Recommendations · open-entity · rec-retirement-approach-01

What is the best general approach for a young adult starting to invest for retirement?

1.00

Divergence

0.72

Avg stability

11%

Refusal rate

Models

Where each model stands

ChatGPT401(k)×100%

ClaudeIndex funds×67%

GeminiBoglehead approach×50%

ChatGPT modal 401(k) [401(k), Employer 401(k) match, 401(k)] · stability 1.00

1 401(k) 0.90 “Contribute at least enough to your employer-sponsored plan (401(k)/403(b)) to get the full employer match. That match is an immediate 100%+ return…” and the bottom line says “capture employer match.”
2 Employer 401(k) match 0.85 The answer prioritizes capturing free money first: “If your employer offers a 401(k) or similar match, contribute at least enough to get the full match immediately. That’s an instant, risk-free return.”
3 401(k) 0.90 Step 3: “Capture any employer match in a workplace retirement plan immediately (e.g., 401(k) — contribute at least enough to get the full match; it’s free money).”

Claude modal Index funds [401(k), Index Funds, Index funds] · stability 0.67

1 401(k) 0.85 The answer lists 'Contribute to employer 401(k) if available, especially to capture any company match (free money)' as the first recommendation under 'Start with basics,' emphasizing it as a priority before other options like IRAs.
2 Index Funds 0.85 The answer emphasizes 'low-cost index funds (US stocks, international stocks, bonds)' and states that 'a simple mix of low-cost index funds...works well' as the core investment approach, noting this 'significantly outperforms most active strategies.'
3 Index funds 0.85 Low-cost index funds (total market or target-date funds) are solid defaults. Avoid trying to pick individual stocks or time the market. A target-date fund automatically adjusts risk as you age.

Gemini modal Boglehead approach [Index Funds, no position, Boglehead approach] · stability 0.50

1 Index Funds 0.90 The best general approach is simple, low-cost, and boring: automated, long-term index fund investing using tax-advantaged accounts.
2 no position 0.90 The answer provides a multi-step roadmap and order of operations (including debt payoff, emergency funds, account waterfall, and multiple portfolio options like target-date index funds vs. DIY index portfolios) rather than recommending a single tool or option.
3 Boglehead approach 0.95 The assistant states that 'The best, evidence-based approach is often called the "Boglehead" or index-fund approach.'

Change over time

Moved since the prior run (canon-2026-W36). Gemini: Financial Order of Operations → Boglehead approach. ChatGPT: Index funds / ETFs → 401(k).

Every stance label is a derived judgment over the model's free-text answer, kept auditable against the original transcript in the run's raw data. Method: /methodology.