Income Lab vs. Income Discovery

Income Discovery and Income Lab both tackle retirement income distribution with serious depth. Income Discovery uses AI-driven optimization with automated distributions; Income Lab uses guardrails that give clients a specific spending number and adjust automatically.

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

8.7/10 Advisor Satisfaction (Kitces 2025)

The fundamental difference

Income Discovery and Income Lab both serve the retirement income space. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for your practice.

Income Discovery's Approach

AI-optimized income planning

"Create a fully personalized retirement income strategy in one click."

AIDA optimization engine tests thousands of strategy combinations simultaneously
Income Delivery automates quarterly tax-optimized distributions
SafePath 2.0 provides real-time monitoring with Safe/Adjustment spending zones
Enterprise-focused: sold to firms and institutions, not individual advisors

Income Lab's Approach

Dynamic adjustment planning

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

Models scenarios AND monitors them continuously
When conditions change, the plan tells you what to do next
Guardrails give clients a specific spending number
Purpose-built for ongoing retirement income conversations

Feature comparison

Capability	Income Lab	Income Discovery
Scenario modeling Model different income scenarios and withdrawal strategies	✓	✓
Guardrail-based spending adjustments Specific spending number with upper/lower guardrails that trigger adjustments	✓	Safe/Adjustment zones
Specific spending amount "How much can I spend?" answered with a dollar amount	✓	Safe income at 90% confidence
Ongoing plan monitoring Real-time or continuous surveillance with alerts	✓	SafePath 2.0
Tax-smart distribution Bracket management and withdrawal ordering	✓	✓
Income sourcing Shows where every dollar comes from across accounts	✓	✓ (Income Delivery)
Automated distributions Quarterly tax-optimized income execution across accounts	✗	Income Delivery
Social Security optimization Optimal claiming strategy analysis	✓	✓
Self-serve advisor signup Individual advisors can sign up directly	✓	Enterprise sales only
Purpose-built for distribution Designed specifically for retirement income, not bolted on	✓	✓
AI paraplanner (Penny) AI assistant covering tax, Medicare, estate, Social Security, and retirement planning	Full AI paraplanner covering tax, Medicare, estate, SS, retirement	AIDA optimization engine
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	Contact for pricing
Trial offer	Free 14-day trial	✗

Both tools serve the retirement income space with real depth. Income Discovery excels at AI-driven optimization and automated distributions for institutions. Income Lab excels at guardrails-based planning with self-serve access for individual advisors.

What advisors gain with Income Lab

"How much can I spend?"

Every client asks this question. Income Discovery provides safe income levels at 90% confidence. Income Lab goes further with a specific monthly number and guardrails that tell you exactly when to adjust: "You can spend $7,200/month." See how Retirement GPS works.

Guardrails, not guesswork

Both tools monitor plans over time. Income Discovery's SafePath uses Safe/Adjustment zones. Income Lab's guardrails tell you exactly when to adjust spending and by how much, automatically. Different approaches to the same problem. Learn about our methodology.

Where every dollar comes from

Roth conversions, Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing, bracket management. Income Lab shows clients exactly where their retirement income originates and why each source matters. Explore Tax Lab.

Already using Income Discovery?

You don't need to cancel anything. Most advisors run Income Lab alongside their current tool during the transition.

Get started in minutes

Set up integrations or upload client data with AI Plan Builder. No manual re-entry.

Run both tools side by side

Keep Income Discovery for AI-optimized distribution execution. Add Income Lab for guardrails-based spending guidance.

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

Can I use Income Lab alongside Income Discovery?

These tools serve different market segments. Income Discovery is sold to institutions and firms through enterprise sales. Income Lab is available directly to individual advisors. If your firm uses Income Discovery, Income Lab's guardrails methodology offers a different philosophical approach to the same retirement income challenge.

What does Income Lab do that Income Discovery doesn't?

Income Lab gives clients a specific spending number with guardrails ("You can spend $7,200/month, and here's exactly when to adjust"). It's available directly to individual advisors without an enterprise sales process, with a free 14-day trial. Income Lab focuses on the advisor-client conversation, while Income Discovery focuses on institutional-scale optimization and execution.

What does Income Discovery do that Income Lab doesn't?

Income Discovery's AIDA engine optimizes thousands of strategy combinations simultaneously, and their Income Delivery product automates quarterly tax-optimized distributions across accounts. SafePath 2.0 provides real-time monitoring with Safe/Adjustment spending zones. If your firm needs automated distribution execution at scale, Income Discovery is built for that.

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.

What integrations does Income Lab support?

Direct integrations with Schwab, Fidelity, Orion, Black Diamond, Redtail, and other major custodians and portfolio management platforms. Data imports take minutes.

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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