Our Methodology

How we test tools

Every tool reviewed on this site is tested hands-on by Max. Testing involves:

• Creating an account and running a representative scenario (married couple, $150K household income, $500K in savings, target retirement age 65)
• Testing key features specific to each tool's claimed strengths: Monte Carlo run count, Roth conversion depth, IRMAA modelling, scenario comparison UI
• Verifying pricing from the vendor's pricing page — not marketing copy
• Noting specific limitations observed in first-hand use

How we score tools

Scores (0-10) reflect feature fit for each tool's target segment, not absolute quality. A tool that does one thing excellently for one segment may score lower than a versatile tool that serves more segments, even if the specialist tool is technically superior for its niche.

Scoring criteria:

• Monte Carlo simulation presence and run count (weighted heavily for DIY planning tools)
• Roth conversion and tax-bracket optimisation depth
• Ease of onboarding for non-professional users
• Pricing relative to feature depth
• Multi-account and pension handling accuracy
• Transparency of assumptions

Why we recommend tools we earn nothing from

We earn $0 from FIRECalc, cFIREsim, ProjectionLab, Pralana, and Maxifi. We still recommend them when they're the right tool for a specific use case, because the alternative — recommending only tools that pay us — would make this site useless.

The Wirecutter model: Wirecutter recommends products that don't earn commissions when those products are the best fit. We follow the same principle. If you come to this site and the right tool for you is FIRECalc (free, no affiliate), we'll tell you that clearly.

Affiliate relationships

We earn commissions from the following tools when you sign up via our links:

• Boldin: $50-$125 per qualified signup
• Betterment: $100 per qualified signup
• Personal Capital (Empower): commission per qualified signup

These relationships do not influence our rankings or scores. The commission rates are not contingent on our rankings. We disclose affiliate links clearly in every review.

What "not financial advice" means

This site compares software tools and their features. It does not recommend specific contribution amounts, asset allocations, retirement ages, or investment strategies for your specific situation. The reason: those recommendations are the job of a qualified financial planner who knows your complete situation.

For personalised retirement planning guidance:

• US: a fee-only fiduciary advisor (find one at NAPFA.org). Fee-only means they charge a flat fee or hourly rate — not AUM percentage or commissions. Typical one-off planning engagement: $2,000-$5,000.
• UK: MoneyHelper.org.uk for free guidance, or an FCA-authorised independent financial adviser

About Max

Max is a solo technical founder and operator. He has run affiliate sites, software products, and content operations for several years. He is not a CFP, CFA, financial planner, or any other registered financial professional. He is a careful reader of primary sources (IRS.gov, SSA.gov, academic research) who applies the same verification standard to retirement content as he does to technical documentation.

The editorial model here is journalism with cited sources, not credentialed financial advice. This is the Wirecutter pattern, not the Healthline pattern.