Help me evaluate investment options for [GOAL AND TIME HORIZON], [FINANCIAL POSITION], [ACCOUNTS AND TAX CONTEXT], [CURRENT PORTFOLIO], and [RISK LIMITS]. This is educational information, not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold a security. Do not invent returns, tax treatment, fees, eligibility, or market forecasts. First, identify the goal’s deadline, flexibility, required cash flow, and the loss I could tolerate without abandoning the plan. Separate money needed within five years from long-term money. Check whether expensive debt, inadequate emergency savings, or an employer retirement match should be addressed before additional taxable investing.
Produce: 1) a fact and assumption table, 2) a plain-language comparison of 2-3 broad diversified allocation approaches suitable for my stated horizon and risk limits, 3) a contribution schedule showing how monthly contributions relate to the goal under low, middle, and high illustrative return assumptions, 4) account-order considerations such as employer match, tax-advantaged space, and taxable access, 5) diversification, fee, concentration, and rebalancing checks, and 6) questions for a fiduciary adviser or tax professional. State that illustrative returns are not predictions and show the formula or inputs used. Do not recommend individual stocks, crypto assets, options, or a specific fund unless I explicitly ask for educational due diligence criteria; even then, do not present it as personal advice. Before answering, verify that contributions, timelines, and ending values are internally consistent, and flag facts that could materially change the analysis. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [GOAL AND TIME HORIZON] | Enter the goal, target amount, date, and whether the date can move. | Retire around age 65 in 31 years; no fixed target amount yet; may also need a home down payment in six years. |
| [FINANCIAL POSITION] | Enter emergency savings, high-interest debt, monthly available amount, and income stability. | Emergency savings $12,000, essential expenses $3,200/month, no credit card debt, $700/month available, stable salary. |
| [ACCOUNTS AND TAX CONTEXT] | Enter country or state, available account types, employer match, and relevant tax details you know. | Illinois resident; 401(k) with 4% match, Roth IRA available; marginal tax rate unknown. |
| [CURRENT PORTFOLIO] | Enter account balances, holdings by broad category, fees if known, and recent contributions. | 401(k) $28,000 in a target-date fund; Roth IRA $4,000 in a total-market index fund; taxable account $1,500 cash. |
| [RISK LIMITS] | Enter your experience, maximum tolerable decline, liquidity needs, and restrictions. | New investor; could tolerate a temporary 25% decline for retirement money but not for a six-year home fund. |
How to use
- Separate near-term goals from retirement or other long-term goals before pasting your details.
- List broad holdings and expense ratios if you have them; screenshots with account numbers removed are safer than raw credentials.
- Check that the response labels returns as illustrations and does not treat a projection as a promise.
- Follow up with: “Show what changes if a 20% decline occurs in year two and I keep contributing.”
Variations
401(k) allocation
Use this to evaluate the menu inside an employer retirement plan.
Help me evaluate my [401K FUND MENU] for a [RETIREMENT HORIZON] given [CURRENT ALLOCATION], [EMPLOYER MATCH], and [RISK TOLERANCE]. Compare the available options by asset class, diversification, expense ratio, and overlap; do not make a personalized buy or sell recommendation. Explain target-date, index, and actively managed options in plain language. Identify concentration and fee issues, then give questions for the plan administrator or fiduciary adviser. Do not assume tax treatment or fund holdings not supplied. Check every percentage totals 100%. Ask up to 3 questions only if needed.
Lump sum decision
Use this after receiving a bonus, inheritance, or sale proceeds.
Create an educational decision framework for investing [LUMP SUM] based on [GOAL TIMELINE], [CASH RESERVES AND DEBT], [ACCOUNT OPTIONS], and [RISK LIMITS]. Compare investing immediately, phased investing, and holding cash with clearly labeled tradeoffs, liquidity needs, taxes, and emotional risk. Do not forecast markets or tell me which securities to buy. Include a short checklist for confirming tax basis, withholding, and account eligibility with qualified professionals. Check that any allocation examples align with the stated horizon. Ask up to 3 questions only if required.
Portfolio cleanup
Use this when several accounts have accumulated overlapping holdings.
Audit this portfolio for diversification and complexity using [ACCOUNT HOLDINGS], [ACCOUNT TYPES], [GOALS], and [CONTRIBUTIONS]. Group holdings by broad asset class and identify duplicate exposure, single-company concentration, high fees, idle cash, and mismatches between account purpose and risk. Provide an educational simplification framework, not specific trade instructions. Explain what information such as tax basis, trading costs, and restrictions must be checked before changes. Reconcile each account subtotal with the total portfolio and flag missing values. Ask up to 3 questions only if essential.
Tips
- Keep a home down-payment fund separate from retirement investments when the purchase date is close enough that a market drop would change the plan.
- Compare fund expense ratios and overlapping holdings before adding another fund; more tickers do not automatically mean more diversification.
- Employer matching contributions can be a higher-priority decision than taxable investing, but confirm vesting and plan rules.
- Write down in advance how much loss you can hold through; risk tolerance stated after a decline is often different from risk tolerance stated before it.
FAQ
Can AI predict which investment will go up?
No. It can explain risk, diversification, fees, and scenario math, but market predictions and individual-security recommendations are not reliable personalized advice.
Should I invest while paying debt?
It depends on the interest rate, required payments, emergency reserves, employer match, and your timeline. Compare the guaranteed cost of the debt with the uncertain return of investing.
Why include tax context?
Account type, location, income, and withdrawal timing can change the after-tax result. A tax professional should confirm decisions with material tax consequences.