Retirement Buddy vs. DIY Tools
Comparing AI-guided conversation to spreadsheets, Boldin, and other self-service tools. Which fits your planning style?
Both approaches work—it's about your preferences, not superiority.
Feature Comparison
Two different approaches to the same goal
| Feature | Retirement Buddy | DIY Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0-$3/month | $0-$10/month (Boldin ~$120/year) |
| Interface Style | Conversational AI chat | Forms, dashboards, spreadsheets |
| Learning Curve | Minutes (just start chatting) | Hours to days (data entry & navigation) |
| Emotional Support | Built-in anxiety reduction & coaching | Not included (numbers only) |
| Guidance & Accountability | AI coach suggests next steps | Self-directed (you decide everything) |
| Monte Carlo Simulations | Advanced 10,000+ scenarios | Available (Boldin has good simulations) |
| Debt Planning & Integration | Built-in debt payoff strategies & integration | Not included (separate tools needed) |
| Scenario Flexibility | Unlimited what-if questions via chat | Manual scenario creation and comparison |
| Granular Control | Moderate (AI guides decisions) | Complete (every assumption adjustable) |
| Data Export | Limited (focused on insights) | Extensive (full data export, graphs) |
| Getting Started | Instant (start chatting immediately) | Setup required (data entry first) |
Cost
Retirement Buddy
$0-$3/month
DIY Tools
$0-$10/month (Boldin ~$120/year)
Interface Style
Retirement Buddy
Conversational AI chat
DIY Tools
Forms, dashboards, spreadsheets
Learning Curve
Retirement Buddy
Minutes (just start chatting)
DIY Tools
Hours to days (data entry & navigation)
Emotional Support
Retirement Buddy
Built-in anxiety reduction & coaching
DIY Tools
Not included (numbers only)
Guidance & Accountability
Retirement Buddy
AI coach suggests next steps
DIY Tools
Self-directed (you decide everything)
Monte Carlo Simulations
Retirement Buddy
Advanced 10,000+ scenarios
DIY Tools
Available (Boldin has good simulations)
Debt Planning & Integration
Retirement Buddy
Built-in debt payoff strategies & integration
DIY Tools
Not included (separate tools needed)
Scenario Flexibility
Retirement Buddy
Unlimited what-if questions via chat
DIY Tools
Manual scenario creation and comparison
Granular Control
Retirement Buddy
Moderate (AI guides decisions)
DIY Tools
Complete (every assumption adjustable)
Data Export
Retirement Buddy
Limited (focused on insights)
DIY Tools
Extensive (full data export, graphs)
Getting Started
Retirement Buddy
Instant (start chatting immediately)
DIY Tools
Setup required (data entry first)
Specific DIY Tool Comparisons
How Retirement Buddy compares to popular alternatives
Boldin (formerly NewRetirement)
Strengths:
- Comprehensive data input
- Strong Monte Carlo engine
- Detailed reporting
- Social Security optimization
Limitations:
- Steep learning curve
- Form-heavy interface
- No emotional support
- Requires ongoing data management
Excel/Google Sheets
Strengths:
- Complete customization
- Free or low cost
- Ultimate flexibility
- Familiar tool for many
Limitations:
- Requires financial expertise
- Time-intensive setup
- No built-in Monte Carlo
- Easy to make critical errors
Basic Retirement Calculators
Strengths:
- Quick estimates
- Simple to use
- Usually free
- Good for ballpark figures
Limitations:
- Overly simplistic
- No personalization
- Single-scenario only
- No ongoing guidance
When DIY Tools Are the Better Choice
Some people thrive with self-service tools. If this sounds like you, DIY might be your best fit.
Love Working with Numbers
You enjoy diving into spreadsheets and financial models. Playing with assumptions is fun for you.
Have Time to Invest
You have the time and patience to learn a new tool, input all your data, and manage updates.
Want Complete Control
You prefer making every decision yourself and tweaking every variable exactly as you want.
Already Financially Savvy
You understand retirement planning concepts and just need a tool to run the numbers.
Prefer Visual Dashboards
You like seeing all your data at once in charts, graphs, and comprehensive dashboards.
Our take: If you're financially savvy, love spreadsheets, and have the time—DIY tools like Boldin or a well-built Excel model can work great. They offer maximum control and customization.
When Retirement Buddy Is the Better Choice
If these describe you, our AI-guided conversational approach will feel more natural and effective.
Prefer Conversation Over Forms
You'd rather have a natural conversation than fill out endless forms and input fields.
Want Guidance, Not Just Tools
You need someone (or something) to suggest what you should do next, not just calculate results.
Need Accountability
You know you should plan, but struggle with follow-through. AI coaching helps keep you on track.
Time-Constrained
You want answers quickly without investing hours in setup, data entry, and learning curves.
Dealing with Retirement Anxiety
Numbers alone aren't enough—you need emotional support and reassurance about your transition.
Managing Debt While Planning Retirement
You need to coordinate debt payoff strategies with retirement planning, not juggle separate tools.
Perfect fit: You want professional retirement planning without the complexity, learning curves, or time investment of traditional DIY tools. You prefer conversation to data entry, and you're navigating both the financial and emotional sides of retirement.
The Hybrid Approach
Some users combine both approaches:
- Use Retirement Buddy for guidance: Get AI coaching, emotional support, and quick scenario exploration through conversation
- Use DIY tools for deep dives: When you want to tweak every variable and export detailed reports
- Best of both worlds: Conversational accountability + granular control when you want it
At $0-$3/month, Retirement Buddy doesn't have to be an either/or decision.
Try the Conversational Approach Free
See if AI-guided planning feels more natural than forms and spreadsheets. No credit card required.