Using Projected Cash Flow
Quick Review
What is it? A visual chart showing your projected account balance based on scheduled transactions and reminders.
Why use it? Anticipate cash shortfalls, plan for upcoming expenses, and ensure sufficient funds for bills.
How to access:
Web: Click any banking account to see its projected cash flow chart
Mobile: Transactions view > "See projected cash flow" below the Reminders carousel
All accounts: Web - Bills & Payments > Cash Flow tab
Key limitation: Doesn't include Planned Spending items or Savings Goals contributions.
Overview
The Projected Cash Flow feature in Quicken Simplifi helps you anticipate your future account balances by factoring in recurring reminders, scheduled transactions, and expected refunds. This forward-looking view prevents overdrafts and helps you make informed spending decisions.
Ashley uses Projected Cash Flow to manage their variable consulting income. By seeing when client payments arrive versus when bills are due, they can identify tight spots in advance and adjust spending or invoice timing accordingly. The visual chart makes it immediately clear when account balances might dip below comfortable levels.
Accurate projections depend on complete recurring reminders. The more thorough your recurring transactions setup, the more reliable your cash flow forecast becomes.
Understanding the Cash Flow Chart
Visual Elements
The Projected Cash Flow chart appears at the top of each banking account, displaying dots that represent your upcoming financial activity:
Green dots: Income reminders
Blue dots: Bills, subscriptions, and future-dated expenses
Gray dots: Expected refunds
Hover over any dot to see:
Specific reminders for that day
Your projected balance after those transactions
Click any dot to jump directly to that day's transactions in the list below.
Customizable Time Period
The chart displays a customizable period, allowing you to look as far ahead as needed for your planning. Below the chart, you'll see a detailed list of upcoming items for the same period.
Ashley's Cash Flow Strategy
Weekly Review Process
Every Monday, Ashley reviews their Projected Cash Flow for the next 30 days:
Check for low points: Identifies dates when balances might drop below $2,000
Verify income timing: Confirms client payment reminders match invoicing
Adjust bill payments: Reschedules flexible bills if needed to avoid low balances
Plan transfers: Schedules money movement between accounts to cover gaps
Managing Variable Income
With consulting income arriving irregularly, Ashley relies heavily on Projected Cash Flow to:
Time large purchases after confirmed payments
Schedule quarterly tax payments when balances are highest
Maintain emergency fund levels despite income fluctuations
Managing Upcoming Transactions
Modifying Reminders
From the Projected Cash Flow view:
Locate the upcoming reminder in the list
Click the three-dot menu on the right
Select your action (edit, skip, mark paid, etc.)
This direct access means you can adjust your cash flow projections without leaving the account view.
Account-Specific vs. Combined View
Individual Account View: Shows only transactions affecting that specific account
Cash Flow Tab (Bills & Payments): Displays all accounts together or customize which accounts to include
Credit Card Payment Handling
Credit card payments appear differently depending on how they're categorized:
Using "Credit Card Payment" or "Transfer" Category
Reminder appears only in the payment account's cash flow
Receiving credit card account doesn't show the incoming payment
Using Linked Transfer (Recommended)
Select the receiving credit card as the category
Reminder appears in both accounts' projections
Provides complete picture of money movement
Ashley uses linked transfers for all credit card payments to see the full impact on both checking and credit card accounts.
What's Included and What's Not
Included in Projections
✓ Recurring bill reminders ✓ Recurring subscription reminders ✓ Recurring income reminders ✓ Future-dated manual transactions ✓ Expected refunds ✓ Linked transfers between accounts
Not Included
✗ Planned Spending items from Spending Plan ✗ Savings Goals contributions ✗ One-time transactions not yet entered ✗ Pending transactions not yet cleared
Understanding these limitations helps set appropriate expectations for your cash flow projections.
Common Use Cases
Paycheck to Paycheck Management
Review the two-week period between paychecks to ensure all bills can be covered without overdraft.
Quarterly Tax Planning
Project balances three months ahead to ensure sufficient funds for estimated tax payments.
Large Purchase Timing
Identify the best time for major expenses based on projected high-balance periods.
Emergency Fund Maintenance
Monitor that projected balances never drop below your minimum emergency fund threshold.
Best Practices
Based on experience using Projected Cash Flow effectively:
Keep reminders current - Update amounts and dates as they change
Include all recurring items - Even small subscriptions affect projections
Review weekly - Cash flow changes require regular monitoring
Use linked transfers - Get complete visibility of money movement
Plan around low points - Identify and address projected shortfalls early
Verify against reality - Compare projections to actual balances regularly
Extend view for planning - Look further ahead for major expenses
Troubleshooting Projection Issues
Inaccurate Projections
Verify all recurring reminders are set up
Check that reminder amounts match actual transactions
Ensure linked transfers are properly configured
Missing Transactions
Planned Spending items won't appear (by design)
Savings Goals don't show (track separately)
Add future-dated transactions for one-time items
Balance Mismatches
Confirm starting balance is correct
Check for skipped or modified reminders
Verify pending transactions are accounted for
The Bottom Line
Projected Cash Flow transforms financial planning from reactive to proactive. By visualizing future balances, you can prevent overdrafts, optimize payment timing, and maintain comfortable cushions in all accounts.
Ashley's advice: Don't just check current balances. Use Projected Cash Flow to see what's coming and adjust before problems arise. The few minutes spent reviewing projections weekly can prevent costly overdraft fees and reduce financial stress.