Patent ID: 7774257

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a processor of one or more computer systems executing a user interface module, information regarding a retirement income goal of an individual; receiving by the user interface module a plurality of input values for corresponding decision variables, including an indication regarding a target retirement age for the individual, an indication regarding anticipated monetary contributions directed toward the retirement income goal and an express indication regarding the individual's risk tolerance, upon which a probability distribution is dependent, the probability distribution generated based on simulated market return scenarios and representing a set of possible future portfolio values based on the plurality of input values, wherein the express indication regarding the individual's risk tolerance is constrained to be within a defined range of risk and wherein the individual's risk tolerance represents the individual's willingness to accept variance in the set of possible future portfolio values in view of expected returns of an investment portfolio of the individual that is associated with the retirement income goal; and providing by the user interface module feedback regarding the likelihood of the individual achieving the retirement income goal in view of the plurality of input values and providing information regarding a cross section of the probability distribution corresponding to the plurality of input values by concurrently graphically representing information regarding a plurality of the set of possible future portfolio values relative to a graphical indication of the retirement income goal.