Scenario Manager tutorial: what-if modeling step by step

The baseline case is the reviewed source of truth. A scenario is a working copy where you explore a change without silently overwriting that baseline: a different employer contribution, a revised enrollment assumption, or another plan approach. This tutorial covers the mechanics. For the strategy behind which alternatives to model, read how brokers use what-if modeling at renewal.

Step 1: Start with a reviewed case

Bring the carrier material into Planlined and verify important plan data against its source files. A reliable baseline gives every later comparison a clear meaning and keeps the delivery materials tied to reviewed information. If the case is not built yet, the Planlined quick start guide covers intake.

Step 2: Create and name the scenario

Create a working scenario from the baseline. Give it a name that explains the business decision or recommendation, so teammates can understand what it represents without reading through a set of formulas or versioned spreadsheets.

• Keep the baseline available for comparison.
• Use a descriptive name for each recommendation under review.
• Keep experimental changes inside the working scenario.

Step 3: Compare contribution and enrollment choices

Change contribution and enrollment choices inside the scenario and review them against the baseline. Focus on the plan options, cost impact, and client tradeoffs that need a broker decision, so the recommendation is easy to explain and easy to revisit when the client asks for a change.

Step 4: Adopt the scenario

When the team agrees on a recommendation, adopt the scenario deliberately. Until then, the baseline stays untouched.

Step 5: Build the client materials from the adopted case

The approved case can then feed a Proposal Book, a Present Proposal deck, and a Benefit Guide without breaking the connection to the source review or the scenario that led to the decision.

Checklist for a clean handoff

• Verify the source plan data before recommendation work begins.
• Keep all changes being explored inside a named scenario.
• Review the recommendation with the appropriate team members.
• Adopt the selected scenario before producing client materials.
• Preserve the baseline for future questions and renewals.

For a summary of what the tool does, see the Scenario Manager feature page.