Methuselah:Release Notes

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This document summarizes the release notes history of the Methuselah Wealth Management software.

Contents

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New Releases

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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1130, released on February 08, 2010

What’s new in this update?
  • Economic factors, tax tables, and report content updated for 2010. This update includes changes to the income ranges of the marginal tax brackets for 2010, and to contribution limits for qualified retirement plans, data points to calculate Social Security benefits, and limits and thresholds related to gift planning, estate planning and income, capital gains and estate tax modeling.
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Earlier Releases

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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1129, released on October 19, 2009

Program Changes
  • Addressed a report printing issue that may occur in plans which include multiple deferred annuity accounts.
  • Addressed an income tax calculation issue that may occur in plans when the itemized deduction phaseout provision is encountered.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1127, released on October 12, 2009

Program Changes
  • Installment Sales feature added to the Sale of Assets screen allowing for the recurring sale of an asset over multiple years.
  • Elective Withdrawals from Deferred Annuities option added to the details screen for the Deferred Annuity account type.
  • Option B Life Insurance Death Benefits option added to the Life Insurance details screen.
  • Breakeven Analysis added to the Social Security Benefit module.
  • New financial strategy in the Education module letting you solve for the "fund balance increase" needed to resolve funding shortfalls.
  • New style sheet applied to spreadsheet pages in reports
  • Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount increased for 2009
  • Live Support option added
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Release notes for BNA Wealth Manager version 2.60.7.1125, released on September 23, 2009

Program Changes
  • Installment Sales feature added to the Sale of Assets screen allowing for the recurring sale of an asset over multiple years.
  • Elective Withdrawals from Deferred Annuities option added to the details screen for the Deferred Annuity account type.
  • Option B Life Insurance Death Benefits option added to the Life Insurance details screen.
  • Breakeven Analysis added to the Social Security Benefit module.
  • New financial strategy in the Education module letting you solve for the "fund balance increase" needed to resolve funding shortfalls.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1116, released on July 23, 2009

Program Changes
A change was applied to the Roth 401(k) account type to correct an issue with the contribution amount that is calculated when the "Maximum Contribution" option is selected.
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Release notes for BNA Wealth Manager version 2.60.7.1115, released on June 06, 2009

Program Changes
Minor improvements to the processing of trial users through the trial registration form.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1101, released on March 19, 2009

General Changes
  • The Open Client Files and Save Client Files screens have been reformatted. The new format uses the "Windows File Explorer" style of dialog box. For new users the new format of these screens will be displayed by default. For existing users the old format of these screens will continue to be displayed, but the new format can be enabled by following the steps below.
  1. In the menu bar, select Tools > File Settings. The File Settings screen will be displayed.
  2. As an optional step, it is suggested that you click Move Client Files to organize your client files into the default folder location (specified in the Location section).
  3. In the File Open Preference section, check the box to Use standard Windows Explorer dialog box.
  4. Click the Close button.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1095, released on March 4, 2009

General Changes
  • Correction to a line item in the comprehensive spreadsheet of the Retirement, Disability and Long Term Care modules. The "Estimated Taxes" line item in the Projected Taxes section was replaced with "Taxable Income".
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1091, released on February 26, 2009

What’s new in this update?
  • Federal estate tax modeling after 2010 option added, which lets you apply one of the following models to the federal estate calculations in the plan or proposal:
  1. Sunset in 2011 - starting in 2011, the federal estate tax "sunsets" to the 2001 legislation. The unified credit is set to $1,000,000
  2. No Sunset in 2011 - starting in 2011, the federal estate tax is based on the legislation of 2010. The estate tax is repealed, per tax laws in 2010
  3. Assume 2009 Tax Rates - beginning in 2011, the federal estate tax is based on legislation from 2009. The unified credit is set to $3,500,000.
  • In printed reports, the formatting of "landscape" spreadsheet pages has been updated.
Known installation issues in this update
There is a known installation issue that happens when the update is installed by a user with a Non-Administrator Windows Account. When this error occurs, the following error message is displayed: Software update incomplete; the program did not update successfully. Please contact your system administrator or Customer Support for assistance. Click here for information about this error and how to resolve it.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1082, released on January 06, 2009

What’s new in this update?
  • RMD Relief in 2009 provision added to the Distribution Planning module, per House measure, H.R. 7237. In 2009 the required minimum distributions applied by the calculation engine is $0, however a voluntary distribution can be applied to the plan in this year, if selected.
  • Economic factors, tax tables, program calculations and Background Information in client reports updated for 2009 as provided by the IRS, SSA and other agencies.
  • Charitable Bequest from IRA assets option added to the Distribution Planning module. When this option is used, a charitable bequest from IRA assets can be made at the death of the owner or surviving spouse.
  • After Tax Current Net Worth illustration added to the Asset group in the Analyze menu.
  • Spreadsheet variable descriptions added to the footer of report pages.
  • College Cost Database updated for 2008-9 regional cost information.
  • Insurance group in the Navigation bar divided into Life Insurance and Disability Income Insurance groups.
  • Search toolbar added to the Behind the Scenes screen.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1046, released on December 9, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Roth 401(k) account type added.
  • Conversion of Traditional IRA to Roth IRA feature added.
  • Qualified Asset and Roth Account Graphs and Spreadsheets merged as part of Roth 401(k) enhancement.
  • Financial Information (Net Worth Statement) section in client reports updated.
  • Deductible Medical Expense feature added to the Expense data entry screen.
  • Budget Worksheet export option added to export this screen in Excel worksheet format.
  • Projected Net Worth spreadsheet updated.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.7.1023, released on November 11, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Export option added to Wage History Worksheet An export option was added to the Wage History worksheet that lets you export worksheet data in an Excel format.
  • Shortfalls Only, Distribution Method A change was added to correct a display issue in the Total Needs Analysis During Retirement Graph and Spreadsheet
  • Net Worth Statement A change was added to correct an issue with the sort order of portfolios and portfolio-holdings.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.6.1034, released on August 21, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Updated help file. An updated version of the help file was added. It includes updated information about data entry screens, printing and report features and more.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.6.1017, released on August 05, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • New distribution method in the Distribution Planning module. A new distribution method, named "Shortfalls Only" was added to the Distribution Planning module. When this method is selected, the program will only calculate qualified distributions when a funding shortfall is projected (and of course, a minimum distribution is required). In effect, when this method is select the program will apply resources against planning needs in the following order: income first, non-qualified savings next, and qualified retirement plans last.
  • Templates to configure new client plans added. Templates can be saved, and then used as the starting point for creating new plans in the program. A template might contain a set of default values that you routinely use for new plans, or it could contain a complete set of client information including account holdings, planning assumptions and more. In earlier versions of the program, all new plans were based on a set of pre-configured default values.
  • Update feature added to proposals. This feature lets you "synchronize" the client data in an older proposal with new client data that is entered in the baseline plan.
  • Financial Strategies (Solutions Engine) enabled in Proposal mode. The Financial Strategies feature can now be used in Proposals mode.
  • Cash Flow module enhanced. Income resources that are entered in the Cash Flow module can now be selectively applied or withheld from the Retirement, Capital Needs, Disability Needs and Long Term Care modules. In earlier versions, income resources were applied to all modules. Also, the option to determine the reinvestment of surplus income is now available. In earlier versions, this option was only available for Goals Based plans.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.6.1006, released on July 01, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Save (export) graph data to an Excel file Similar to the “Save Spreadsheet Data to File” feature in the current version of Methuselah, this feature lets you export data from the graph to a spreadsheet in an Excel file format. To use this feature, right-click on the graph and select “Save Graph Data to File” or select the option in the Tools menu.
  • "Save As" feature added to Proposals The Save As feature lets you save the current proposal as a new plan or a new proposal. To use this option, begin by opening a proposal. Then, go to the menu bar and select “Proposal > Save Proposal As”. Some important notes about this feature are as follows:
    • When “Save as Proposal” is selected the new proposal is saved in the same plan as the original proposal. After “Save as Proposal” is selected, the original proposal is closed and the new proposal is closed.
    • Likewise, when “Save as Plan” is selected, the original proposal is closed and the new plan, that is based on the data of the original proposal, is opened.
    • Because a plan allows a maximum of 9 proposals, an error message will appear when Save as Proposal is selected on a plan that already has 9 proposals.
    • If a plan has a write-lock, perhaps because of earlier use for a final report, the Save as Proposal feature is disabled.
    • Similarly, if a client file is write-locked, because of final reports or checked-out in a read-only format, the Save as Proposal and Save as Plan options are disabled.
  • Print Graph and Spreadsheet shortcut added to the right-click menu of the graph and spreadsheet. A shortcut is available in the right-click menu of the graph and spreadsheet that lets you open the “Print Graph” screen where you can print the graph, spreadsheet or a graph report.
  • Portfolio Pathfinder Version 8 update available. Contact Customer Support for more information about the Portfolio Pathfinder add-on tool.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.5.2631, released on April 30, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Export graph data to an Excel spreadsheet capability enabled. To export graph data, right-click on any graph and then in pop-up menu select "Save Graph Data to File".
  • Delete plan capability enabled. When a plan is deleted, all of the proposals in the plan are deleted as well.
  • Failover feature upgraded. The failover feature has been upgraded to improve the support of users who configured Methuselah to store client data on a network storage device.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.5.2625, released on April 21, 2008

What’s new in this update?
Features added to Methuselah Bronze, which were previously only available in Methuselah Gold and Platinum. These include the following
  • The option to enter more than one funding goal in the Retirement Planning module
  • The option to select a method for the reinvestment of surplus (unspent) income in the Assets module.
  • Corrected the visibility of the Cash Value of Life Insurance row in the Net Worth statement and in the Personal Information section of reports. Cash Value of Life Insurance functionality is available in Methuselah Gold and Platinum only.
  • Unlocked the Owner field in the Life Insurance data entry screen.
  • Added the Income from Pension Benefits and Annuities chart to the Assets module.
  • Added the Timeline of Needs chart to the Capital Needs Analysis module.
  • Added the Interest Rate Sensitivity chart to the Capital Needs Analysis module.
Enhancements and features to all versions of Methuselah
  • Configuration Manager feature added that lets you import custom program configuration files into your version of Methuselah
  • Save graph to an image file option added.
  • Save spreadsheet to an excel file option added.
  • Auto-calculate feature added to data entry fields for the child's education fund.
  • Updated the layout of the Print Report screen.
  • Updated the layout of the Sale of Assets screen.
  • Updated the Background Information pages in the Education Planning section of reports.
  • Minor changes to the organization of the Tools menu.
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Release notes for Methuselah version 2.60.5.2600, released on February 28, 2008

What’s new in this update?
  • Tax rates and economic factors updated for 2008: The calculation engine has been updated for recent changes to published tax rates and economic factors.
  • Credit shelter trust upgraded: Credit shelter trust capabilities have been upgraded in the estate planning module.
  • Qualified Terminal Interest Property trust (QTIP) added: A new QTIP trust feature has been added to the estate planning module.
  • Spreadsheets in the estate planning module: The spreadsheets were enhanced in the estate planning module to improve the illustration of the client’s estate plan.
  • Level or indexed qualified distributions option: When qualified distributions in retirement are based on an entered dollar amount, an option can be selected to index or not-index that amount in future years. Earlier versions always indexed this amount. (Available in Methuselah Gold and Platinum versions.)
  • Sort capabilities in the client files list: Sort by column headings capability added to the Open Client File screen. Client files can be sorted or reverse-sorted by name or date last modified.
  • Offline mode: In non-enterprise versions of Methuselah, offline mode is now automatically activated when the default folder for client data cannot be reached. This applies, for instance, to laptop users that are undocked from the network and normally store client data in a network folder.
  • File Settings manager: File Settings manager was added to simplify the configuration of settings related to the storage of client files.
  • Sharing client files: For non-enterprise versions of Methuselah, a client file that is stored in a network folder can be shared by importing the file once into your system. After a file is imported, the file can be opened
  • Copy and modify an asset, debt or portfolio: A copy and modify feature was added to improve the entry of assets, debts and portfolios.
  • Spell-Checker added: A new built-in spell-checker was added to check the spelling of text entered in the Graph Comments, Recommendations and Executive Summary without having to use another application.
  • College expense database updated: The college expense database has been updated.
  • Report templates enabled in Bronze: Report templates functionality enabled in the Bronze version of Methuselah.
  • Social Security charts enabled in Bronze: Social Security graphs and spreadsheets enabled in the Bronze version of Methuselah.
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