Boldin review 2026

People a few years from retirement

Boldin suits people a few years from retirement because the free plan runs what-if scenarios on your retirement age. PlannerPlus keeps several scenarios side by side, so you can compare retiring at 62 with retiring at 65. If you haven't set a target yet, start with how much you need to retire.

Retirees planning withdrawals and Roth conversions

Retirees planning withdrawals get the most from the paid plan, since the Roth conversion explorer, state and federal tax projections, and withdrawal strategy are all PlannerPlus features. The value grows with the number of account types you hold, such as traditional, Roth, and taxable.

DIY planners who want a one-time CFP review

DIY planners can pay Boldin Advisors $3,200 for a one-time checkup, in which a CFP professional reviews your plan on a 90-minute call. You keep running the plan yourself afterward, and ongoing advice is a separate service.

Boldin pros

• Modeling depth: Roth conversions, Social Security, taxes, real estate, and healthcare costs sit in one plan
• Flat price: PlannerPlus costs the same at any balance, $168 a year for new subscribers from October 15, 2026
• Free plan to start: Basic builds a personalized plan and runs what-if scenarios at no cost
• Advice when you want it: Boldin Advisors is an SEC-registered, fee-only adviser you can hire for one flat-fee review

Boldin cons

• Setup time: a useful plan needs your accounts, income, spending, and assumptions, across 250+ inputs on PlannerPlus
• Free plan is limited: Monte Carlo analysis, tax insights, withdrawal strategy, and data export are PlannerPlus only
• Annual billing only: Boldin bills PlannerPlus once a year and offers no prorated refunds after the trial
• It doesn't act: Boldin doesn't hold, invest, or move money, so you make every change at your own brokerage

What the score measures

Boldin's score comes from a Monte Carlo analysis, where each of the 1,000 simulations uses a different random sequence of returns. If 900 end at $0 or more, the score is 90%, and ending with $100 counts the same as ending with $2 million. Monte Carlo is a PlannerPlus feature, so the free plan doesn't produce this score.

What score to aim for

Boldin's help center suggests a score of 85% to 90% for must-spend expenses and says 55% to 60% can be acceptable for discretionary spending. It frames the score as a probability of adjustment: 60% means a 40% chance you'll need to change something later, such as spending less in a down market. If your score is low, split essential and discretionary spending before you cut your budget, and recheck the plan each year.

Roth conversion planner

Boldin's Roth conversion planner, which it calls the Roth conversion explorer, models conversion amounts year by year so you can compare lifetime taxes on PlannerPlus. For a free estimate of one year's conversion tax, use the Tweed Roth conversion calculator.

Social Security planner

Boldin's Social Security planner, the Social Security explorer, compares claiming ages for you and a spouse to find the best strategy for both of you. You can check the same decision for free with the Tweed Social Security claiming plan.

Tax and withdrawal projections

Boldin's tax and withdrawal projections cover state and federal taxes and the order you draw from each account, both on PlannerPlus only. Boldin lists early withdrawal penalty modeling, with the Rule of 55 and 72(t) exceptions, as coming soon.

What the free plan leaves out

Boldin's free plan leaves out Monte Carlo analysis, tax insights, withdrawal strategy, real estate and healthcare modeling, and data export. Build the plan on Basic first, then start the 14-day trial once your data is in, so you spend the trial testing decisions.

PlannerPlus and the 2026 price change

PlannerPlus costs $168 a year for new subscribers from October 15, 2026, up from $144, which works out to $14 a month, billed annually. Boldin says existing subscribers will currently keep renewing at their original price.

Advice and coaching from Boldin's planners

Boldin's advice comes from Boldin Advisors, whose CFP professionals act as fiduciaries for the $3,200 checkup and for ongoing advice from $1,200 a year. Coaching costs $250 a session and covers how to use the software, and Boldin says it isn't advice and forms no fiduciary relationship. The SEC's adviser register lists Boldin Advisors, also filed as NewRetirement Advisors, LLC, under CRD 294881 with no disclosures, and that registration covers the advice service, not the software.³

Is PlannerPlus worth $168 a year?

PlannerPlus is worth $168 a year to you if you'll use the Roth conversion and Social Security explorers, and it costs a small share of a portfolio next to a 1% advisory fee. PlannerPlus is software and gives no advice, so the table compares cost only.

Is the $3,200 CFP checkup worth it?

The Boldin Advisors checkup is worth $3,200 if you want a fiduciary to check a plan you'll keep running yourself. It costs the same as one year of a 1% fee on a $320,000 portfolio, and Ongoing Advisory starts at $1,200 a year, the same as 1% of $120,000.

Boldin vs ProjectionLab

Boldin and ProjectionLab are both DIY planners with Monte Carlo analysis. The view on Bogleheads and Reddit is that ProjectionLab suits people who like to tinker with detailed scenarios and Boldin suits tax and Social Security planning. Both leave your money at your own brokerage.

Boldin vs Empower

Boldin vs Empower comes down to who manages the money: Empower pairs a free dashboard with a percentage-fee advisory business that manages your money, and Boldin's advice is a flat fee that leaves the money where it is. Consider Empower if you want an advisor accountable for the account, and Boldin if you want to run the plan yourself. The Empower review covers its tiers.