Institutional-grade portfolio tools, free for advisors
Five optimization methods. Forward-looking assumptions averaged from J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Research Affiliates and AQR. Monte Carlo with fat-tail adjustment. The same quantitative framework used by OCIOs and multi-asset teams, available to independent advisors at no cost.
Why advisors use Portfolio Lab
Most advisor tools either cost thousands per year (Kwanti, BlackDiamond, Orion) or use backward-looking historical returns that break down at extreme valuations (Portfolio Visualizer). Portfolio Lab fills the gap: institutional methods, forward-looking data, zero cost.
All calculations run client-side. No client portfolio data leaves the browser. No compliance headaches from third-party data processing.
Relevant tools
Portfolio Optimizer
5 methods, 57 assets, efficient frontier, constraint support
Monte Carlo Simulator
Cornish-Fisher adjusted, fan charts, sequence risk modeling
CMA Comparison
Compare J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Research Affiliates, AQR, GMO
SWR Calculator
Withdrawal simulations with forward-looking assumptions
Factor Exposure Analyzer
Decompose portfolio factor tilts: value, momentum, quality, size
Bitcoin Allocation
Optimal BTC sizing using mean-variance optimization
What sets this apart from what you already use
- ✓Black-Litterman optimization with custom views. Tilt portfolios without abandoning market consensus.
- ✓HRP (Hierarchical Risk Parity) for clients where return forecasts are uncertain. Clustering-based, no expected returns required.
- ✓Forward-looking assumptions from 5 research providers. Not historical extrapolation.
- ✓Bitcoin with a stated forward assumption of our own. Answer the "should we add Bitcoin?" question with data, not opinion.
- ✓Client-side privacy. Portfolio calculations run in your browser. Review your firm's requirements before using client information.
Built by a practitioner
Portfolio Lab is built by Glenn Cameron, CFA, with 25+ years in institutional portfolio management and investment consulting at firms including Wilshire Associates, Sanlam Investments, and Cartwright. He led the first UK pension scheme Bitcoin allocation.
From assumptions to a client-ready portfolio
The workflow mirrors an institutional process. Start from forward-looking capital market assumptions, optimize to each client mandate using the method that fits, whether Black-Litterman where you hold views or HRP where return forecasts are weak, then pressure-test the result with Monte Carlo before it reaches the client. Every figure traces back to a documented methodology, so the analysis is defensible in a review or an audit.
How the cost compares
The tool advisors most often compare us to, Portfolio Visualizer, charges $30/month billed annually, so $360 a year for its cheapest paid plan (checked 16 August 2026), and like most paid tools it optimizes on historical returns unless you supply your own forecasts. Portfolio Lab supplies the forward-looking assumptions and runs five methods on them at no cost. See the side-by-side comparison with Portfolio Visualizer or the case for it as the best free portfolio optimizer and retirement calculator.
Start building portfolios
Free. No signup required. No client data leaves your browser.
Open the optimizerFrequently asked questions
Is Portfolio Lab free for financial advisors?
Yes. All core tools including portfolio optimization, Monte Carlo simulation, backtesting, and correlation analysis are free. No credit card or firm registration required.
What optimization methods does Portfolio Lab support?
Five methods: Maximum Sharpe Ratio, Minimum Variance, Risk Parity, Black-Litterman (with custom views), and Hierarchical Risk Parity. These are the same methods used by institutional OCIOs and multi-asset teams.
Can I use this for client portfolio construction?
Yes. The optimizer runs on forward-looking assumptions averaged from J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Research Affiliates and AQR, marked to today's market, across 57 asset classes, and you can switch to any one house to see how much the answer moves. Portfolio calculations run in your browser. Review your firm's requirements and the site's data practices before using client information.
How does this compare to Kwanti or Portfolio Visualizer?
Portfolio Visualizer's cheapest paid plan is $30/month billed annually, so $360 a year, read from its pricing page on 16 August 2026, and it offers about fifteen optimization objectives against our five, so on method count it is ahead. What it does not supply is published return assumptions: it asks you to enter expected returns or derive them from history, where Portfolio Lab loads J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Research Affiliates and AQR and averages them, free. Kwanti is sold to advisory firms rather than individuals; we have not checked its current price against its own site, so this page does not quote one.