as college tuition or a car, can be significant. Furthermore, the costs of these items have continued to increase in recent times and may be difficult to estimate at some point in the future. Large costs may coincide with substantial delay before accumulation of enough funds to purchase the items. Additionally, individuals attempting to save for such items often do so in a haphazard manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and problems associated with management of goal contributions may be reduced or eliminated. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a contribution for a goal is managed. A monetary target associated with a goal is determined. A current savings level toward the monetary target is determined. A rule associated with a maximum contribution amount toward the monetary target is accessed. An amount for a contribution is calculated according to the monetary target, the current savings level, and the rule. The amount calculated for the contribution is transferred to an account associated with the goal. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment allows automated management of contributions from one or more third-parties (e.g., transferors) to an account associated with a beneficiary&#39;s goal. The transferors&#39; contributions may have various rules associated with when the contributions are made and the specific amount of the contributions. Rules associated with a maximum contribution amount may be automatically retrieved from any suitable source. For example, an older individual may be able to make regular fund transfers to a future heir. The maximum contribution amount may be set to the tax-free giving limit, such that fund transfers to the heir are maximized under any applicable tax codes. Another technical advantage of one embodiment allows for facilitated goal configuration through a graphical user interface. The transferors and the beneficiary may provide input on the configuration of the goal and the manner in which contributions are made. Another technical advantage of one embodiment allows for delivery of information related to the contributions through any suitable alerts and/or a graphical user interface. The transferors and/or the beneficiary may receive all information or information filtered in any suitable manner. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention may include none, some, or all of the above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example system operable to determine a contribution amount toward a goal. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example graphical user interface operable to facilitate configuration of a goal. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example graphical user interface operable to display progress toward a goal. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example flow chart for managing contributions toward a goal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example system  10  operable to determine a contribution amount toward a goal. In particular embodiments, the goal may be an objective of a beneficiary of the contribution. For example, the goal may be to save enough money to purchase a house, take a vacation, pay for college tuition, pay for a car, save for a family reunion, or any other suitable goal. While the beneficiary attempts to save/gather enough money for the goal, another contributor, such as a parent or grandparent, may also contribute funds toward the goal in controlled amounts. System  10 , for example, facilitates living giving from an older individual to a future heir on a regular basis. Sharing responsibility for determining gift amounts by both the older individual and the future heir for a specific goal may reduce the awkwardness sometimes associated with specifying the distribution of the older individual&#39;s estate. Additionally, gifting funds according to a schedule instead of distributing all funds at once from the individual&#39;s estate may also have tax benefits. 
     System  10  facilitates determination of the contribution amounts toward the goal, in some embodiments, by the transferor and/or the beneficiary. The addition of contributions of the transferor to those of the beneficiary may reduce the overall time necessary to build up enough funds to reach the goal. In other words, system  10  operates to accelerate dreams or goals of a beneficiary. System  10  may also allow the system users (e.g., transferor and/or beneficiary) to provide specific information about the goal, select certain conditions for any contributions, receive alerts related to savings contributions, monitor the progress toward the goal, and/or to perform any other suitable functions. Certain embodiments of system  10  include access devices  102  that communicate over network  104  with an account manager  106  and a goal management server  108 . 
     Devices  102  may comprise any type of mobile or stationary computing device operable to facilitate configuration of a goal, monitor progress toward a goal, and/or provide any other suitable function. Examples of devices  102  include a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, laptop, netbook, ultrabook, tablet, desktop computer, cable box, television, automobile, and/or any other suitable device. Certain embodiments of system  10  include a device  102   a  that is a mobile phone, and a device  102   b  that is a desktop computer. 
     In certain embodiments, devices  102  include graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”)  110 , which display information associated with a goal specified by a user of system  10 . GUIs  110  are generally operable to tailor and filter data entered by and presented to the user. GUIs  110  may provide the user with an efficient and user-friendly presentation of information. For example, GUI  110   b  may comprise an interface that allows a user to enter selections associated with a goal. Based on certain selections by the user, GUI  110   b  may adapt automatically to provide a list of other choices to the user related to the goal. Certain GUIs  110  may comprise a plurality of displays having interactive fields, pull-down lists, and buttons operated by the user. GUIs  110  may include multiple levels of abstraction including groupings and boundaries. It should be understood that the term GUI may be used in the singular or in the plural to describe one or more GUIs and each of the displays of a particular GUI  110 . Example GUIs  110  are described below with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     GUIs  110  may be displayed to a user using a web browser that allows a user of access devices  102  to interact with a website, communicatively coupled to goal management server  108  for example, by transmitting information to and receiving information from the website. Suitable web browsers may include Microsoft Internet Explorer®, Mozilla Firefox®, Google Chrome™, Apple Safari™, or Opera®. In certain embodiments, GUIs  110  may be displayed using an application natively installed on each of access devices  102 . For example, an enterprise associated with goal management server  108  and/or account manger  108  may create and distribute a goal management application designed for mobile phone device  102   a  and another goal management application designed for computer  102   b  that both operate outside of a web browser. A user may install the goal management application on an access device and interact with the GUI provided by the goal management application to communicate with and instruct goal management server  108  to perform certain actions. In certain embodiments, GUIs  110  may be provided by a website or native application maintained by a third-party. In certain embodiments, the goal management applications form part of an application distributed by the administrator of the account to which contributions are made, such as a bank or other financial institution. 
     Network  104  represents any suitable network that facilitates communication between the components of system  10 . Network  104  may include any interconnecting system capable of transmitting audio, video, signals, data, messages, or any combination of the preceding. Network  104  may comprise all or a portion of one or more of the following: a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a public or private data network, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a local, regional, or global communication or computer network such as the Internet, a wireline or wireless network, an enterprise intranet, other suitable communication link, any other suitable communication link, including combinations thereof operable to facilitate communication between the components of system  10 . 
     Account manager  106  includes any suitable combination of components that operate to manipulate, access, and/or report on an account. Account manager  106  may include the computing systems controlled by a financial institution, such as a bank, brokerage house, or investment firm. The accounts that account manager  106  controls may be any suitable account. For example, account manager  106  may have direct control over a checking account, a savings account, a brokerage account, a loan account, an investment account, a retirement account, an education savings account, and/or any other suitable account. In particular embodiments, account manager  106  may have direct control over an account associated with a goal. Such an account may be owned by a beneficiary of the contributions toward the goal. In some embodiments, account manager  106  may have direct control over an account from which contributions are made. Such an account may be owned by a party (or transferor) making contributions to the beneficiary&#39;s account. Account manager  106  allows, in certain embodiments, components such as devices  102  and goal management server  108  to access accounts that are under the control of account manager  106 . Account manager  106  may ensure that components of system  10  that attempt to manipulate an account have the appropriate credentials, such as a username, password, account number, and/or any other suitable credential. Account manager  106  may include a non-transitory storage medium, hardware processor, and/or any components suitable to carry out actions in connection with user accounts. 
     Goal management server  108  is operable to facilitate management of user contributions toward a goal. Certain embodiments of goal management server  108  include functionality for obtaining/deriving information associated with a goal, scheduling contributions to an account associated with the goal, calculating suitable contribution amounts, delivering reports regarding goal progress, and/or any other suitable function. 
     Goal management server  108  may include a network server, any suitable remote server, a mainframe, a host computer, a workstation, a web server, a personal computer, a file, server, or any other suitable device operable to facilitate management of goal contributions. In some embodiments, goal management server  108  may execute any suitable operating system such as IBM&#39;s zSeries/Operating system (z/OS), MS-DOS, PC-DOS, MAC-OS, WINDOWS, UNIX, OPenVMS, Linux, iOS, Android, and/or any other appropriate operating systems, including operating systems developed in the future. The functions of goal management server  108  may be performed by any suitable combination of one or more servers or other components at one or more locations. In the embodiment where the modules are servers, the servers may be public or private servers, and each server may be a virtual or physical server. The server may include one or more servers at the same or at locations remote from one another. 
     In certain embodiments, goal management server  108  includes a network interface  112 , a processor  114 , and a memory  116 . 
     Network interface  112  represents any suitable device operable to receive information from network  104 , perform suitable processing of the information, communicate to other devices, or any combination of the preceding. For example, network interface  112  may receive selections associated with a goal from a user of device  102   a  via network  104 . Network interface  112  represents any port or connection, real or virtual, including any suitable hardware and/or software, including protocol conversion and data processing capabilities, to communicate through a LAN, WAN, or other communication systems that allows goal management server  108  to exchange information with the other components of system  10 . 
     Processor  114  communicatively couples to network interface  112  and memory  116 . Processor  114  controls the operation and administration of goal management server  108  by processing information received from network interface  112  and memory  116 . Processor  114  includes any hardware and/or software that operates to control and process information. For example, processor  114  executes management software  120  to control the operation of goal management server  108 . Processor  114  may be a programmable logic device, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, any suitable processing device, or any suitable combination of the preceding. 
     Memory  116  stores, either permanently or temporarily, data, operational software, or other information for processor  114 . Memory  116  includes any one or a combination of volatile or nonvolatile local or remote devices suitable for storing information. For example, memory  116  may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, or any other suitable information storage device or a combination of these devices. While illustrated as including particular modules, memory  116  may include any suitable information for use in the operation of goal management server  108 . 
     In certain embodiments, memory  116  includes management data  118  and management software  120 . Management data  118  includes any rules used by management software  120  in carrying out its functions. For example, management data  118  includes selections provided by users of devices  102  for configuration of a particular goal. These may include rules associated with a contribution amount from a transferor to a beneficiary. As another example, management data  118  may also include rules indicating a limit on a tax-free gift. Rules in management data  118  may be updated from time-to-time by users of devices  102 , administrative computer  132 , and/or any other suitable device. 
     Management software  120  represents any suitable set of instructions, logic, or code embodied in a non-transitory, computer readable medium and operable to facilitate the operation of goal management server  108 . Certain embodiments of management software  120  include a goal configuration module  122 , a scheduler  124 , a contribution calculator  126 , a transfer module  128 , and a reporting module  130 . 
     Goal configuration module  122  is operable to facilitate configuration of a specified goal. The goal may be, for example, a goal shared by individual contributor and their future heir-beneficiary. Goal configuration module  122  determines the goal being pursued and associates that goal with a monetary target. The goal may be purchasing a home, saving for a vacation, paying college tuition, purchasing a car, saving for a family reunion, saving for retirement, saving funds generally, saving money for a third-party, or any other suitable goal. Goal configuration module  122  may associate a particular goal with a monetary target. For example, a particular monetary target may be linked to a specific goal in a look-up table stored in management data  118 . Goal configuration module  122  may access such a table when determining the associated monetary target for the selected goal. The monetary target may be reached through monetary contributions provided by the beneficiary and/or any other transferors. Goal configuration module  122  may schedule transfer of contributions according to the specifications set by the beneficiary and/or the transferor. 
     In certain embodiments, goal configuration module  122  receives information regarding a goal from users of devices  102  via GUIs  110 . For example, through the selections made on GUI  110 , goal configuration module  122  may determine that the goal is to purchase a home at a specified date in the future. The selections provided through GUI  110  may also indicate an associated monetary target, or alternatively, goal configuration module  122  may determine an associated monetary target based on information accessed from management data  118 . As stated above, a particular monetary target may be specified directly in management data  118  or goal configuration module  122  may instruct processor  114  to retrieve rules from management data  118  on which the monetary target may depend. For example, management data  118  may include historical house values, predicted changes in home prices, and any other suitable information to compute a predicted house value for a home to be purchased at a desired time. The associated monetary target may be the estimated purchase price of a home or a certain percentage of that estimated price, which may represent an estimated down payment for the purchase of a home. 
     Goal configuration module  122  may invoke a contribution calculator  126  to determine suitable contribution amounts. Contribution calculator  126  is operable to instruct processor  114  to calculate contributions in any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, the contributions from a transferor may be set to match the contributions made by the beneficiary during a specified time period, e.g., during one year. In another example, the transferor&#39;s contributions may be set to 50% of the contributions of the beneficiary in a specified time period. As another example, the contribution from a transferor may be set to be some percentage of income received on specified investment properties, such as a dividend. This could be based on all income received, income received on certain dates, income that exceeds a specified base amount, and/or by any other suitable measurement. Certain jurisdictions may specify that gifts in a particular range are not taxed while the amount of a gift beyond a specified limit would be subject to taxation. In such jurisdictions, the transferor&#39;s contributions may be set to equal the tax-free giving limit. In some instances, the users may be informed that a selected contribution amount would exceed a tax-free limit and given the choice of whether the limit should be exceeded. 
     Additionally, the contributions may be subject to any suitable conditions. For example, a transferor&#39;s contributions may be set to equal a certain amount A if the beneficiary made contributions equal to or exceeding a certain amount B. As another example, a transferor&#39;s contributions may be conditioned on the beneficiary maintaining a certain balance in the account over a certain time period or at a certain time, such as the end of the year. 
     Any of these examples (or any suitable combination) could be set as a maximum contribution amount for a contribution of a transferor. For example, the maximum contribution amount for the transferor could be set to the amount contributed by the beneficiary. As another example, the maximum contribution amount may be set to either the amount contributed by the beneficiary or the limit on tax-free gifts, whichever value is lower. In either example, the actual contribution amount may be lower than the maximum contribution amount. For example, the account from which the transferor&#39;s contributions are drawn may not contain enough funds to cover the maximum contribution amount. As another example, the difference between the monetary target and the total amount currently saved may be lower than the maximum contribution amount. In such embodiments, the actual contribution may equal the difference between the monetary target and the total amount saved. To determine the amount of funds in either the account associated with the goal or the account set to make the contribution, contribution calculator  126  may instruct processor  114  and/or network interface  112  to communicate with account manger  106 . Appropriate access credentials may be supplied by the account owners during the goal set-up phase and stored in management data  118 . 
     Contribution calculator  126  may determine the monetary target and/or the maximum contribution amounts by accessing rules from management data  118 . For example, management data  118  may include preferences for contributions specified by a transferor and/or a beneficiary of the contributions via a device  102 . As another example, management data  118  may include information that specifies a limit on tax-free giving. These rules may be updated from time-to-time, such that a maximum contribution amount may change after the initial goal was determined and before the monetary target is reached. 
     Goal configuration module  122  may invoke a scheduler  124  to schedule events associated with contributions provided by the transferor and/or the beneficiary. For example, a scheduler  124  may schedule contributions monthly, twice a year, yearly, or at any other suitable time. Where appropriate, scheduler  124  spreads the maximum contribution amount according to the time periods in which contributions are being made. For example, scheduler  124  may schedule and calculate monthly contributions such that their sum for a year does not exceed the annual tax-free gift limit. In certain embodiments, scheduler  124  may schedule contributions from the transferor on the beneficiary&#39;s birthday or on a certain holiday. In such embodiments, the beneficiary and/or transferor may receive an alert (e.g., an e-mail or written letter) indicating that a contribution has been made. Additionally, scheduler  124  may estimate the date on which a monetary target will be reached. This information may be communicated to users via devices  102  during goal set-up and/or while contributions toward the goal are being made. 
     Transfer module  128  is operable to facilitate transfer of contributions to an account associated with the goal. For example, when scheduler  124  indicates that a contribution should be made, transfer module  128  may include instructions for processer  114  to automatically alert a user to make the contribution through an electronic mail, by producing a written letter and sending the letter to the appropriate user, and/or in any other suitable manner. As another example, transfer module  128  may instruct processer  114  and/or network interface  112  to communicate with one or more account managers  108  to transfer a contribution from the transferor&#39;s account to an account associated with the goal. 
     Reporting module  130  is operable to facilitate delivery of information associated with any contributions made to an account associated with the goal. For example, reporting module  130  may alert the beneficiary of the account when a transfer of a contribution is made to the account. As noted above, this alert may be delivered at any suitable time, such as the beneficiary&#39;s birthday and/or on a holiday. The alert does not have to coincide with a contribution, but may be set to provide a snapshot of progress toward the goal at any given point in time. 
     Reporting module  130  may also instruct processor  114  to provide information regarding the current progress to devices  102  for delivery to users of those devices via GUIs  110 . The information may be provided to the user in any suitable format, such as a graph displaying the amount contained in the goal account over a specified time period. A graphic format may be able to visually distinguish among contributions made from different sources. For example, by viewing a progress display, a user may be able to visually discern the contributions made by a transferor, those may be the beneficiary, and those from interest income deposited into the account associated with the goal. 
     In particular embodiments, certain users may be limited to viewing only a subset of the information related to contributions made to the account associated with the goal. For example, where a transferor&#39;s contributions are conditioned on the beneficiary&#39;s savings habits, reporting module  130  may instruct processor  114  and/or network interface  112  to send to the device  120  operated by the transferor confirmation only that such conditions have been met. To illustrate this, suppose that a transferor pledges $1000 to the goal account if the beneficiary saves $2000 in a year. If the beneficiary actually contributes $3000 to the goal account, the transferor may only receive confirmation that the beneficiary met the condition and not how much the beneficiary exceeded the condition amount. 
     Administrative computer  132  represents any suitable components that facilitate establishment and/or modification of the configuration of any of the components of goal management server  108  through network  104 . An administrator may use administrative computer  132  to update the rules in management data  118  that indicate, for example, the conditions and/or configurations for contributions to an account associated with a goal. For example, in response to a change in the tax code, an administrator may update a rule in management data  118  that indicates the tax-free giving limit. As another example, administrative computer  132  may include software that monitors the tax code and automatically updates rules in management data  118  in response. 
     In certain embodiments, administrative computer  132  may facilitate set up or modifications to the goal management process. For example, administrative computer  132  may be situated at a financial institution, such as a bank. The potential contributors to a goal-based account, such as an older individual and a future heir, may come to the bank and initiate the goal management process with the help of an administrator at the bank using administrative computer  132 . As another example, one or more potential contributors may telephone an administrator using administrative computer  132  to set up the goal management process. In a similar fashion, administrative computer  132  may be used to make changes to a goal management process, such as changing the monetary target in response to modified goal (e.g., a bigger/smaller house). Administrative computer  132  may include a GUI  110   c  to facilitate configuration of the goal with goal management server  108 . 
     Administrative computer  132  may comprise a network server, any suitable remote server, a mainframe, a host computer, a workstation, a web server, a personal computer, a file, server, or any other suitable device operable to configure the components and rules used by account manager  106  and/or goal management server  108 . In some embodiments, administrative computer  132  may execute any suitable operating system such as IBM&#39;s z/OS, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, MAC-OS, WINDOWS, UNIX, OPenVMS, Linux, or any other appropriate operating systems, including operating systems developed in the future. The functions of administrative computer  132  may be performed by any suitable combination of one or more servers or other components at one or more locations. In the embodiment where the modules are servers, the servers may be public or private servers, and each server may be a virtual or physical server. The server may include one or more servers at the same or at locations remote from one another. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of operation of system  10 , a grandparent uses system  10  to make living gifts to her future heir, her grandchild. The grandparent and grandchild decide on a goal of purchasing a car for the grandchild. Both will make monetary contributions toward the goal, which will be held in an account set up to hold savings for the car. The grandparent and grandchild use GUI  110   b  on device  102   b  to configure the goal. When a purchase of a car is selected as the goal, GUI  110   b  automatically adapts to acquire additional information about the car being purchased. GUI  110   b  asks for the type of car, model of the car, any special options on the car, and the desired date of purchase. These selections are communicated to goal management server  108 , which uses the selections to determine a monetary target associated with the goal. The monetary target is communicated back to GUI  110   b , where the grandparent and grandchild are given the choice to customize the target. 
     GUI  110   b  asks for estimated contributions for each of the grandparent and grandchild. The grandparent will make annual contributions to the account on the grandchild&#39;s birthday from one of the grandparent&#39;s accounts. The grandparent&#39;s contributions will match the annual contributions of the grandchild. The grandparent is notified by GUI  110   b  that matches to the grandchild&#39;s contribution may be subject to taxation if the grandparent&#39;s contribution exceeds the tax-free giving limit. The grandparent and grandchild then determine that the grandparent&#39;s annual contribution should not exceed the tax-free giving limit. These selections are communicated to the goal management server  108  and stored in management data  118 . 
     Goal management server  106  operates to determine the current savings level of the account associated with the goal annually on the child&#39;s birthday by communicating with account manager  106 . Goal management server  106  then calculates the grandparent&#39;s contribution in light of the amount contributed by the grandchild for the past year, the total amount saved, and the tax-free giving limit. Goal management server  106  then facilitates the transfer of the contribution from the grandparent&#39;s account to the account associated with the goal. Goal management server  106  then sends a communication to devices operated by the grandparent and/or grandchild alerting them of the transfer. The grandparent and/or grandchild use GUIs on devices  102  to monitor overall progress and to modify the goal after goal set-up process has been initiated. The components of system  10  may allow the grandparent to make regular contributions to the goal account while providing maximum benefits under the provisions of a tax code. 
     A component of system  10  may include an interface, logic, memory, and/or other suitable element. An interface receives input, sends output, processes the input and/or output, and/or performs other suitable operations. An interface may comprise hardware and/or software. Logic performs the operations of the component. For example, logic executes instructions to generate output from input. Logic may include hardware, software, and/or other logic. Logic may be encoded in one or more non-transitory, tangible media, such as a computer readable storage medium or any other suitable tangible medium, and may perform operations when executed by a computer. Certain logic, such as a processor, may manage the operation of a component. Examples of a processor include one or more computers, one or more microprocessors, one or more applications, and/or other logic. 
     Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to system  10  without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, GUIs  110  may manage multiple goals for one or more beneficiaries. In such a case, a grandparent, for example, may be able to manage contributions to goals for several different grandchildren (i.e., several future heirs). Additionally, there may be multiple beneficiaries for the same goal (e.g., an aggregated retirement account for several children). The components may be integrated or separated. For example, the functionality of goal management server  108  may reside in access devices  102 , account manager  106 , and/or administrative computer  132 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example GUI  200  operable to facilitate configuration of a goal. In certain embodiments, GUI  200  may be a part of GUI  110  of  FIG. 1 . GUI  200  displays choices associated with a goal to a user, allows the user to make certain selections, and communicates selections to a suitable destination, such as goal management server  108 . GUI  200  is operable to change a portion of the options presented to a user in response to one or more selections made by the user, such that the goal configuration process may appear to the user as a guided interaction through a goal set-up wizard. In one example, an older individual and a future heir-beneficiary may use GUI  200  together to set up a goal. In other words, GUI  200  facilitates a conversation between the older individual to the heir regarding scheduled transfers of funds to the heir. The results of such a conversation may be input into GUI  200 . 
     GUI  200  provides the user with a choice of a goal  202 . The user may choose from a list of predetermined goals and/or customize their own goal. In certain embodiments, goal  202  is presented as a list including HOME, CAR, VACATION, COLLEGE, and CUSTOM. Respectively, these represent goals of purchasing a home, purchasing a car, saving for a vacation, saving for college expenses, and configuring a custom goal. Upon selection of one or more of these selections, GUI  200  presents the user with more choices in goal details pane  204 . 
     Goal details pane  204  is operable to display suitable choices to a user based upon their selection of goal  202 . For example, when a user selects goal  202  to be HOME, goal details pane  204  displays further choices to the user to help the user further define the goal of purchasing a home. These choices may include a desired number of bedrooms, a desired size, a desired purchase date, and any other suitable choice. These selections may be used in determining a suitable monetary target. As another example, when a user selects goal  202  to be CUSTOM, goals detail pane  204  may allow the user to directly provide a desired monetary target and a desired date for which the target will be reached. 
     Once suitable selections have been made, a monetary target is calculated when the user depresses a calculate button  206 . The monetary target may be determined by communicating with a backend goal management server, by using computing functions on the device on which GUI  200  resides, and/or by any other suitable method. The determined monetary target appears in suggested target box  208 . The user may change the amount that will be used as the monetary target by depressing a change target button  210 . 
     GUI  200  also provides many choices for the transferor&#39;s contributions. These contributions may be limited to the tax-free maximum gift limit by selecting checkbox  212 . Additionally, the transferor may specify a set contribution amount by selecting checkbox  214  and entering an amount into box  216 . If checkbox  212  is not selected and the set contribution amount exceeds a tax-free giving limit, a notice may pop-up on GUI  200  alerting the user that the selected amount exceeds the tax-free giving limit. Upon notice, the user may then choose to reduce the selected contribution amount. Any suitable conditions may be added to the transferor&#39;s conditions by depressing add condition button  218  and entering desired conditions on the transferor&#39;s contributions. Certain embodiments of GUI  200  may provide an option for selecting the frequency of the transferor&#39;s contributions (e.g., monthly, yearly, birthdays, holidays, etc.). 
     Additionally, GUI  200  displays information associated with the beneficiary&#39;s contributions. In certain embodiments, box  220  may allow a user to enter the amount that the beneficiary expects to contribute. In alternative embodiments, the expected contributions of the contribution may be calculated based on the determined monetary target and the transferor&#39;s contributions. For example, this may be calculated as the difference between the monetary target and the transferor&#39;s contributions. This amount may be displayed in box  220 . In some embodiments, GUI  200  displays the periodic contribution (e.g., monthly, yearly, etc.) of the beneficiary. The users may continue to specify any other suitable selections associated with the goal by depressing the continue button  222  on GUI  200 . 
     Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to GUI  200  without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, GUI  200  may allow a user to choose which accounts contributions are received from and which accounts contributions are transferred to. Additionally, GUI  200  may allow selection of multiple goals  202 . In such an embodiment, goal details pane  204  may include choices for all selected goals and components  208  through  222  may show an aggregate for all goals and/or may show multiple other boxes/selector corresponding to all goals selected. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example GUI  300  operable to display progress toward a goal. In certain embodiments, GUI  300  may be a part of GUI  110  of  FIG. 1 . GUI  300  may include checkboxes  302  and  304 . When checkbox  302  is selected, GUI  300  displays the transferor&#39;s contributions. When checkbox  304  is selected, GUI  300  displays the beneficiary&#39;s contributions. In certain embodiments, one of checkbox  302  and checkbox  304  may be disabled to disallow a user (e.g., beneficiary and/or transferor) from seeing contributions from another user. In particular embodiments, such as that shown in GUI  300 , the beneficiary&#39;s contributions are made generally at any time while the transferor&#39;s contributions are made annually. In this example, the transferor&#39;s contributions are capped at $13,000. This amount may be equal to a tax-free giving limit, such that gifting from an older individual to a future heir is maximized under the applicable tax code. At the end of 2012, the transferor&#39;s contributions are less than the maximum because the difference between the monetary target and the amount of savings at that time is less than the maximum contribution of $13,000. 
     Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to GUI  300  without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, GUI  300  may show separate trend lines for each contribution and/or one trend line for the total of all contributions. As another example, where appropriate, GUI  300  may display contributions from any other sources, such as from interest earned in the account that contains the contributions toward the goal. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example method  400  for managing a contribution toward a goal. The method begins at step  402 , where goal selections are retrieved. The goal selections may be received from a GUI such as GUI  110  on a computing device. At step  404 , a monetary target associated with the goal is determined. In certain embodiments, the monetary target may be determined according to one or more selections provided via a GUI such as GUI  110 . At step  406 , a current savings level is determined. The current savings level may be determined, for example, by accessing an account associated with the goal. At step  408 , a rule associated with a maximum contribution amount toward the monetary target is accessed. The rule may specify a tax-free giving limit, a percentage of another user&#39;s contributions during a specified time period, conditions specified for the contribution, any another suitable criteria, and/or any suitable combination of the preceding. 
     A contribution is calculated at step  410 . The contribution calculated may be based on the rule accessed in step  408 . The maximum contribution may also be determined based on the rule. The monetary target deficit may be calculated as the difference between the monetary target and the current savings level determined in step  406 . In certain embodiments, the contribution amount is determined to be the lower of the monetary target deficit and the maximum contribution amount. In some embodiments, conditions are checked for the contribution. If the particular conditions have not been met, a contribution may not be made for the goal during a specified time period. 
     At step  412 , a transfer of funds equal to the contribution determined in step  410  is facilitated. The transfer may be facilitated by, for example, communicating a notice to the appropriate contributor, communicating with an account manager to facilitate transfer of the funds between suitable accounts automatically without intervention from the contributor, and/or in any other suitable manner. At step  414 , information associated with the contribution is delivered. This may occur by communicating an alert sent to any suitable user, communicating progress toward the goal to a device for display on a GUI, and/or in any other suitable manner. Step  416  determines whether the monetary target associated with the goal has been reached. If so, the method ends. 
     If the goal has not been reached, the method continues to step  418 . At step  418 , the method waits for a specified amount, such as the amount of time chosen for the frequency of a certain user&#39;s contributions. At step  420 , the rules and selections associated with the goal may be updated. For example, a rule may be changed if the tax-free giving limit has been changed from a previous time period and/or if the transferor&#39;s maximum contribution amount changes. The method then returns to step  406 , where the current savings level is determined again. 
     Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method  400  disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. For example, method  400  may include steps for managing contributions by any user to a second goal. Additionally, steps may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment allows automated management of contributions from one or more third-parties (e.g., transferors) to an account associated with a beneficiary&#39;s goal. The transferors&#39; contributions may have various rules associated with when the contributions are made and the specific amount of the contributions. Rules associated with a maximum contribution amount may be automatically retrieved from any suitable source. For example, an older individual may be able to make regular fund transfers to a future heir. The maximum contribution amount may be set to the tax-free giving limit, such that fund transfers to the heir are maximized under any applicable tax codes. Another technical advantage of one embodiment allows for facilitated goal configuration through a graphical user interface. The transferors and the beneficiary may provide input on the configuration of the goal and the manner in which contributions are made. Another technical advantage of one embodiment allows for delivery of information related to the contributions through any suitable alerts and/or a graphical user interface. The transferors and/or the beneficiary may receive all information or information filtered in any suitable manner. 
     Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, a myriad of changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.