Income Lab vs. RightCapital

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

Income Lab gives clients a specific spending number instead of a probability score and monitors the plan continuously with guardrails that tell you exactly when and how to adjust.

RightCapital covers the full financial plan with strong tax optimization. Income Lab goes deeper on retirement income with guardrails that give clients a specific spending number. Many advisors use both.

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

8.7/10 Advisor Satisfaction (Kitces 2025)

The fundamental difference

RightCapital and Income Lab approach retirement planning from different philosophies. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for your practice.

RightCapital's Approach

Probability-based planning

"Your client has an 82% chance of success."

Monte Carlo simulations produce a pass/fail score
Clients hear a percentage and wonder what to do with it
Plans are static snapshots that need manual rebuilding
General financial planning tool with retirement features included

Income Lab's Approach

Adjustment-based planning

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

Guardrails give clients a specific spending number
When markets move, the plan tells you exactly what to adjust
Continuous monitoring replaces periodic rebuilds
Purpose-built for retirement income distribution

Feature comparison

Capability	Income Lab	RightCapital
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	✓	Available (added recently)
Income sourcing Shows where every dollar comes from across accounts	✓	Limited
Roth conversion modeling Optimal conversion analysis with IRMAA awareness	✓	✓
Tax-aware withdrawal sequencing Bracket management and withdrawal ordering	✓	✓
Full financial plan Accumulation, estate, insurance, budgeting	Retirement-focused	✓
Client-facing reports Deliverables clients understand without explanation	✓	✓
Purpose-built for distribution Designed specifically for retirement income, not bolted on	✓	General tool
AI paraplanner (Penny) AI assistant covering tax, Medicare, estate, Social Security, and retirement planning	Full AI paraplanner covering tax, Medicare, estate, SS, retirement	AI assistant (limited scope)
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.	No AI verification
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	$149.95/month
Trial offer	Free 14-day trial	Available

Many advisors use both tools: RightCapital for comprehensive financial planning and Income Lab for the retirement income conversation.

What advisors gain with Income Lab

"How much can I spend?"

Every client asks this question. RightCapital gives them a probability score. Income Lab gives them a specific monthly number: "You can spend $7,200/month." That clarity changes the entire conversation. See how Retirement GPS works.

Guardrails, not guesswork

When markets move, probability scores bounce. Clients panic. Income Lab's guardrails tell you exactly when to adjust and by how much. No annual plan rebuild. No client anxiety. The plan watches itself. 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 RightCapital?

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

Import client data in minutes

Connect your custodian and pull in client data directly. No manual re-entry from RightCapital.

Run both tools side by side

Keep RightCapital for comprehensive planning. Add Income Lab for the retirement income conversation.

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 RightCapital?

Yes, and many advisors do. RightCapital handles comprehensive financial planning (accumulation, estate, insurance). Income Lab handles the retirement income conversation with adjustment-based guardrails. They're complementary tools, not replacements.

What does Income Lab do that RightCapital doesn't?

Income Lab gives clients a specific spending number ("You can spend $7,200/month") instead of a probability score ("You have an 82% chance of success"). It monitors the plan continuously with guardrails that tell you exactly when and how to adjust. It's purpose-built for retirement income distribution, while RightCapital covers the full financial planning spectrum.

What does RightCapital do that Income Lab doesn't?

RightCapital is a comprehensive financial planning tool covering accumulation, estate planning, insurance analysis, budgeting, and more. Income Lab is focused specifically on retirement income distribution and decumulation. If you need a full financial plan, RightCapital is the broader tool. If you need the best retirement income conversation, that's Income Lab.

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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