A new custom schedule lets investors and advisers set equity exposure year by year instead of relying solely on an automatic age-based de-risking path.
Freefincal has added a custom asset-allocation schedule to its robo-advisory tool, giving users a way to shape equity exposure year by year rather than accept a fixed glide path. The new option is meant for situations that do not fit the standard de-risking model, such as portfolios that begin with a heavy debt allocation, investors who want to build equity exposure gradually, or those who prefer to hold a higher or lower equity weight until close to retirement.
That flexibility reflects a broader point that retirement investing is rarely well served by blunt age-based rules. Kiplinger has argued that people should avoid making abrupt, one-size-fits-all shifts into safer assets simply because they are approaching retirement, and instead should build a plan around spending needs, tax treatment and cash flow. In that view, the key issue is not whether someone retires, but how their portfolio supports the rest of their financial life.
The Freefincal tool’s default setting still follows an automated de-risking approach designed to reduce sequence-of-returns risk, the danger that a run of poor equity years lands just as withdrawals begin. The custom schedule is presented as an exception rather than the norm, and the site says it is most suitable for financial advisers and experienced do-it-yourself investors. For most users, it says, the built-in allocation path should be enough.
That emphasis on planning early also matches Kiplinger’s retirement guidance for 2026, which warns against waiting until the last minute to review income needs, taxes and portfolio structure. Its retirement checklist similarly urges investors to map out contributions, spending, income sources and major expenses well before leaving work. Freefincal says the software is sold as a one-time purchase and that future updates are included free, with existing users of the Excel and Google Sheets versions to receive download links for the latest release.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
