Enter asset information (Lifetime Planner)
The Lifetime Planner lets you enter information about assets you currently own, as well as those you plan to acquire. Although the steps are similar for both types, the screens vary based on asset type and whether you plan to sell the asset.
📄 Add sale, loan, and expense details
To add information for an existing or planned asset:
Click Sales Info to enter sale details.
Click Loans to record loans associated with the asset.
Click Expenses to record recurring costs like property taxes, insurance, registration fees, or license fees.
⚠️ Avoid duplicate expense entries
Some asset-related costs, such as HOA fees, lawn care, or maintenance, can also be recorded as living expenses. If you enter them in the Home & Assets dialog, don’t enter them again in the Living Expenses section.
💵 Enter income from an asset
Click Income to record rental or other income associated with the asset. By default, Quicken applies the tax rate set in the Average Tax Rate dialog.
🧾 Enter payment sources for a planned asset
Click Choose Accts to indicate how you’ll pay for a future asset.
If you select a specific account, the Event Status snapshot shows your savings progress. If you choose general expenses instead, use the Monthly Savings Target snapshot to view your savings goals.
📈 Set purchase price and growth rate
Enter the purchase price in today’s dollars. If you expect to buy a home similar to the one you own now, use your current home’s value. Check real estate listings if you're unsure of the value.
Use the expected growth rate field to reflect your assumptions:
A rate below inflation means the asset will be easier to afford in the future.
A rate equal to inflation keeps the future cost level in today’s dollars.
A rate above inflation means the asset will be harder to afford later.
🏷️ Define asset type and selling plans
Assets can be used to generate income, sold to fund retirement, or serve as collateral. Be realistic about how and when you plan to access their value.
If the asset is a house tracked using a House account, Quicken detects it automatically.
Click This house is or will be my primary residence if applicable. This affects how gains are taxed when the property is sold.
To set your sale intention:
Select I do not plan to sell this asset and click Done, or
Select I plan to sell this asset on and click Next
If you're unsure, choose I do not plan to sell this asset for now.
🧮 Enter improvements, tax rate, and exemptions
This screen appears based on earlier selections.
Record the cost of improvements that permanently increase the asset's value. These affect the tax basis when sold.
Enter your tax rate on gain to estimate tax owed on any profit.
If the asset is your primary residence, you may qualify for a capital gains exclusion:
Up to $250,000 if filing individually
Up to $500,000 if married filing jointly
To qualify, you must have owned and lived in the home for at least two of the past five years. The exclusion can be used once every two years. See IRS Publication 17 for complete rules.
Quicken applies the Average Tax Rate to gains by default but does not account for all IRS scenarios.
🏡 Decide how to use proceeds from a sale
This screen appears only if you plan to sell the asset.
If you’re buying another home in the same calendar year, Quicken applies any proceeds—after taxes and loan payoff—to the next purchase.
If not, Quicken adds the proceeds to your taxable investment portfolio.
If you sell at a loss, Quicken deducts the shortfall from your taxable portfolio.
🏦 Enter loan information
Click New to add a loan, or Edit to update an existing loan. Only loans where you borrow money are supported; Quicken does not support loan accounts where you are the lender.
For setup help, see Set up a loan and Enter information about current loans.
Click the Planned Loans tab to enter future loans (for example, a home equity loan). Don’t enter leases here; record them in the Living Expenses or Special Expenses sections.
🧾 Enter expenses tied to an asset
Homes often involve significant recurring expenses such as:
Mortgage payments
Property taxes
Insurance
Maintenance
As the property value increases and you pay off the loan, your net worth improves. Fixed mortgage costs may also become a smaller portion of your total expenses over time.
Avoid entering expenses twice. Don’t duplicate costs already recorded as living expenses.
Property taxes usually increase along with home value.
To enter asset-related expenses, click New, or select an existing item and click Edit. Fill in the required fields and click Next as needed.
By default, Quicken assumes general funds (like checking or savings) will be used. If you're using loans or monthly savings, Quicken reflects this in the Monthly Savings Target snapshot.
Click Choose Accounts to specify a dedicated source or to enter any funds you've already saved.
💸 Add income from the asset
Quicken taxes income based on the Average Tax Rate you've entered. For details, see Enter information about other income.
💱 Currency support
The Lifetime Planner supports only U.S. dollars. If your file includes non-U.S. currencies, Quicken converts them using the current exchange rate.
Make sure U.S. dollars appear in your currency list with a current rate.