FAQ
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about Planiva.
Looking for the quickest route in? Visit the beta page, review the pricing direction, or use the contact page if your question is not covered here.
Is Planiva free?
Yes. Planiva is free while it is in Beta. Later we expect to offer a paid subscription for full functionality, while keeping a limited free tier so people can try it.
Do I need to sign up?
Yes. You need an account to use Planiva. This lets you save scenarios and access your work from any device.
Why do I need an account?
So we can securely store your saved scenarios and preferences, and keep your work private.
Is Planiva financial advice?
No. Planiva is a scenario-planning tool. It helps you explore assumptions and outcomes, but it does not provide regulated financial advice.
Who is Planiva for?
Planiva is for people who want a clearer way to explore financial decisions, test assumptions, and organise planning scenarios over time.
Is this focused on UK users?
Yes. The current tools and assumptions are UK-focused, and the service is being developed around UK planning use cases.
What tools does Planiva include today?
Today Planiva includes planning tools across retirement, cash flow, tax, Capital Gains Tax and disposal, estate planning and related scenario work in the workbench.
Will more tools be added?
Yes. The current tools are the start, not the limit. The Capital Gains Tax and disposal planner is now live, and we plan to add more over time as well. We welcome suggestions. If there is a tool or planning workflow you would like to see, please use our contact page.
Do you support Scottish taxpayers?
Yes. You can choose Scottish taxpayer status and Planiva will apply the relevant income tax rules in its modelling.
Does it support couples?
Yes. You can model one person or two people, including different retirement ages and per-person income, tax, and withdrawals.
Can I save multiple scenarios?
Yes. You can save scenarios so you can compare different assumptions, inputs, and planning approaches over time.
Can I export my results?
Yes. You can export your inputs and projections (for example to Excel) so you can keep a record or do further analysis.
What does export include?
Your assumptions/inputs and the projected results (for example yearly balances, income, withdrawals, and tax).
What assumptions can I change?
That depends on the tool, but you can adjust a range of assumptions and inputs such as income, assets, spending, tax-related values, planning assumptions, and scenario-specific details to see how outcomes change.
How does Planiva handle State Pension?
It models State Pension as an assumption-based income stream. You can adjust the amount and start age to match your expectations.
Can Planiva model early retirement?
Yes. You can set your retirement age and see how bridging years are funded before other income sources (like State Pension) start.
How far does the planner project?
Projection depth depends on the tool you are using. Where a tool uses forward projections, Planiva shows the relevant time horizon and assumptions inside that tool.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in your browser, on desktop or mobile, with no installation.
Will it work on mobile?
Yes. It is designed to work in a modern mobile browser as well as on desktop.
How does tax get handled?
Planiva includes UK tax assumptions in relevant tools and uses modelling to estimate outcomes. It is not a substitute for HMRC calculations or professional advice.
How accurate are the results?
They are only as good as your inputs and assumptions. Use Planiva to explore “what if” scenarios and sense-check plans, then confirm important decisions with a professional.
Is my data safe?
We store what is needed to run the service and save your scenarios, and we aim to protect it with appropriate security controls. We do not sell your personal data.
Can I delete my account and scenarios?
Yes. If you want your account and saved scenarios deleted, please use our contact page and request deletion. We can then process the request, subject to any short-term backup or operational retention that may still apply.