Retirement Planning Assistant
(RPA)
Last updated on August 14th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Expat Living Better has developed a user-friendly MS Excel spreadsheet designed to help individuals assess their readiness for retirement. This tool simplifies the complex calculations involved in evaluating your assets, expenses, and lifestyle aspirations, providing a clear picture of your financial preparedness for retirement.
The spreadsheet allows users to determine how long they can sustain their desired lifestyle based on their expected funds. It also offers insights into the quality of life that can be supported in various locations, enabling users to make informed decisions about their retirement destination.
One of the key advantages of this application is its commitment to user privacy. All data is processed locally on your device, ensuring that no personal information is transmitted online. Users are not required to input any sensitive data, making it a secure option for financial planning. To utilize the spreadsheet, simply download the file to a PC equipped with an MS Office-compatible application. You can save your input data for future reference, allowing for easy adjustments and recalculations as your financial situation evolves.
The retirement planning assistant provides a comprehensive overview of your total net worth and calculates the longevity of your funds alongside your projected retirement income across multiple locations. This feature is particularly beneficial for comparing different retirement scenarios. For instance, when comparing retirement in Thailand versus Connecticut, USA, the spreadsheet highlights significant differences in the sustainability of your retirement plan.
In the example screen shoots below, a retirement plan compares a retirement life in Connecticut, USA to one in a major city in Thailand. You can see the graphs below the funding will last only 18 years living frugally in Connecticut, while the same income figures could support a lavish lifestyle in Thailand for the rest of your life, potentially leaving a substantial inheritance for your family as well.
With the Expat Living Better retirement planning assistant, finding your ideal retirement destination has never been easier!
The RPA compares any two locations in the world, to see which locations allow you to life the lifestyle you wish for the number of year as you expect to life. The assistant compiles financial data such as your income, expenses, inflation, interest rates, taxes at two locations, to calculate your monthly gains or losses.
The RPA calculates your monthly savings balance for as many years as you wish.
The RPA informs you when your current funds will run out at a specific high cost of living location
The RPA compares any two locations in the world, to see which locations allow you to live the lifestyle you wish for the number of year as you expect to life and the income you expat to have.
Instructions for using Retirement Planning Assistant;
This file requires an MS Excel compatible application such as MS Office, Office Libre, or others in order to open and use it.
- Due to the large amount of data displayed, use of a Tablet, Desktop or Laptop is recommended, smartphones will not display data properly.
To view the retirement planning assistant, download the Excel file and click on it. If a compatible program is installed the file will open, then follow the instructions on the instructions tab