In Voyant it is generally a good idea to treat Basic Expenses as one's essentials to distinguish them from other types of expenses.
The black need line is intended to show the portion of the inflows that is allocated to expenses and savings. Its position is based on expenses, taxes, and planned savings/investments that are realised in a given year. This is total allocated income.
The optional basic need line (in light blue) identifies the portion of these inflows that are being used to cover only basic expenses, taxes, and insurance premiums. The basic need line is exclusive of leisure, luxury, milestone and legacy expenses as well as contributions to pensions, savings and investments. The basics line is intended to show how well your client’s basic needs are will be met, especially in retirement.
The basics line can be displayed or hidden by toggling on or off the Basic Need check box, which is shown below the Cash Flow chart.
The software can also be set to display the basic need line by default by ticking under Calculation Settings the "Show Basic Expenses Line" preference.
Plan Preferences vs. System Preferences
Changes to this setting on the mirror Calculation Settings panel in System Preferences, on the left side of the screen, will be used only going forward, as you create new client cases. System Preferences are used as a template only for new client cases. Changes to System Preferences will not retroactively affect your existing client cases.
If you want to change this preference in any existing client cases, you will need to open and edit them individually, in each case's Plan Preferences.
