Simulate Amanda's Portfolio Over the Next 30 Years and Determine

question 88

Essay

Simulate Amanda's portfolio over the next 30 years and determine how much she can expect to have in her account at the end of that period. At the beginning of each year, compute the beginning balance in Amanda's account. Note that this balance is either 0 (for year 1) or equal to the ending balance of the previous year. The contribution of $5,000 is then added to calculate the new balance. The market return for each year is given by a normal random variable with the parameters above (assume the market returns in each year are independent of the other years). The ending balance for each year is then equal to the beginning balance, augmented by the contribution, and multiplied by (1+Market return). What is the standard deviation of the ending balance? What does the distribution look like? What should Amanda infer from this?

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Definitions:

VALS Framework

A psychographic segmentation tool that classifies consumers based on their values, attitudes, and lifestyles.

Psychological Resources

Mental and emotional assets that help individuals cope with life's challenges, such as resilience, self-esteem, and optimism.

Material Resources

Physical or tangible assets that are used in the production or supply of goods and services.

Survivors

Individuals or entities that remain active or viable after a particularly challenging period or event, often having adapted to new conditions.