10+ “What-If” Scenarios to model your way to financial confidence
There is so much more to Financial Planning than saving more money or choosing the "best" investments and strategy.
On the surface software like Canwi might seem like just a way to optimise a spreadsheet but most people aren't trying to optimise a spreadsheet - they're trying to design a life.
And that begins with a simple question - one our CTO likes to ask often...
"What are we trying to achieve here guys?"
If your goal is to work less, how many days do you want to work?
What would you do with the extra day - rest, spend time with family, travel, start a side project, focus on health?
If your goal is to retire earlier, what does that really mean for you?
Do you want to stop working completely, or would you prefer something more gradual - like consulting, part-time work, or building a passion project?
And what would your retirement lifestyle look like?
A quiet home life? More travel? Helping family? Living somewhere different?
Because “retirement” isn’t one thing - it’s a lifestyle you’ll fund for decades.
If your goal is to buy property, what kind of property is it?
Do you need the dream home right now, or would you be better off with a stepping-stone home first?
Would an investment property suit your plan better?
Would buying later (or buying smaller) improve your flexibility?
The point is: goals are personal - and your strategy should match the life you actually want.
If you’ve ever tried modelling your future in a spreadsheet, you’ll know it quickly becomes hard to manage (trust us... we have!) - especially once you start adding mortgages, offset accounts, investments, tax, inflation, and different life choices. It’s as powerful as you can make it, but you’re never completely sure you haven’t missed something.
Online calculators can also be useful for quick answers, but they’re usually built for one question at a time - and most real decisions involve trade-offs between several moving parts.
And while a financial planner can absolutely help you build a plan using sophisticated modelling software, that kind of modelling is usually something you see occasionally, rather than something you can explore yourself whenever a new decision comes up.
That's where a comprehensive planning tool like Canwi comes in - by enabling you to easily explore different “what-if” scenarios - so you can test how your decisions affect your timeline, your flexibility, and your long-term security.
Because there are literally hundreds of variables that can change your future:
- your income and savings rate
- interest rates and inflation
- investment returns
- housing decisions
- lifestyle choices
- time off work
- family changes
- major purchases and unexpected events
And when you can model these variables, you can:
- Assess the trade-offs of each possibility
- Make more informed decisions about your finances
- Mix and match options for a stronger, more resilient plan
Below are 10 “what-if” scenarios that are especially useful to test - whatever your goal is.
1) What if you worked less?For many people, the dream isn’t retirement - it’s more time now.
Model what happens if you drop to four days a week, reduce hours, or take a lower-paying role for better balance.
Try modelling:
- 5 days → 4 days (or 3 days) a week
- A temporary reduction (e.g., for 2–5 years)
- How reduced income affects your savings rate and goals
- Whether a phased approach is better than an all-or-nothing change
Early retirement looks different for everyone. Some people want to stop completely. Others want a gradual transition.
Try modelling:
- Retiring 5–10 years earlier
- Semi-retirement (2–3 days/week) instead of stopping
- Different retirement lifestyles (lean vs comfortable vs travel-heavy)
- How much investment income you’d need to sustain it
This is one of the most common trade-offs for Australians with a mortgage - and the “right” answer depends on your goals and risk tolerance.
Try modelling:
- Putting all surplus cash into your offset
- Investing all surplus cash instead
- Splitting the difference (e.g., 50/50 or 70/30)
- How outcomes change if interest rates rise or fall
4) What if you bought property sooner, later, or differently?
Buying a home isn’t just a financial move - it shapes lifestyle, freedom, and cashflow for years.
Try modelling:
- Buying now vs waiting 2–5 years
- Buying the dream home vs a stepping-stone home
- Buying an investment property first
- Buying smaller to stay flexible and invest more
5) What if you made extra mortgage repayments?
Extra repayments are one of the most straightforward wealth moves — but they’re not always the best use of surplus cash.
Try modelling:
- Minimum repayments vs paying extra each month
- Paying a lump sum vs smaller regular contributions
- Extra repayments vs investing the surplus
- How much earlier you could be debt-free (and what that unlocks)
6) What if you received a windfall? (Inheritance / bonus / sale)
Windfalls can materially change your options - but only if you use them intentionally.
Try modelling:
- Paying down the mortgage immediately
- Investing the full amount
- Splitting between offset + investing
- Using it to reduce work sooner or accelerate FI
- Keeping some as a buffer for flexibility and peace of mind
7) What if your investment returns were different than expected?
Returns are one of the biggest drivers of long-term outcomes - and one of the least controllable. This is where scenario modelling really shines.
Try modelling:
- Conservative returns (e.g., 5%)
- Balanced returns (e.g., 7–8%)
- Aggressive returns (e.g., 10%+)
8) What if inflation stays higher for longer?
Inflation quietly changes everything - spending power, lifestyle costs, savings targets, and how “comfortable” your plan actually is.
Try modelling:
- Inflation at 3% vs 5% over 20–30 years
- Wage growth assumptions
- Higher living costs in retirement or during life transitions
9) What if you made a big purchase (without derailing your future)?
Buying a new car, renovating, taking a year of travel, paying school fees - these aren’t just expenses. They’re decisions that change your timeline.
Try modelling:
- Paying in cash vs financing
- A one-time purchase vs ongoing lifestyle upgrades
- Whether you can make the purchase and still hit your goals
- The true cost over time (opportunity cost + cashflow impact)
10) What if life changes your plan?
The strongest financial plans aren’t the ones that assume everything goes perfectly - they’re the ones that stay stable through change.
Try modelling:
- Having a child and paying childcare
- A period of reduced income (career break, redundancy, illness)
- Supporting family members
- Moving cities (higher or lower cost of living)
- Health costs later in life
This is one of the best ways to understand how much flexibility and safety margin you have - and what your plan looks like under real life.
