Fidelity Planning & Guidance Center vs ProjectionLab

Fidelity Planning & Guidance Center is a free web tool for reviewing retirement readiness, investment strategies, and possible next steps. Retirement Analysis lets users explore hypothetical scenarios based on current savings and estimated future contributions, while multiple independent financial goals can be created and monitored. The analysis uses historical returns, market volatility, and correlations to estimate potential retirement income. Fidelity says Probability of Success replaced the Fidelity Retirement Score as a holistic measure of financial plan strength and supports planning beyond retirement. Information may carry into other Fidelity tools, including Guided Portfolio Summary and Fidelity Income Strategy Evaluator. The tool may use financial details previously provided to Fidelity, a workplace plan sponsor, or a third party, so users should check them for accuracy. Its projections are hypothetical, do not represent actual investment results, and are not guarantees. The analysis is informational and nondiscretionary, not personalized advice. Generating a plan has no fee, though investment expenses and account transaction fees may still apply.

ProjectionLab simulates personal financial and retirement scenarios to help users plan for different possible futures. Users can model life milestones, cash flow, estimated taxes, investment strategies, account types, withdrawals and estate outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations and historical backtesting let users explore potential outcomes. The free Basic plan includes forecasting, financial planning, simulations and backtesting. Premium adds tax optimization, Roth conversions, ACA subsidies, capital gains harvesting, international planning and advanced analytics, and costs $129 a year. Pro costs $549 a year and is aimed at financial advisors and coaches, with client management tools and 10 client seats. ProjectionLab does not directly link financial accounts, so users can make plans without supplying account numbers or connecting bank or brokerage accounts. The web app can be installed on mobile devices as a Progressive Web App; the maker says it has no formal mobile app. Support is available by email, Discord and bookable educational sessions.