Mr. Bennet's Decision
"Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum, for the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived him." — Chapter 50, Pride & Prejudice
You are Mr. Bennet. Your task is to build a fund that can support your dependents (wife and 5 daughters) after your death. Adjust the sliders to see how saving, time, and interest change the outcome.
Case Assumptions
- Annual household income:
- Household members: 7 (Mr. & Mrs. Bennet + 5 daughters) → per person per year
- Dependents after death: 6 (Mrs. Bennet + 5 daughters)
- Income interest rate choices: 4% or 5% (historical government bond rates)
The Challenge
If Mr. Bennet saves consistently, can the fund generate per dependent per year — matching the current per-person living standard?
Target derived from: ÷ 7 household members = per person per year
Income per dependent is estimated as: final balance × income rate ÷ 6 dependents (perpetuity model — only interest is withdrawn, principal is preserved). The tool uses the same rate for investment growth and income generation, a standard simplifying assumption.
Dependents:
Results
Accumulated fund:
Annual income per dependent: