Boldin (NewRetirement) Review 2026: Is PlannerPlus Worth $120/yr?
Boldin (formerly NewRetirement, rebranded September 2024) is the closest the DIY retirement-planning category has to a default pick. At $120/yr, it covers Roth conversion modelling, IRMAA projection, and multi-account drawdown — without a 40-hour learning curve.
- Best for
- Pre-retirees doing serious tax-optimisation and Roth conversion modelling
- Skip if
- You only need a quick estimate — use Boldin free tier or FIRECalc instead
- Price floor
- $0 (free tier) / $120/yr (PlannerPlus monthly) / $144/yr (annual)
Affiliate link — disclosed
Realism check
Boldin PlannerPlus uses Monte Carlo simulation (1,000 scenarios). A plan showing 85%+ probability of success in PlannerPlus is materially more reliable than a linear-projection tool showing 'you're on track.' The distinction matters most within 10 years of retirement.
What Boldin actually is
Boldin (formerly NewRetirement, rebranded September 2024) is a browser-based retirement planning platform with two tiers: a free tier and PlannerPlus at $120/yr (monthly billing) or $144/yr (annual).
The free tier covers basic savings goals, Social Security estimation, and a retirement readiness score. Useful for getting started; not sufficient for serious scenario modelling.
PlannerPlus adds:
- Monte Carlo simulation (1,000 scenarios)
- Year-by-year Roth conversion optimisation
- IRMAA (Medicare premium surcharge) modelling
- Multi-account drawdown sequencing
- Healthcare gap modelling (pre-Medicare years)
- Social Security claiming strategy comparison
This is the tooling that makes PlannerPlus worth it — and worth comparing against ProjectionLab ($109/yr) and Pralana ($119/yr).
The Monte Carlo distinction
Most free calculators (Fidelity Retirement Score, Vanguard Nest Egg, Bankrate) use linear projection: they assume a fixed 7% return every year. A plan showing “you’re on track” in a linear calculator has roughly a 60-70% success probability when run through Monte Carlo.
Boldin PlannerPlus runs Monte Carlo with 1,000 scenarios. A 90% probability-of-success in Boldin means 90% of 1,000 simulated market sequences leave you with money at your target end-age. That is a meaningfully different statement from “you’re on track.”
This distinction is never disclosed on Fidelity’s or Vanguard’s product pages. It’s why PlannerPlus at $120/yr is a different category of tool — not an upgrade to a free calculator, but a different thing entirely.
What it does better than the alternatives
Vs ProjectionLab ($109/yr): Boldin wins on tax modelling depth — Roth conversion optimisation, IRMAA modelling, and year-by-year tax projection are more sophisticated. ProjectionLab wins on scenario UI and Monte Carlo run count (10,000 vs 1,000 in Boldin).
Vs Maxifi ($149-$309/yr): Maxifi wins on raw power and economic model accuracy. Boldin wins on usability — Maxifi has a steeper learning curve. For most pre-retirees, Boldin’s feature set is sufficient and the onboarding is faster.
Vs Pralana Online ($119/yr): Pralana is actuary-built and highly accurate. Smaller install base, less polished UI, better for users who value actuarial precision over interface design. The two are close in price; choose Pralana if you prioritise accuracy over onboarding experience.
What it doesn’t do
- Does not handle non-US pension structures (FERS/TSP works; UK SIPP does not)
- Monte Carlo run count (1,000) is lower than ProjectionLab (10,000) or Pralana
- No mobile app — browser only
- Data is stored in Boldin’s cloud; not local-first
Pricing
| Tier | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic savings goal, SS estimate, readiness score |
| PlannerPlus (monthly) | $120/yr | Full Monte Carlo, Roth conversion, IRMAA, drawdown |
| PlannerPlus (annual) | $144/yr | Same features, pays annually |
| Boldin Advisors | $2,800 flat | One-off CFP consultation using your Boldin model |
Pricing verified from boldin.com/retirement/pricing on May 2026.
Verdict
Boldin PlannerPlus is our top pick for pre-retirees who want serious tax-optimisation modelling without a steep learning curve. The Roth conversion + IRMAA depth at $120/yr is the best in this price band.
Pair with: FIRECalc (free) — use it to sanity-check Boldin’s probability-of-success number with an independent Monte Carlo engine. See our two-tool stack guide for the workflow.
Also consider: ProjectionLab ($109/yr) if you prefer cleaner scenario UI and higher Monte Carlo run count. Maxifi ($149+/yr) if you want maximum power and don’t mind the learning curve.
Affiliate disclosure: we earn $50-$125 per qualified Boldin signup via our links. Pricing verified from vendor page May 2026. Sources: Boldin pricing page, Bogleheads forum thread on retirement planner comparison, FTC Endorsement Guides 16 CFR Part 255.
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Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission if you sign up. Rankings are based on testing, not payout.
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