TSM Tips: What to Do If Your Plan Feels “Off” or Unbalanced

Every once in a while, you may look at your Shred dashboard and think:

• “The years to pay off don’t look right.”
  
  

• “My projected savings seem off.”
  
  

• “Future transactions don’t make sense.”
  
  

If your plan feels unbalanced, don’t worry—it usually comes down to inputs. The first place to check is your Financial Information tab. Making sure the software has accurate data is key to reliable results. Here’s what to review in each section:

🔑 Shred Account

• If “Enable Maximization” is not checked, the software will only leverage your HELOC for a couple thousand dollars.
  
  

• If it feels like Shred is using too much, simply lower the limit until it matches your comfort level.
  👉 More on this here: Setting the Right HELOC Limit
  
  

🏦 Bank Accounts

• A common mistake is entering the money you transfer from income into your bank account.
  
  

• The software doesn’t need that—it assumes your income already hits your accounts.
  
  

• Use this section only for accounts you’re building up (like savings). Otherwise, the system may think that money left your income and never comes back out.
  
  

💵 Income

• Make sure the amount you enter reflects what actually lands in your bank account.
  
  

• Include the correct interval and date of deposit.
  
  

• For variable income, averages are fine—as long as you transact accurately when it comes in.
  
  

• ⚠️ Don’t add an end date unless you know your income is stopping.
  
  

📉 Consumer Debts

• Confirm all inputs: original principal, term, and start date.
  
  

• If you’ve refinanced, update your start date and term (since your contract likely changed).
  
  

• Accurate details = accurate projections of savings.
  
  

💳 Credit Cards

• Sometimes projected savings look strange because the minimum payment is too small.
  
  

• With a low minimum payment, the system may assume the debt will never be paid off, creating a negative savings number.
  
  

• This only affects the report for that specific debt; everything else stays accurate.
  
  

🏠 Household Expenses

• Double-check your expenses for correct intervals and dates.
  
  

• If consolidating, averages work well.
  
  

• Make sure there are no end dates unless the expense is truly ending.
  
  

• ⚠️ Don’t double-count: debt or mortgage payments should not go here (they belong in their own sections).
  
  

📈 Wealth Accumulation Accounts

• Look at your average monthly discretionary income.
  
  

• If the number doesn’t make sense, revisit your inputs to ensure accuracy.
  
  

✅ Bottom line: If your Shred plan feels off, start with your Financial Information tab. Small input errors can create big shifts in projections, and reviewing these sections will help keep your plan balanced and accurate.

⚠️IMPORTANT: Make sure you recalculate your plan after making changes to your financial information.

PS: Check out this video Adam did on HELOC mistakes to be aware of. Give it a thumbs up and share your thoughts in the comment section. Subscribe to our channel! We’re gonna be posting great videos like this one very often.

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