Comparison · 2026
Yearfold vs MaxiFi Planner: an honest 2026 comparison
MaxiFi takes the economist's approach to retirement. Here's how that compares to Yearfold's free probability planning.
Part of our roundup of the best retirement calculators in 2026. Last reviewed May 31, 2026.
Editorial review pending — see editorial process
Yearfold is a financial-education tool. It is not a registered investment adviser and does not provide personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are probabilistic projections based on historical data and stated assumptions; they are not guarantees. Methodology
Transparency: We make money from Yearfold Pro, and this page compares us with MaxiFi Planner, a product we compete with. Every price and feature claim below is sourced and dated — if something is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.
Yearfold vs MaxiFi Planner: side by side
| Feature | Yearfold | MaxiFi Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | No free tier |
| Paid price | $99/yr or $12/mo (Pro) | $109/yr (Standard) · $149/yr (Premium) · $359/yr (Premium Plus) source ↗ |
| 10,000-path Monte Carlo | Yes | Yes |
| Models couples | Yes | Yes |
| Models dependents explicitly | Yes | Yes |
| Account / bank linking | No | No |
| AI assistant | Yes | — |
| Tax / Roth tools | Deep | Deep |
| Runs without a signup | Yes | — |
| No bank linking required | Yes | Yes |
MaxiFi Planner facts last verified May 31, 2026 · prices change — verify on the source before deciding.
Choose MaxiFi Planner if…
- You want the economics-based 'consumption smoothing' method — calculating a sustainable, stable living standard across your whole life rather than a savings target.
- You value MaxiFi's lifetime tax and Social Security optimization and its household modeling, and you'll pay from $109/yr.
- You're a careful planner who wants the academic rigor behind the late economist Laurence Kotlikoff's approach.
Best for: People who want economics-based 'consumption smoothing' — the academic approach to a stable living standard across your life.
Choose Yearfold if…
- You want a rigorous 10,000-path Monte Carlo projection for free, with no account and no bank linking required to run it.
- You want your spouse and dependents modeled explicitly, not folded into one spending number.
- You want the honest range of outcomes — the 10th-to-90th-percentile band — instead of a single optimistic figure.
- You'd consider the living-plan features (monthly plan updates, a personalized tax calendar, AI Q&A over your own numbers, bracket alerts) at $12/mo Pro — the same monthly price as Boldin, with annual at $99.
The honest verdict
MaxiFi Planner is a respected, economics-based tool. Instead of asking "will I hit a number," it computes a sustainable living standard and smooths your consumption across your life, with strong lifetime tax and Social Security optimization and a "Living Standard Monte Carlo" on its Premium tiers. For people who want that academic, consumption-smoothing approach, it's excellent and worth the $109–$359/yr.
Yearfold answers a simpler, more common question — "what's the probability my money lasts?" — and answers it for free. It runs 10,000 simulated futures, models your spouse and dependents explicitly, and shows you the full range of outcomes with no signup and no bank linking. MaxiFi has no free tier and reserves its Monte Carlo for Premium and above.
Pick MaxiFi if the economics-based, consumption-smoothing methodology is what you're after. Pick Yearfold if you want a free, honest, probability-based projection of whether your plan holds up.
See your own honest projection — free.
10,000 simulated futures, your whole household, no signup. Pro is $99/yr if you want the living-plan features.
Frequently asked
Is Yearfold really free?
Yes. The 10,000-path Monte Carlo projection — modeling your spouse, dependents, Social Security, Medicare, and inflation — is free, and there's no signup required to run it. Yearfold Pro ($99/yr or $12/mo) adds living-plan features, but the core projection is free, forever.
Can I import my MaxiFi Planner plan into Yearfold?
No — there's no import. But Yearfold only needs a handful of inputs to run, so re-entering them takes a couple of minutes, and you can do it without creating an account.
Does Yearfold link my bank?
No. Yearfold never connects to your bank or brokerage — you enter your numbers and nothing is aggregated to run a projection. That privacy choice is one of the main reasons people choose it.
Is MaxiFi worth it?
If the economics-based consumption-smoothing approach appeals to you, MaxiFi is one of the best at it, starting at $109/yr. If you mainly want to know the probability your retirement plan succeeds, Yearfold gives you a 10,000-path answer for free.