
DIY retirement planning with AI-powered what-if analysis
By Tanmay Verma, Founder · Last verified 25 Jun 2026
In short
Boldin — DIY retirement planning with AI-powered what-if analysis. Best for Individuals approaching retirement needing detailed tax and income projections, DIY planners who enjoy running multiple 'what-if' scenarios to compare trade-offs, Retirees optimizing Social Security claiming strategies with up-to-date reduction assumptions. Free to start; paid plans from $3200/mo.
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Boldin is the most detailed DIY retirement planner for hands-on users who want panoramic projections including taxes, real estate, and healthcare. Its AI assistant and real-time monitoring are strong, but beginners may need paid coaching. The 2026 updates keep it ahead of simpler tools like FIREcalc or Personal Capital. Recommended for retirees and near-retirees who want to model complex scenarios and optimize taxes and Social Security.
Skip Boldin if Skip Boldin if you want a simple retirement calculator with minimal setup and no manual data entry, or if you're looking for a robo-advisor that manages your investments.
Compare with: Boldin vs Pave, Boldin vs Aleph Insurance AI, Boldin vs Robin AI
Last verified: June 2026
Across the latest 2 updates: 2 feature updates.
Bug fixed for cases where the lower-earning spouse claims before their FRA.
All major withdrawal types now appear as individually labeled series in the chart.
How likely is Boldin to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
Last calculated: June 2026
How we score →Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) is a comprehensive DIY retirement and financial planning platform for individuals and advisors who want hands-on control. It goes beyond basic calculators, factoring in taxes, Social Security, real estate, healthcare, long-term care, debt, and budgeting. Boldin AI answers plain-language what-if questions using your actual plan data. Key features include real-time financial monitoring, Monte Carlo analysis, state-level tax modeling (e.g., Wisconsin retirement income deduction), Social Security optimization with a 22% benefit reduction default (2026 Trustees Report), mortgage payoff transfer modeling, and a risk tolerance survey. Users get access to coaching classes, 1:1 coaching, and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals. For advisors, Boldin Advisors offers a flat-fee, fiduciary service. Unlike simpler calculators or robo-advisors, Boldin demands manual input but delivers panoramic projections.
We'd reach for Boldin when the goal is to stress-test a retirement plan with real numbers—tax brackets, Social Security claiming ages, home sale timing. The Monte Carlo simulation and state-level tax modeling (like Wisconsin's new deduction) are genuinely useful for people five years out from retirement. The free tier gives enough to see if you like the depth, but the $12/month PlannerPlus unlocks the AI assistant, unlimited scenarios, and over 36 charts. That said, beginners might feel overwhelmed by the 250+ inputs. There's a learning curve, and the free version limits AI conversations and alerts. Compared to Personal Capital (now Empower), Boldin offers far more granularity, but lacks the automated portfolio-tracking and robo-advisor features. Where it bites: if you want a hands-off experience, skip this. You'll spend hours inputting data if you want accurate projections. For advisors, the flat $3,200 fee for a CFP® review is a solid value compared to hourly rates. Overall, it's a powerful tool for motivated DIYers, but not for anyone who wants a quick snapshot.
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Concrete scenarios for the personas Boldin actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
A 63-year-old retiree uses Boldin to compare claiming ages 62, 67, and 70, factoring in spouse benefits and 22% default reduction. She runs the Social Security Explorer and sees lifetime income projections for each scenario.
Outcome: She identifies the optimal claiming age that maximizes lifetime income for her and her spouse, deferring to 70 for a 25% higher monthly benefit.
A 58-year-old plans to retire at 62. He uses the Roth Conversion Explorer to model converting $50k/year until 72, and sees the impact on future RMDs and taxes across federal and state (Wisconsin) brackets.
Outcome: He decides to convert $40k/year for 5 years, reducing his projected lifetime tax bill by $18k.
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
For each published Boldin tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Basic
$0/mo
Ideal for
Solo individuals who want a simple, free retirement plan with basic calculators and limited scenarios.
What this tier adds
Free entry point. Limited to simple calculators (retirement, annuity, Roth conversion) and basic what-if scenarios. No access to Boldin AI unlimited conversations or account aggregation.
PlannerPlus
$12/mo (billed annually at $144/yr)
Ideal for
Detailed DIY planners who want full control over 100+ inputs, tax optimization, Monte Carlo, and unlimited AI guidance.
What this tier adds
Adds 100+ extra inputs, Boldin AI unlimited, account aggregation, Roth Conversion Explorer, state and federal tax projections, multiple scenarios, Monte Carlo, detailed charts, and live classes. $12/month billed annually.
Boldin Advisors
$3,200 flat fee
Ideal for
Individuals who want a comprehensive, one-time retirement plan from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with fiduciary duty.
What this tier adds
One-time $3,200 flat fee for a written plan, portfolio analysis, withdrawal strategies, Roth conversion recommendations, and stress testing. Includes a free discovery session.
The company stage and team size where Boldin's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
At $12/month for PlannerPlus, Boldin is mid-range compared to competitors. NewRetirement (the same tool before rebrand) is now more expensive under the Boldin name. Free tier is basic. The Advisors tier at $3,200 is a one-time premium option. Rival tools like MaxiFi or Income Lab can be pricier. For serious DIY planners, the $12/month is good value given the depth of tax and Social Security modeling.
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Boldin — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
Setting up a basic plan takes about 15-30 minutes with manual entry of assets, income, and expenses. Adding detailed inputs (tax brackets, real estate, Social Security) can take 1-2 hours. The AI assistant can speed up data entry via conversation. Linking accounts via aggregators is straightforward but may take a few days for full syncing.
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
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Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Boldin, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
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