Once the victor is known and this uncertainty abates, businesses will be able to make reasonable assumptions about future fiscal policy and act accordingly.

FORBES: Lifting a Cloud of Uncertainty

Determine your current financial situation. (2) Figure out where you want to be at given times in the future. (3) Make reasonable assumptions about key factors like pay raises, savings, spending levels, inflation, insurance coverage, investment returns for different kinds of assets and the like. (4) Run the numbers over time. (5) Fiddle with the assumptions to cover any shortfall or, if financially set, to reduce risk.

FORBES: Bedlam

When we model choices, we want to make sure the assumptions we are making are reasonable.

FORBES: How To Market Time The Fiscal Cliff

Every year we try to do an honest, reasonable, conservative forecast to make sure that we are basing our budget assumptions on the best possible forecast that we can.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing