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What CherishBuckets Does—and Doesn't Do

2026-07-31

CherishBuckets is an asset allocation tool that uses bucketing as the factor that determines asset allocation.

With a traditional fixed asset allocation, it is relatively easy to choose a stock/bond mix. Bucketing is different. The appropriate allocation depends on several variables:

1.) Annual expenses 2.) How many years of expenses are held in the safety bucket 3.) What percentage of essential and discretionary expenses are covered 4.) Whether the safety-bucket coverage rises, stays stable, or falls throughout retirement

Change any of these, and the resulting asset allocation can change significantly. This makes it difficult to know where the debt allocation should ultimately fall.

That is precisely the problem CherishBuckets is designed to solve.

Users can vary their expenses, choose the percentage of essential and discretionary expenses covered by the safety bucket, select the number of years covered, and determine how that coverage changes throughout retirement.

The result is an asset allocation that can be matched to the retiree's risk tolerance.

What CherishBuckets Doesn't Do

CherishBuckets is not a comprehensive retirement planning tool. It deliberately does not incorporate tax planning, asset location, Social Security planning, or other planning variables.

Why?

Because the goal is to keep the focus on bucketing and asset allocation.

Would excluding taxes potentially affect the appropriate asset allocation? Absolutely.

But CherishBuckets isn't trying to replace a planning tool. It is a pre-planning tool.

The idea is simple: help retirees and advisors understand the range of bucketing and asset-allocation choices available to them and identify the approach that best fits their preferences.

Once they determine the appropriate years of expenses and coverage, they can apply a similar allocation in their planning software—whether that is RightCapital, Boldin, or another platform.

CherishBuckets' output becomes the input for the planning process.

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Disclaimer:

The content and tools on this website are provided for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.

All calculations, projections, and outputs are provided for illustrative purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to their accuracy and assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from their use.

These tools are not a comprehensive financial plan and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for making financial decisions. Actual results may vary due to market conditions, inflation, taxes, spending behavior, and other factors.

Users are encouraged to consult a qualified financial professional, preferably acting in a fiduciary capacity, before making any significant financial or retirement-related decisions. All content and tools are provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind.