Net Worth Projection
How the dashed projection line on your Net Worth card is built, what the 6M and 12M options show, and why it is an estimate.
Overview
The Net Worth card on your dashboard can extend its chart past today with a dashed projection line. It shows where your total net worth is heading over the next 6 or 12 months if the patterns in your recent history continue.
Projection is available on Pro and Premium. On Free and Starter, the card shows a small Projection chip marked for Pro that opens your subscription options.
This is information, not financial advice. The line is an estimate built from your own past numbers, and every projection carries a short disclaimer: "For informational purposes only. Not financial advice."
How to see your projection
Find the Net Worth card
Open the dashboard and scroll to the Net Worth card. Make sure privacy mode is off, because the projection is hidden while your balances are masked.
Pick a horizon
Next to Projection, tap 6M for six months or 12M for twelve. Six months is the default.
Read the dashed line
The solid line is your real history. The dashed line continuing to the right is the projection. Under the chart, a caption tells you which method was used.
What feeds the projection
Forbidden Finance picks the best method your data supports and names it in the caption under the chart.
| Caption | How it works |
|---|---|
| Your income, bills, and typical spending | Each future month starts from your recurring income and bills for that month. On top of that, it adds your typical leftover change from recent months. The line bends with your real calendar, so a month with an annual bill dips. |
| Based on your typical monthly change | Used when you have no recurring income or bills to build from. Every future month moves by the typical month-over-month change in your net worth. |
| Projection: linear trend of last N days | Used when you don't have enough full months of history yet. It draws a straight line through your recent daily history. |
| Not enough history yet for a projection | You need a little more history before any line can be drawn. |
"Typical" here means the middle value of your recent months, not the average. A single unusual month, like a bonus or a house down payment, can't drag the whole year's projection up or down.
The recurring method looks back at up to eight of your most recent completed months and needs at least three. Older months are left out on purpose, because spending habits change.
While the projection loads, the caption reads Projection based on your recent history.
What the projection does not include
The projection is built from your own history and your recurring rules. It doesn't model:
- Market returns or price changes on investments
- Interest on savings or debt as a separate calculation
- One-off purchases, windfalls or job changes you haven't happened yet
- Any account you add after today
The dashed line only appears on the Total view of the card. If you switch to Liquid or Investable, the chart shows history only, though the horizon controls stay in place.
How it differs from the cash flow forecast
Forbidden Finance has two forward-looking tools. They answer different questions.
| Net worth projection | Cash flow forecast | |
|---|---|---|
| Question it answers | Where is my total net worth heading? | Will my balance dip low before payday? |
| Horizon | 6 or 12 months | 30, 60 or 90 days |
| Built from | Recurring rules plus your typical monthly change | Your recurring transaction rules |
| Includes assets and debts | Yes, everything in total net worth | No, it projects a cash balance |
| Plan | Pro and up | Starter and up |
The cash flow forecast lives on the Cash Flow Forecast dashboard card and the recurring screen. It shows a Projected end balance and your Lowest projected balance. See Upcoming Bills & Cash Flow Forecast for details.
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't I see a projection line?
Check three things. Your plan needs to be Pro or Premium, privacy mode needs to be off, and the card needs to be on the Total view. If the caption says there isn't enough history yet, the line appears once you've built up more history.
Why does my projection go down even though I save every month?
The projection follows changes in your total net worth, not your savings transfers. If investments fell, a debt grew or spending ran high in recent months, the typical monthly change can be negative even while you're saving.
Why is my projection a straight line?
A straight line means the app used the linear trend or the typical monthly change method. Once you have a few full months of history and some recurring income or bills, the line follows your calendar instead.
Can I change the assumptions?
Not directly. The best way to shape the projection is to keep your recurring rules accurate and your accounts synced.
Related Articles
Net Worth History
See how your net worth has changed so far.Liquid vs. Investable Net Worth
Understand the three net worth views.Upcoming Bills & Cash Flow Forecast
Look ahead at your cash balance.Manual Recurring Rules
Add the income and bills the projection uses.Need more help? Email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you.