Free monte carlo simulation excel template

This guide describes how to convert a static Excel spreadsheet model into a Monte Carlo simulation, and the kind of information you can learn from the simulation.

It will walk through the basic techniques, and the functions you will need to use. The full model, including each of the steps below, is available for download. The examples in this guide use the RiskAMP Monte Carlo add-in; if you don't have the add-in already, you can download a free trial version from our download page.

A typical investment portfolio model includes an opening balance, projections for returns and costs over several years, and a closing balance at some time in the future. A simple spreadsheet model might look like this:. In figure A, the model is based on a fixed period annual return of 5. Over the course of 5 years, this results in a return of The first step in building the Monte Carlo model is replacing these fixed returns with randomly distributed values, to better approximate the real world.

In the Monte Carlo model, instead of a fixed 5. For each return cell in the spreadsheet column D , we use the random function NormalValue:. In figure B, the return in each period has been changed from a fixed 5. The returns in each period are randomly generated. The total return cell F11 can also differ significantly from the original value Randomly-distributed returns seem like a better approximation of the real world, but taking a single random return isn't useful.

The RiskAMP Monte Carlo Add-in for Excel | RiskAMP

The key to using Monte Carlo simulation is to take many random values, recalculating the model each time, and then analyze the results. A Monte Carlo simulation calculates the same model many many times, and tries to generate useful information from the results. When the simulation dialog is open, click "Start" to run a simulation.

If you check the box "Allow screen updates" in the dialog box, you'll see the random values in the model changing again and again while the simulation runs.

For normal use you should un-check this box, as it will make the simulation run more slowly. The RiskAMP Add-in includes a number of functions to analyze the results of a Monte Carlo simulation. To start, we'll look at the average results of the simulation using the SimulationAverage function. This is because the simulation hasn't collected data for the cell yet.

Once you run a simulation, this error will go away. In Figure C, we've added average simulation results in column H using the function seen in the function bar.

In this example, cell H11 calculates the average value of cell F11 over all the trials, or iterations, of the Monte Carlo simulation. You'll see the value of F11 change at each trial, but the value in H11 slowly starts to settle down at the average value. When you run a Monte Carlo simulation, at each iteration new random values are placed in column D and the spreadsheet is recalculated.

This results in a different value in cell F The Monte Carlo simulation runs hundreds or thousands of times, and at each iteration the RiskAMP Add-in stores and remembers the value of cell F Once the simulation is complete, the average value can be calculated from this set of stored values.

You'll see that the average value, returned in cell H11, is very close to the original fixed value of This is as expected, because the random data we're using for returns has an average of 5. As noted above, the average return given by the Monte Carlo simulation is close to the original, fixed model. If that were the only thing we could learn from the simulation, it wouldn't have much use.

However, we can get much more useful information from the Monte Carlo simulation by looking at ranges and percentiles.

To begin with, we can look at the minimum and maximum values identified during the simulation using the SimulationMin and SimulationMax functions:. In Figure D, cell I11 contains the minimum value of cell F11 seen during the simulation. This is significantly worse then the average, and represents the risk contained in the portfolio model.

Looking at the absolute miniumum and maximum values tends to overstate the outliers, or tails, of the possible outcomes of the portfolio model.

We can also look at percentile probabilities, using the SimulationPercentile function:. In Figure E, cell J11 contains the SimulationPercentile function as seen in the function bar. To understand what the percentiles mean, imagine that we take every result seen in cell F11 over the Monte Carlo simulation, and place them in order lowest to highest.

The first value would be the minimum, as seen above; no values in the results are lower than the minimum value.

Monte Carlo Simulation Formula in Excel - Tutorial and Download - Excel TV

Therefore the maximum value is the th Percentile. In Figure E, cell J11 shows the 25th Percentile result for cell F By changing the percentile values, we can determine the expected return of the portfolio with different probabilities.

This kind of analysis can be useful in determining the real levels of risk associated with an investment portfolio. Instead of finding the expected return at different percentiles, we can turn the analysis around and find the probability of reaching a particular target return with the SimulationInterval function:.

In Figure F, this probability is This kind of analysis can be useful in determining confidence levels. For example, in evaluating alternative investments, we can compare the probabilities of reaching certain minimum returns. The above discussion describes converting a simple fixed portfolio model into a Monte Carlo simulation, and the kinds of analysis that can be done with a Monte Carlo simulation.

This is a very simple example; many different analysis functions are available, and there are many different ways to generate random data in a model. See the RiskAMP Help Manual available in Excel or from the Start Menu for more information about the various functions. Of course any analysis is only as good as the model and the data that are entered.

This model is very simple in that it ignores investment costs and inflation. The model is also very sensitive to the mean and standard deviation of our expected return.

Nevertheless, it's evident from the analysis that the simple fixed model hides much of the risk associated with the portfolio. By using a Monte Carlo simulation, and with some basic analysis of the results, we have a lot more detailed information about the possible outcomes of this portfolio. Structured Data LLC is a software services and consulting firm founded in , with offices in New York and San Francisco.

Toggle navigation Risk AMP. How To Add Monte Carlo Simulation to Your Spreadsheet Models This guide describes how to convert a static Excel spreadsheet model into a Monte Carlo simulation, and the kind of information you can learn from the simulation.

Investment Portfolio Model Download the spreadsheet used in this example A typical investment portfolio model includes an opening balance, projections for returns and costs over several years, and a closing balance at some time in the future.

A simple spreadsheet model might look like this: The original model In figure A, the model is based on a fixed period annual return of 5. Adding Random Data In the Monte Carlo model, instead of a fixed 5. For each return cell in the spreadsheet column D , we use the random function NormalValue: Adding Random Data In figure B, the return in each period has been changed from a fixed 5.

Running a Monte Carlo Simulation A Monte Carlo simulation calculates the same model many many times, and tries to generate useful information from the results. Average Simulation Results In Figure C, we've added average simulation results in column H using the function seen in the function bar.

Analyzing Data As noted above, the average return given by the Monte Carlo simulation is close to the original, fixed model. To begin with, we can look at the minimum and maximum values identified during the simulation using the SimulationMin and SimulationMax functions: Minimum and Maximum Simulation Results In Figure D, cell I11 contains the minimum value of cell F11 seen during the simulation.

We can also look at percentile probabilities, using the SimulationPercentile function: Percentile Results In Figure E, cell J11 contains the SimulationPercentile function as seen in the function bar. Determining Confidence Levels Instead of finding the expected return at different percentiles, we can turn the analysis around and find the probability of reaching a particular target return with the SimulationInterval function: Conclusion The above discussion describes converting a simple fixed portfolio model into a Monte Carlo simulation, and the kinds of analysis that can be done with a Monte Carlo simulation.

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