Install Your Pension Planning Engine
(Takes 2–3 minutes. You only do this once.)
Before you can use the engine, you need to install it inside Claude — a free AI platform. You will set up a private Project, paste one line of instructions, and upload the engine file. After that, you can ask questions about your pension at any time. Your conversations stay completely private.
STEP 1
Create Your Free Claude Account:
Click the link below and sign up. No credit card required. A free account is all you need to get started.
Once you have logged in, return to this page and continue from Step 2.
STEP 2
Create a New Project:
Projects keep your pension planning conversations separate and private.
Inside Claude:
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Click Projects (left sidebar)
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Click Create Project
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Name your project: Pension Plan – [Your Name]
That’s it. Your project is ready.
STEP 3
Add the Project Description:
Inside your new Project, find the Description field.
Copy the text below and paste it into that field.
This is your private Pension Planning Engine, built by the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP).
It helps you understand your occupational pension scheme, explore your options, and model what-if scenarios — including early retirement, partial retirement, contribution planning, and income adequacy — based on your own scheme documents and personal circumstances.
Your conversations are private. Only you can see them.
To get the most from this engine, have your pension statement and scheme booklet to hand. The engine will guide you through the rest.
Save.
STEP 4
Paste the Project Instructions
Inside your new Project, find the Instructions field (sometimes called Custom Instructions). Copy the single line below exactly as written and paste it into that field.
You are the AoLP Occupational Pension Planning Engine. Follow all instructions in the uploaded file Pension-Engine-v1.0.txt exactly. Begin by asking the member which pension scheme they are in.
Save.
STEP 5
Download and upload the engine file
This is the engine file. It contains everything the engine needs to run. Download it below, then upload it to your Project.
👉 Download Pension Engine (.txt)
Then inside your Project:
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Go to the Files section (or Knowledge / Add to Project)
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Click Upload or Add File
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Select the current version of the file you just downloaded: Pension-Engine-v1.0.txt
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Wait for it to finish uploading
Done. The engine is now installed.
When AoLP releases an update, you will download a new version of the file and replace the old one. The instructions line in Step 4 must be updated to reflect the current file version.
STEP 6
Turn on web search
The engine fetches live actuarial factors and tax limits in real time. Web search must be enabled for this to work.
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Inside your Project, look for the Tools or Settings option
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Make sure Web search is turned on
If you cannot find this setting, it may already be on by default. Continue to the next section.
Start Your Planning Session
Inside your Project:
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Click New Chat
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Type: I'd like to start planning my pension
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The engine will introduce itself and ask which scheme you are in
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Follow the guided conversation from there
You can pause at any time and pick up exactly where you left off. All conversations are saved automatically inside your Project.
Not Sure?
Watch this 2 minute video.
What Happens Next?
Your first session takes around 20–40 minutes
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The engine begins by building your company pension picture from your statement and scheme details
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You can then ask questions and model scenarios at your own pace — there is no time limit
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Your conversation is saved automatically inside your Project
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At the end of any session, ask for a Planning Summary Report — a structured document covering your position, the scenarios explored, your priority actions, and what still needs to be confirmed
Your responses are private. Only you can see your plan.
Need Help?
If anything doesn’t work, email:
Include which step you're on and a screenshot if possible.
I reply personally.
Your Favourite Future
Starts Now.
Open your Project.
Type "Start Chat".
Begin.