Income Lab vs. Boldin

Q: What does Income Lab do that Boldin doesn't?

Income Lab gives clients a specific spending number instead of a probability score, monitors plans continuously with guardrails, integrates with custodians like Schwab and Fidelity, and produces advisor-branded reports purpose-built for retirement income distribution.

Boldin (formerly NewRetirement) helps consumers plan their own retirement. Income Lab is built for professional financial advisors. If you're an advisor looking for purpose-built distribution software, here's how they compare.

#1 Retirement Distribution Tool, 3 years running (T3)

8.7/10 Advisor Satisfaction (Kitces 2025)

The fundamental difference

Boldin and Income Lab serve different audiences. Boldin is a consumer planning platform for individuals managing their own retirement. Income Lab is professional-grade software built for financial advisors running client practices.

Boldin's Approach

Consumer self-service planning

"You have a 78% chance of meeting your retirement goals."

Consumer-first platform with an advisor tier (PlannerPro, $990/yr)
Monte Carlo projections give users a probability of success score
Boldin AI chat answers financial questions using your plan data
Roth conversion explorer, Social Security optimizer, and budgeting tools

Income Lab's Approach

Professional advisor software

"Your client can spend $7,200/month. Here's what changes if markets drop."

Built for financial advisors managing client portfolios
Guardrails give clients a specific spending number, not a probability
Advisor-branded reports designed for client meetings
Purpose-built for retirement income distribution

Feature comparison

Capability	Income Lab	Boldin
Built for financial advisors Designed for professional advisor practices and client workflows	✓	Consumer-focused
Specific spending recommendation "How much can I spend?" answered with a dollar amount	✓	Probability %
Guardrail-based monitoring Upper and lower guardrails that trigger automatic adjustments	✓	Spending Guardrails Insight (new)
Income sourcing Shows where every dollar comes from across accounts	✓	Basic
Custodian integrations Direct connections to Schwab, Fidelity, Orion, and more	✓	Limited
Client-facing reports Advisor-branded deliverables for client meetings	✓	Consumer reports
Roth conversion modeling Optimal conversion analysis with IRMAA awareness	✓	✓
DIY consumer access Individuals can plan their own retirement without an advisor	Advisor-only	✓
Purpose-built for distribution Designed specifically for retirement income, not general planning	✓	General planning
AI paraplanner (Penny) AI assistant covering tax, Medicare, estate, Social Security, and retirement planning	Full AI paraplanner covering tax, Medicare, estate, SS, retirement	Basic AI assistant
Verifiable AI (no hallucinated math) Deterministic calculation engines with AI verification	Deterministic engines for calculations; AI for classification and explanation. Verify button on every response.	Not applicable
Practice Intelligence AI that mines your client base for planning opportunities	Mines client base for planning opportunities	Not available
IRMAA appeal calculator Medicare surcharge appeal with SSA-44 form generation	Monthly precision; generates SSA-44 instructions	Not available
Starts at	$199/month	Free (consumer) / $990/yr (advisor)
Trial offer	Free 14-day trial	Free tier available

Boldin and Income Lab serve different audiences. Boldin is excellent for consumers who want to plan independently. Income Lab is built for advisors who need professional tools for client conversations.

What advisors gain with Income Lab

"How much can I spend?"

Every client asks this question. Consumer tools give them a probability score to interpret on their own. Income Lab gives advisors a specific monthly number to share: "You can spend $7,200/month." That clarity transforms the client conversation. See how Retirement GPS works.

Guardrails, not guesswork

When markets move, probability scores bounce. Income Lab's guardrails tell you exactly when to adjust and by how much. No annual plan rebuild. No client anxiety. The plan monitors itself continuously. Learn about our methodology.

Where every dollar comes from

Roth conversions, Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing, bracket management. Income Lab shows advisors exactly where their clients' retirement income originates and how to optimize each source. Explore Tax Lab.

Ready for professional-grade distribution software?

Whether your clients are using Boldin on their own or you've been exploring it yourself, Income Lab gives you the advisor-specific tools that consumer platforms can't.

Import client data in minutes

Connect your custodian and pull in client data directly. Schwab, Fidelity, Orion, and more.

Clients can still use Boldin

Boldin is a great consumer tool. Your clients can keep using it for personal planning while you use Income Lab for professional advice.

Dedicated onboarding support

We walk you through setup and your first client plan so you're producing results in days, not weeks.

Free 14-day trial. Full Pro access.

No commitment. Monthly billing available after trial. Cancel anytime.

Common Questions

Is Boldin the same as NewRetirement?

Yes. Boldin rebranded from NewRetirement in 2024. The product is the same; only the name changed. If you're searching for NewRetirement comparisons, this is the right page.

What's the main difference between Boldin and Income Lab?

Audience and methodology. Boldin is a consumer-first platform (with an advisor tier at $990/yr) that uses Monte Carlo probability scores. Income Lab is built for professional financial advisors and uses guardrails that give clients a specific spending number. Boldin offers breadth across the full financial picture; Income Lab offers depth in retirement income distribution.

Can my clients use Boldin while I use Income Lab?

Absolutely. Many advisors' clients use consumer tools like Boldin for their own exploration. Income Lab gives you the professional layer: specific spending recommendations, guardrail monitoring, income sourcing, and advisor-branded deliverables for client meetings. The two tools complement each other well.

What does Income Lab do that Boldin doesn't?

Income Lab gives clients a specific spending number ("You can spend $7,200/month") instead of a probability score. It monitors plans continuously with guardrails that tell you exactly when and how to adjust. It integrates with custodians like Schwab and Fidelity, produces advisor-branded reports, and is purpose-built for retirement income distribution conversations.

How much does Income Lab cost?

Income Lab Core is $199/month ($1,990/year, saving 2 months free) and Pro is $299/month ($2,990/year). Start with a free 14-day trial with full Pro access. Monthly billing available.

Is there a trial offer?

Yes. Start with a free 14-day trial with full Pro access. Cancel anytime during the trial.

See the difference in 20 minutes

Bring a client scenario. We'll model it live and show you exactly what Income Lab would tell that client.

Free 14-day trial. Full Pro access. Cancel anytime.

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