Methuselah:Getting Started

From UngerKnowledgeBase

Contents 1 Launching Methuselah the First Time 2 Importing a Customized Configuration File 3 Setting user preferences 4 Moving Around Methuselah 4.1 Navigation Bar 4.2 Data Entry Screens (Input Panels) 4.3 Graphs & Spreadsheets 4.4 Menu Bar 4.5 Button Bar 5 Adding a New Client 6 Contacting Customer Support

This Getting Start Guide assumes you have already installed Methuselah. If you haven't installed Methuselah, see the Installation Guides for information about how to setup the program.

The Getting Started Guide is designed to help you get up and running with Methuselah as quickly as possible. It explains how to launch Methuselah for the first-time, configure the program for the best performance for you, and how to move around the program.

Launching Methuselah the First Time

Before you begin...

• You need an internet connection
• You need your username and password

The first time you launch Methuselah an internet connection is required to activate your user license and download any recent program updates. Once your license is activated you will be able to login to Methuselah without an internet connection until your license renewal date.

To launch Methuselah

1. Double-click the Methuselah icon on your desktop, or select Methuselah in the Programs group in the Start menu (Start>Programs>Methuselah)
2. The Login screen will appear. Enter the User Name and Password combination that you created when you registered on the website, and then click OK. Remember that your password is case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as it was originally entered on the website.
3. Your license will be activated and any program updates that are available will be automatically downloaded and installed, and then Methuselah will open.

Importing a Customized Configuration File

If you have a customized configuration file for Methuselah, the Configuration Manager lets you import, export (to backup or copy) or delete it.

To import a configuration file...

1. In Methuselah, select Tools > Configuration...
2. In the Configuration Manager screen, click Import Configuration File. If you have an older configuration file installed, then you need to click Yes in the overwrite confirmation prompt.
3. In the Open dialog, locate and select the configuration file and then click OK.
4. In the confirmation prompt, click OK.
5. Restart Methuselah to fully apply the settings in the configuration file.

Setting user preferences

To get the most out of Methuselah, it is recommended that you review and configure the user preferences and settings to suit your needs. At a later date you can always update these settings. To configure user preferences, from the Menu Bar, click Tools, then Preferences and then the appropriate section as detailed below.

User Information

The information entered on this form is shown on the title page of printed reports to identify the author/preparer of the report. User information is defaulted to the details you provided when you created your user account. Please note some of the details on this form cannot be modified.

Select Directory for Client Files

The first time you use Methuselah the program is configured to save all client files in the "clientfiles" folder located in the folder where the program is installed (i.e. c:\program files\methuselah mvp\clientfiles). If there are other Methuselah users on your network, you can share client files with your colleagues by selecting the same network folder as the default location where client files are stored (see Methuselah:Transferring client files between computers. To configure the folder where client are stored select Tools > Preferences > File Settings and then enter a new location.

Import Client Files

Methuselah can import client files from another location. This is useful if you are installing Methuselah on a new computer and you have client files that you copied from your old computer; and if you are opening client files that were sent by another Methuselah user. To import client files, from the Menu Bar, select File, then Import, and then select Single Legacy File to import one file or Bulk Legacy Files to import multiple client files that are located within a folder.

Moving Around Methuselah

A sample case is provided with the program to introduce the program and its features. To open the sample case, from the Menu Bar, click File > Open > Open Client, then in the Open Files list select Smith, George, and finally in the Plans/Proposals Manager list, click on the first plan in the list and then click Open.

The main window of Methuselah consists of several important parts. These include:

• Navigation Bar
• Data Entry Screens
• Graphs and Spreadsheets
• Menu Bar
• Button Bar

Navigation Bar

The Navigation bar on the left side of the main program window includes shortcuts to select the data entry screens, and graphs and spreadsheets in Methuselah. The shortcuts are arranged into groups, and a button for each group is displayed in the Navigation bar. To select a shortcut, first click on a button in the Navigation bar to expand the group. Then, click on the shortcut. The groups and the shortcuts are as follows:

• Client Details - Shortcuts to the Personal and Comments data entry screens.
• Client Objectives - Shortcuts to the Client Objectives data entry screens.
• Beneficiaries / Education - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Education Funding module.
• Wages / Social Security - Shortcuts to the Annual Wage data entry screen, and the data entry screen, graphs and spreadsheets of the Social Security module.
• Income / Expenses - Shortcuts to the Income and Expenses data entry screens of the Cash Flow module.
• Assets / Liabilities - Shortcuts to the data entry screens for assets, portfolios, loans and trusts.
• Insurance - Shortcuts to the data entry screens for Life Insurance and Disability Income Replacement Insurance policies.
• COLA / Income Tax Rates - Shortcuts to the data entry screens for income tax and inflation rate assumptions, and the Income Tax graphs and spreadsheets.
• Retirement Planning - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Retirement Planning module.
• Distribution Planning - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Distribution Planning module.
• Estate / Gifts Planning - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Estate Planning and Gift Planning modules.
• Capital Needs Analysis - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Capital Needs Analysis module.
• Disability Needs Analysis - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Disability Needs Analysis module.
• Long Term Care Analysis - Shortcuts to the data entry screens, graphs and spreadsheets of the Long Term Care Analysis module.

Data Entry Screens (Input Panels)

The Data Entry screens let you enter client data to be added to the current plan or proposal. The screen is shown in the middle frame, or in a "floating" window positioned over the main program window. To access Data Entry screens, click on a shortcut in the Navigation bar.

The Data Entry screens display input fields in a blue font, and labels that describe the fields in a black font. To enter client data, click on the blue input field and then make your entry. To move to the next field on the screen use the TAB key or select the field with your mouse. To save data, click on the Save button located at the top of the screen.

Some of the Data Entry screens have "selection-dependent" input fields. In essence, this means that selections in one or more input fields on the screen some times introduces other input fields on the screen.

Field level help is available for most input fields. To access field level help, right-click on the blue input field and then in the pop-up menu select the "What's This" option.

Graphs & Spreadsheets

The Graphs and Spreadsheets lets you view the results of the current plan or proposal. These are shown in the right frame of the main program window. To select a graph and spreadsheet, click on any of the "Analyze" shortcuts in the Navigation bar or the Analyze menu in the menu bar at the top of the screen. If the plan or proposal has sufficient data to draw the graph and spreadsheet, it will be displayed immediately. If the insufficient data is entered, a message will be displayed that explains the missing data that is needed.

By default, graph occupies 65% of the screen and the spreadsheet 35%. You can adjust the display ratio of the graph and spreadsheet by left-clicking on the top row of the spreadsheet (usually this is named "Year") and dragging the spreadsheet up or down.

The Spreadsheet has notebook tabs on the bottom margin for you to select the following:

• Summary Spreadsheet - displays information specifically related to the graph. This is the default tab that is selected.
• Comprehensive Spreadsheet – displays detailed spreadsheet data for the entire module. This option is available for most graphs.
• Help – displays a help topic overlay that explains the Input Panel that is displayed.

Menu Bar

The Menu bar runs across the top of the main program window, and includes these menus:

• File - Options that let you manage client files and plans, import and export client data, access printing options, and exit the program.
• View - Options that let you show/hide the visibility of the Data Entry screen, Graphs and Spreadsheets. Also, options to access these features: Graph Comments, Recommendations, Financial Strategies, Custom View and Behind the Scenes.
• Analyze - Options that let you select graphs and spreadsheets to analyze.
• What If - A toggle button that lets you enable or disable the What If? simulator.
• Proposals - Options that let you manage proposals in the plan.
• Tools - Options the let you access tools and user settings for the program.
• Help - Lets you access the help file for the program.

Button Bar

The Button bar runs across the top of the graph in the main program window. Click the buttons to access these features:

• - Exports (saves) the graph to a bitmap file
• - Rapid Needs Analysis
• - Print the graph or a graph report
• - Custom View, to modify the data displayed in the graph
• - What If simulator

Adding a New Client

Follow these steps to add a new client:

1. Select File > Instant Client in the menu bar to access the Client Information screen. This screen collects the information that is required to create a new client file.
2. Enter the necessary data. Click in a specific text box to enter data, or use the Tab key to move from one text box to the next. The following data fields are required: First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth.
3. Review the entered information. Edit data in any text box by clicking and editing the value.
4. When you are satisfied that the information is complete, click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Now the Client Information screen is closed and the client file is created.
6. The main program window is opened and the new client is displayed.
7. You can now continue entering data for the new client. To do this, click on shortcuts in the Navigation bar to access data entry screens.
8. In the data entry screen, click on a specific input field and enter data.
9. Click on the next field or use the Tab key to move from one field to the next.
10. When you are satisfied that the information is complete, click the Save button located at the top of the data entry screen.
11. The recent changes are saved in the client file, and the graph and spreadsheet illustration is updated to reflect the recent changes.

Contacting Customer Support

Contacting Customer Support

If you encounter any problems, or have questions, please contact our customer support department. Support hours are from 9:00am to 5:00pm eastern time.

Phone

1-646-435-0131

Fax

1-646-452-0049

Email

support@financialguidance.com