There are a significant number of new features in TRAK. Below is a summary of the new features.

August 2020

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

   When opening the Print dialog for the first time, a progress dialog shows what is occurring as it prepares to print.

       The Paycheck Comparison was added, allowing to easily compare the values of a pre-retirement and a retirement paycheck.

Roth Conversion

   Allows for converting pre-tax account over multiple years.

July 2020

Gap Analysis

   Added Medicare as a Special Expense with a calculation page and a report to go with it.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

  When showing the print window the first time, which can have a bit of a lag time, a message appears showing progress in creating pages. []

  For Retirement Paycheck, added ability to make Medicare deduction inactive.

  Footers in Retirement Years Grid can have larger font. Configured in docking panel.

  Cal STRS allows "YOS through Date" calculation method.

General

  When adding a new client the date of employment is no longer required.

Participant Gap

   Ability to favor either pre-tax or Roth account contributions based on current contributions.

June 2020

Participant Gap

    With Roth accounts: add ability to control which account(s) get increase when increases are proportional but there are no current contributions.

May 2020

Gap Analysis

   Can select the maximum contribution option for federal employees, includes catch up when client turns 50.

   RMDs for TSP and Roth accounts can be turned on/off.

   For Tax Wise, tax table is included in the Overview report.

   Enabled YOS-through-Date Method for DB Plans that us Accum Crediting method.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

   Enabled YOS-through-Date Method for DB Plans that us Accum Crediting method.

   Added Life Insurance account type.

   For DB plans added section for how soon retirement could occur.

   Added limits for DB Plans Final Average Salary.

   RMDs for 401(k) Roth accounts can be turned on/off.

   Retirement Years gird report's vertical lines are broken or covered by the shaded horizontal rows.

Misc.

  Spanish text was updated for Participant Gap report.

Participant Gap

    Glide Paths can be used in illustrations.

Paycheck

  When converting to the new federal W-4 method, there is the ability to select "Multiple jobs/Spouse works".

Printing

  Disclaimer page now has same layout as printed pages.

April 2020

Gap Analysis

   Tax rates are scalable in both the "Taxation" tab and in the "Scenario" editor (on the "Calculations" tab).  Additionally, maximum tax rate can be set in Setup | Config | Gap Analysis | Calculator.

Gap Analysis

   Tax rates are scalable in both the "Taxation" tab and in the "Scenario" editor (on the "Calculations" tab).  Additionally, maximum tax rate can be set in Setup | Config | Gap Analysis | Calculator.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

   Added whole life / universal life insurance account option under Other Accounts section.

   In Retirement Solutions, a Lump Sum option has been added for showing a needed amount at various times prior to retirement.

Participant Gap

   Layout configuration allows for one decimal place for rates of return and inflation.

   Setup now allows use of a glide path for rates of return.

   Participant Gap Report Configuration Editor settings may now be saved to file and loaded from file.

Printing

   If the shift key is held down while the Print dialog box opens, reports will not be auto-generated.

Quick Gap

   The Side Fund (on the Other Accounts tab) is selectable in the navigator on the left of screen.

February 2020

General

   Contribution Analysis in Batch Processing illustrates negative change in pay in red.

January 2020

General

   Updated federal and state withholding tables.

   All reports have been updated for a more modern design.

College

   Updated college costs for 2019-2020, included with and without room and board.

Gap Analysis

   Future contributions to the TSP pre-tax and Roth can now be increased.

  Federal Deposit and Redeposit rates updated for 2018 and 2019.

  LTC Insurance updated for Program 3.0

  Money Market account added to the Sequence of Returns.

  Updated Wilshire Indexes through December 31, 2019.

Paycheck

  In the report, data and calculated values or neither can be bowled.

  Paycheck, Batch Processing and importing data tools updated for 2020 Federal W-4 options.

  Updated form 8880 and W-4 federal forms.

  Implied reports - chart can be selected that prints in the Cost to Wait report.

  Printing features better generation status displayed.

Pension Plans

   Ohio SERS PLOP election not available. Fixed.

   Michigan PSERS MIP was not using the 1.5% crediting for all years. Fixed.

Printing

   Added blue color theme.

December 2019

Gap Analysis

   Federal Long Term Care rates updated to 3.0.

   For Bucket Strategy, problems for funding buckets may occur when client and spouse have the same retirement date have been addressed.

November 2019

Features

   Updated contribution limits for 2020.

October 2019

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

   Ability to illustrate Market-Hit events added.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

   Ability to illustrate Market-Hit events added.

September 2019

Gap Analysis

   Custom Retirement Plans support loans.

   TSP plans now allow "Maximum" contribution option.

August 2019

General

   Help file and user manual updated.

  Skinning in application has been significantly improved.

  For new users, default reports are now selected for each calculator.

Participant Benchmark

  The X & Y axis on the Age/Percent Funded scatter chart can be swapped.

Participant Gap

   For fully funded scenario text displayed in the report can be customized.

Pension Plans

   Florida FRS Regular Class - DROP was not growing in retirement by rate of return.

June 2019

Pension Max

  Brand new New Pension Max reports added.

  Side Fund name changed to "Reserve Fund" (can be configured to be named "Side Fund" as well).

April 2019

Contribution Analysis

   Allow illustrating Auto-Escalation for Current paycheck.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

   Maximum inflation for Social Security is configured in Gap Analysis and Quick Gap Calculators (rather than setup)..

   Allow increasing contributions for number of years or maximum increase in contribution. Also allow maximum contribution.

Gap Analysis, Quick Gap & Paycheck Projections

   Allow increasing contributions for number of years or maximum increase in contribution. Also allow maximum contribution.

Importing

   Allow to configure Auto-Escalation option when importing data.

Participant Gap

   Allow illustrating Auto-Escalation for Current paycheck.

   Allow illustrating Auto-Escalation for additional solution.

March 2019

Gap Analysis

   Life Cycle allocations updated.

   New simplified Tax Wise Distribution model.

   Changed "Tax-Tiers" to "Tax-Brackets" for clarity.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

   Report title can be "Retirement Income Plan".

   Distribution order is now controlled in a docking panel in the Retirement Years grid tab.

   On Overview tab, life expectancy can be shown in age or years. Configured in docking panel.

General

 If a bug reports occurs for an unregistered user, TRAK now prompts for their contact information.

Interest Calculator

 Columns can now be aligned to the left using the config menu.

Paycheck

 Glide Paths added to Paycheck projections.

February 2019

General

 Added the ability to save and load client record (data) to a file.

 Default reports for each calculator are now automatically created.

Gap Analysis

 Added Glide Paths for changes to rates of return prior to retirement.

 Updated TSP Life Cycle allocations.

January 2019

College Calculator

 Updated College costs for 2018-19.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

 Wilshire indexes updated with values through Dec 31, 2018.

MAC

 Updated for 2019.

December 2018

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

 Some changes were made to how the additional lump sum at retirement is calculated. A small difference the the value may be noted.

Gap Analysis, Quick Gap & Paycheck

 Changes can be made to future contributions.

Quick Gap

 Added Glide Paths for changes to rates of return prior to retirement.

November 2018

Batch Processing

 In the grids in the configuration editors, cells that are editable are now white, consistent with other places in TRAK.

Gap Analysis

 For Federal Employees, FELGLI Option B multiplier can be reduce at retirement (age 65).

 Special Retirement Expenses now have more options.

 Default value for Federal Deductions (for Tax Wise) can be configured in Setup/Config/Default Values.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

 Contributions to DC plans now allow for maximum allowable contribution.

General

 Updated with 2019 Contribution Limits.

 Updated with new Social Security values.

Paycheck

 Added clarity for which column "Solve-It" is modifying.

 Update values for IRS for 8880 (low contribution).

Split Annuity

 Improved quality of flow chart when printing.

Social Security

 On the "Comparison" tab, the configuration tabs for Chart and Grid only display when the respective tab is selected.

 

September 2018

Gap Analysis

 Using Tax-Wise or Budget Model, the Retirement Years Grid and be configured for which detail options are printed/exported.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

 When exporting the Retirement Years Grid to a file, there is now an option to open the folder or file when it is exported.

 Contributions to Pre-tax and Roth accounts with maximum contributions now has more flexibility.

Paycheck

 Control if the increase in Quick Max contributions go to pre-tax or the Roth account.

 Client file can have different number of pay periods than Employer File is configured for.

Quick Gap

 Editors stay focused when working with a defined contribution account and changing the contribution method.

 

August 2018

Employer File Editor

 Allow employer to match employee contributions to Roth account without setting up a custom plan.

Gap Analysis

 Tax Wise: Display details in the Retire Years grid for how each account is taxed.

 Tax Wise: Display tax bracket details for Retire Years grid.

Quick Gap

 Elective contributions to DC plans can be maximized.

Importing

 Imported data can configure client files to have different number of pay periods per yard.

Paycheck

 Employer File Pay per Year can be overridden using the Config menu.

Misc.

 Upgraded the editors in Life Insurance, Annuity Calc, Tax Deferral to new layout control (works better with different size fonts).

 

July 2018

Updates

 Updated User Manuals and Help Files updated.

Batch Processing

 The Client, Employer and Client Group drop down lists now persist their sorting between sessions.

Database

 Added FB 3 upgrade to several corporate versions.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

 Special Expenses can be active/inactive.

 Retirement Years Grid allows displaying totals in footer (see Config Panel).

 Balances from cash accounts are current (previously were up to 30 days old).

 Ability to enter Years-of-Service completed on a specific date.

Printing

 Cover Page can be selected every time the Print window is open.

April 2018

Batch Print

 Allows sorting groups by name and date. Last group created automatically selected when window is opened.

Batch Processing

 Sorting of pop down windows persist between sessions.

Gap Analysis

 Deposit and Redeposit was added for federal retirement plans.

February 2018

Paycheck

 Itemized values for Section 125 and After Tax Deductions can be printed.

January 2018

General

 Employer not required with new client files.

 New Start up Screen added.

Participant Gap

 Allow more control over changes to life expectancy when retirement age is change in Threshold Limits.

Participant Gap

 Brand new "Clean Lines" report.

Paycheck

 Section 125 and After-Tax itemization can be included in reports.

Social Security

 Update with 2018 values.

October 2017

Contribution Analysis

 Horizontal lines can now be hidden, or display in front of or behind chart.

Custom Retirement Plans

 Employer contribution can not be editable in the calculators with a setting in the Custom Retirement Plan.

Gap Analysis

 Federal CBPO crediting may not be correct. Fixed.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

 With a custom retirement plan selected, clicking on the "..." button should open the Custom Retirement Plan editor. Fixed.

 Closing the Quick Gap or Gap Analysis calculator while the Sequence of Return was running an analysis may result in an exception.  Fixed.

Importing Data

 With full state name, withholding tables may not be assigned correctly. Fixed.

Interest Calculator

 General user interface and calculation update. Many small changes.

Printing

 Branding can now be included on cover page (TRAK-Deluxe, street version only).

Participant Gap

 Added brand new Participant Gap report.

 Horizontal lines are now optional and may appear in front of or behind chart.

 Can control the number of decimal places for Contrib Percent.

Misc.

 Added 2018 Contribution Limits.

August 2017

General

    Updated security communication layer (DLLs) to work with new server.

July 2017

Asset Allocation

    The message is clarified if no allocation table is available.

Custom Retirement Plan

    Allow employer contributions to be edited with the employee record.

Gap Analysis

    For Tax Wise, added "Total Taxes Paid" column.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

    In Retirement Solutions, added ability to compare start times for Social Security.

     In the Contribution Analysis, the reports did not always print correctly. Fixed.

     AV could occur in the Contribution Analysis window after deleting a Retirement Investment account.

     If lump sum distribution occur outside of retirement, error message is displayed.

     Allow lump sum distributions to automatically occur at retirement if they occur before retirement.

Participant Benchmark Report

    Allow sorting by age, name and percent funded for "Participant Age and Funding Levels" report.

     Added "Current Balance" to "Participant Age and Funding Levels" report.

     Added Percent Funded by Age scatter chart.

May 2017

Asset Allocation

    If no allocation model is available, wording is clarified.

Batch Gap

    Guide numbers were added to the report for easier conversations with participant groups.

Custom Retirement Plans

    Allow employer contributions to be editable in the client's record.

Database Connection

    For slow connections, schema's can be stored locally.

Gap Analysis

    Default TSP Contribution Method can be configured for new client files (located in File/Config/Defaults).

     For Retirement Income, ability to change future income needs by a specific dollar value (e.g. house payment no longer needed).

     For Tax Wise, in the Retirement Years Grid, a Total Taxes column is now included.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

    If Lump Sum or Known Income is distributed outside of retirement, a notation is displayed.

     If the Lump Sum occurs before retirement there is an option to include it a the beginning of retirement.

     Display date and value of Lump Sum and Known Income in the editor.

     If the maximum Social Security COLA (configured in File/Co fig/Gap Analysis/Calculator) is less than inflation, it is included in the Client Data report.

     Retirement Years chart includes note, "Income Above the Client's Need is not Display in the Chart" when relevant.

     Retirement Solutions now compares starting Social Security at different ages after retirement.

Pension Max

    Annutize method now has two methods: "Annutize - Dollars per Thousand per Month" and "Annutize - Percent of Account".

April 2017

Batch Gap

    Allow customizing"Unable to complete calculation" message.

Gap Analysis

   Updated the Historic Federal Service buy back rate for return for 2017

Pension Max

    Clarify Annuitization method--have dollar per thousand per month and percent payout. Fixed.

Quick Gap

    Speed up GUI change when retirement plan changes

March 2017

Batch Processing

    More controls in ability to illustrate increases to Roth contribution.

Misc

    Database connection layer completely replaced. Much faster database access for client-server versions or those who have a lot of data in TRAK.

 

January 2017

Batch Gap and Paycheck

     Added 2017 Withholding Tax Tables

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

     Contribution Analysis: added "Years Before Changing" option to delay contribution change.

Paycheck

     Added Federal 1040 Calculation.

September 2016

Batch Gap

     Improved message when unable to calculation solution.

     Select how Roth Contributions (dollar value and/or percent) are displayed.

Batch Processing

     Reports can be sorted by last name, first name.

Contribution Analysis

     More control over how to increasing contributions between pre-tax and/or Roth account.

     Allow scenario to annal increase contributions with raise.

General

     The header on the calculators with the client's name can now be hidden (see the "Appearance" tab).

Printing

     Report colors were polished up.

Gap Analysis

     Updated TSP annuity factors.

Gap Analysis & Quick Gap

     Better options for using variable annuities.

Quick Gap

     Future increases to DC plan contributions can be illustrated.

July 2016

Batch Processing

    Batch Gap and Contribution Analysis reports can be printed together.

Gap Analysis

    FEGLI summary options are available.

     Added "Key Years" options for FEGLI years grid.                                                                                                                                                

May 2016

Batch Processing

The Contribution Analysis report can now be printed with the Batch Gap. This allows provides a great way to help individuals take small steps to success rather than the large increase in contributions that a Batch Gap report may suggest. Additionally,in the Batch Gap calculator, when a Roth account is available, more control has been added to how increases in contributions allotted between the pre-tax and Roth account.

Quick Gap and Gap Analysis

A new contribution page is available that can compare changes to their contributions, including future increases in contribution verses their current contribution.

April 2016

Interest Calculator

Updated the user interface and added the "Accumulation & Distribution" calculation. This calculator is great for showing how deposits over a long time can provide an income during retirement.

Batch Gap

The percent of income needed in retirement can be based on the client's (participant's) annual income. (Typically, higher incomes need a lower percentage of income).

Batch Processing

Added filtering for running batch reports.

Contribution Analysis

When working with plans that include Roth accounts, there is now more control to which account (pre-tax or Roth) the increased contributions are made to.

Employer File Editor

Added Simple and Advanced mode for working with employer files.

Gap Analysis

Allow for a lot more detail when working with the "Retirement Budget" in the "Retirement Incomes" tab.

Added functionality to the Scenarios editor found in the "Calculations" tab.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Charts now use new color themes that provide better contrast when viewing and printing.

Allows Retirement Investment accounts to be Inherited IRAs.

Custom Retirement Plans

Added different employer contribution options for Custom Retirement Plans (found in Setup/Retirement Plans), including allowing different classes of employees for profit sharing.

Pension Plans

A lot of work has been done on extending the depth of features with the ability to illustrate pension plans. A couple examples include:

With defined benefit plans, survivor benefit options that do not require a spouse's date of birth are now displayed when no date of birth is entered.

The user interface and reports reflect plan nomenclature.

October 2014

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

For cash balance accounts, added two dollar payout methods ("Dollar Value, No inflation" and "Dollar Value, With Inflation").

For DC plans, if a client reaches their annual contribution limit in a calendar year before the end of a year, a warning message is displayed.

July 2014

Gap Analysis

For federal accounts, added TSP Annuity payout options.

For CSRS, added ability to edit the survivor benefit as a dollar value or a percent value.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Retirement payout methods can be removed from the list (in File/Config/Gap Analysis/Calculator).

April 2014

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Ability to illustrate Strategic Social Security models in TRAK.

Strategic Social Security Calculator

Calculator introduced to TRAK.

January 2014

Batch Gap

Report can be printed in Spanish or English.

Gap Analysis

Easily create multiple scenarios for printing.

Quick Change tool for changing scenario values easily within the Calculation tab.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Known income accounts can be jointly owned.

General

Significant improvements throughout TRAK in quality and depth of features.

Multi-Tier Calculator

Significant increase in flexibility and features.

April 2013

Gap Analysis

Ability to create (and print) multiple scenarios easily and quickly.

Added budgeting reports.

Printing

Reports can now be printed in various color schemes (Deluxe version only).

Cover page can be selected (Deluxe version only)

January 2013

Printing

Most reports now include a print-preview visible by pausing the mouse over the name of the specific report.

November 2102

Multiple Groups in Batch Processing

Multiple groups can be selected in the Batch Processing tool.

Printing

Reports can be previewed by moving the mouse over the report name. Additionally, the configuration panel on the left can be hidden/displayed when a report is being viewed.

Federal 1040

Including/excluding year-to-date values can be easily configured for the 1040 calculator.

Added Participant Benchmark Charts

Numerous charts have been added to the Participant Benchmark report.

Roth Conversion

A grid report showing annual values is now available in the Roth Conversion calculator.

Custom Retirement Plans

Employer contributions can include a specific dollar for each paycheck, or at the end of a month, quarter or year.

August 2012

TSP Roth Account for Federal Retirement Plans

A TSP Roth account is now included in the Gap Analysis calculator when working with federal pension plans.

Contribution Analysis

Several options are available to include the Roth account for increased deferrals.

June 2012

New Ribbon Tool

Navigation is easier and more graphical than before with the new, improved ribbon tool. The ribbon tool includes context tabs (tabs added for specific calculators, e.g. when the Paycheck calculator is open a new tab is also available).

Pension Max

Added a brand new Pension Maximization calculator. It includes the ability to have multiple term insurance policies in addition to the whole life policy.

Participant Benchmark Report

A Participant Benchmark Report was added to the Batch Processing tool. Report includes over 10 pages of charts and graphs.

Data Sync

Data Sync was added to TRAK to sync data between various computers using TRAK.

Public Pension Plans

We continue to work hard at improving the breath and depth of our pension plans. We have more pension plans than ever and is more details implemented in the plans, including cash balance options, updated COLA values, DB Plan reports, etc.

January 2012

Public Pension Plans

A pension plan overview report is now available for printing out with most of the public DB pension plans in the Quick Gap  and Gap Analysis calculators.

TRAK now includes over 450 public pension plans from across the country that can be used in our Quick Gap and Gap Analysis calculators. We work hard at including options within the pension plans, including cash balance options (viz. DROP, PLOP, PLS, etc) and matching the cost of living (COLA) models specified in plan documents.

Importing

The client import tool now provides a log for viewing after the data has been imported.

User Interface Improvements

General user interface improvements have been made in various TRAK calculators.

Paycheck

The withholding and 1040 tax tables have been updated for 2012.

October 2011

Paycheck, Projection and 1040

Most of the user-interface has been updated for easier use. Features include:

•Can hide details on withholding taxes;

•Not all paychecks have to be shown;

•Local taxes and pension contributions can be named;

•Animation between tools;

•Easier to work with spouse's income;

•and many, many more improvements.

Quick Gap

Now supports working with Roth accounts or custom DC retirement plans.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Added pension plan overview report for many state defined benefit plans.

May 2011

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

Updated many pension plans. Added a number of cash balance options to state defined benefit pension plans.

Quick Gap

Reworked user interface, specifically the data input fields.

January 2011

Gap Analysis

For most defined benefit plans, the retirement COLA can be overridden.

For the federal retirement plans:

Added three reports for the Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account.

Added calculation page for getting details on the TSP account.

Quick Gap

Redesigned the input on the left side of the screen to work with smaller screens.

Gap Analysis and Quick Gap

The horizontal labels in the Retirement Years chart can now appear red if a shortfall occurs during the calendar year.

Many updates and additions to various retirement plans.

Custom Retirement Plans

"Years of Service Percent Matching" was added for the employer tiered matching options.

Employer file

FICA and Medicare rates now have system default values that can be configured in File/Config/Employer and overridden in an employer file.

July 2010

Batch Gap

The Batch Gap report can now include values for the Roth account.

Batch Paycheck (Contribution Analysis)

The Batch Paycheck allows contribution values entered to be relative to the current contribution.

Printing

Specific reports can have customized printer settings.

Gap Analysis

Updated the Federal Long Term Care Insurance calculations.

Quick Gap and Gap Analysis

The Quick Gap and Gap Analysis calculators now include the accumulation values.

Allow for removing solution illustrations from the Retirement Solutions report.

Added the Windfall Elimination Provision option for calculating Social Security.

Roth Conversion

New Roth Conversion calculator for effectively illustrating a Roth conversion.

Tax Deferral

Allow for Roth accounts, and only showing the type of accounts that are required.

January 2010

Multi-Tier Split Annuity Calculator

A new Multi-Tier Annuity calculator has been added to TRAK.

Printing

The Print Dialog now supports default report selection and the report order may be configured.

Batch Gap

Scenarios can automatically be altered when illustrations are over funded (e.g. the participant's retirement age can be reduced) or have significant increases in contributions that are not realistic (e.g. retirement age can be increased).

Quick Gap and Gap Analysis

The calculations in the Quick Gap and Gap Analysis calculators have speed improvements when working with certain retirement plans (specifically, plans with custom prompts and/or custom scripting).