What this screen shows
The scenario profile settings show the projection parameters that can be configured independently per scenario: specifically, life expectancy and the age at which retirement events fire.
The global profile (date of birth, nickname, partner details) is set once on the Profile page and shared across all scenarios. Scenario-level profile settings cover the projection parameters that may differ between scenarios — for example, one scenario modelling retirement at 60 and another at 65, or one projecting to age 85 and another to age 95.
Note: the dedicated scenario profile editor is coming shortly (tracked in #481). This page describes current behaviour and the expected interface when the editor is live.
How to read it
Life expectancy
The life expectancy field controls the age at which the simulation ends for each person. In couple scenarios, the projection runs until the later of the two life expectancies.
While the dedicated editor is being built, life expectancy is set via the scenario assumptions panel. Look for the Life expectancy field when configuring scenario assumptions.
The default life expectancy shown is illustrative — it is not a medical assessment. A common convention is to model to at least age 90 to account for the real possibility of a long retirement.
Retirement age
Retirement age is modelled via a RETIREMENT life event on the scenario timeline. One retirement event per working partner is added with the date employment is expected to stop. The engine uses this event to stop employment income and begin the drawdown phase.
To compare different retirement ages, create separate scenarios with different RETIREMENT event dates. The scenario comparison view on the Dashboard shows projected outcomes side by side.
What it does not tell you
Scenario profile settings affect the projection period and retirement transition, but they do not override the underlying profile data — date of birth, State Pension age, or partner details remain as set in the global profile.
Life expectancy is a modelling assumption, not a prediction. The projection shows what the scenario produces to the specified age under the configured assumptions. It does not account for costs or circumstances that may arise beyond the modelled period.
Changing life expectancy in one scenario does not affect other scenarios. Each scenario holds its own projection parameters independently.