What is a buy-only rebalance?
A buy-only rebalance is a gentle way to nudge your portfolio back toward its target allocation using only new money you add, without selling anything you already own.
Think of it like topping off low tires on a car: you fill the low ones instead of letting air out of the full ones. Over time, your portfolio drifts back toward your plan—with fewer trades, fewer taxes, and less hassle.
When should I use a buy-only rebalance?
Buy-only rebalancing is most useful when you are still in accumulation mode and regularly adding new contributions to your accounts (i.e., you're not looking to take money out as you build assets towards your goal).
You might prefer buy-only rebalances if you:
Want to reduce capital gains taxes from selling existing holdings.
Have large embedded gains or legacy positions you don’t want to trim yet.
Are you okay with moving toward your target allocation gradually rather than all at once?
Are adding new money frequently (monthly, quarterly, or after a bonus/RSU vest).
If you are retired or drawing down your portfolio, a full rebalance (that includes sells) may be more appropriate, since you’re often selling anyway to fund withdrawals.
How buy-only rebalances work in Enrich
Here’s the basic flow of a buy-only rebalance in the app.
We calculate your target mix for each goal
For each goal-focused portfolio (e.g., Retirement, Home Down Payment), you either choose an allocation strategy or define your own target percentages for each asset class.We compare your current allocation to your target
Enrich looks at the holdings you’ve connected for that goal across your brokerage accounts and figures out which asset classes are underweight and by how much.You tell us how much new money you want to deploy
You enter the cash amount you’re planning to invest (for example, this month’s contribution, a bonus, or proceeds from a maturing CD).We suggest where to buy, not what to sell
Enrich then:Allocates that new cash toward the most underweight asset classes for that goal.
Translates those allocations into suggested buy orders in the specific funds or securities you’ve linked to that asset class.
The key: the plan will only include buy steps. Your existing holdings stay put; we’re just steering new dollars into the areas that need the most love.
You execute the trades at your broker
Enrich does not hold your assets or place trades for you. You’ll:Review the suggested buy-only steps in Enrich.
Place those trades directly in your brokerage accounts (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard) using the quantities or dollar amounts shown.
Your goal dashboard updates after trades settle
Once your broker updates and Enrich syncs again, you’ll see your new allocation and how much closer you are to your target for that goal.
Example: buy-only rebalance in action
Imagine your Retirement goal has a target of:
70% stocks
20% bonds
10% real estate
But due to market moves, you’re currently at:
80% stocks
15% bonds
5% real estate
You decide to add 10,000 of new cash. With a buy-only rebalance, Enrich would:
Direct most of that 10,000 to bond and real estate funds linked to this goal.
Suggest specific buy orders (for example, a bond ETF in your IRA and a REIT fund in your taxable account, based on how you’ve mapped holdings to the goal).
You never sell any stock funds in this process; you’re just using fresh contributions to “top up” the underweight areas.
How to run a buy-only rebalance step by step
The exact screens may differ slightly depending on your app version, but the flow will look like this.
Open your goal
From the main dashboard, tap the goal you want to rebalance (for example, “Retirement” or “Kid’s College”).
Go to the rebalance tools
Look for an option such as “Rebalance,” “Adjust allocations,” or “View rebalance suggestions” in that goal’s portfolio view.
Choose “Buy-only” mode
When prompted for the rebalance type, select the buy-only option so the plan includes only purchases and avoids sales.
Enter the cash amount to invest
Specify how much new money you plan to deploy and which account(s) you’ll be investing from (e.g., 5,000 into your taxable brokerage and 5,000 into your Roth IRA).
Review the suggested buy orders
Confirm:
Which funds or securities are we suggesting you buy?
How much goes into each?
Which account does each trade belong to?
Place the trades with your broker
Use the suggested instructions as a “to-do” list, and place those buy orders in your brokerage app or website.
Come back and confirm
After trades settle and accounts sync, revisit the goal to see how much closer you are to your target allocation.
Tips and things to keep in mind
A few things to remember as you use buy-only rebalances.
It’s slower, by design
Buy-only rebalancing nudges, not yanks, your portfolio back to target. That’s usually fine while you’re still accumulating and contributing regularly.It’s more tax-friendly
Because you aren’t selling appreciated positions, you avoid realizing capital gains solely for rebalancing. You may still have taxable events from dividends, interest, or trades you place separately.It plays nicely with multiple accounts
Enrich looks at your goal holistically across accounts and suggests where to buy, considering asset location (for example, placing more tax-inefficient assets in IRAs when possible).You’re always in control
Enrich won’t move your money or auto-trade. You can:Accept all suggested buys.
Adjust them.
Or skip the rebalance for now if timing doesn’t feel right.
Frequently asked questions
Does buy-only rebalancing ever tell me to sell?
No. In buy-only mode, the suggested plan will only include buy actions. If you want a plan that includes both buys and sells, you can choose a standard rebalance instead.
Can I use buy-only rebalances for all my goals?
Yes, you can run buy-only rebalances on any goal-focused portfolio, as long as you have new cash to invest and the goal has connected accounts.
How often should I run a buy-only rebalance?
A simple rule of thumb: every time you make a meaningful new contribution to that goal (for example, monthly contributions, RSU sales, or a big deposit), run a quick buy-only rebalance to aim those dollars where they help most.