Crypto’s burgeoning popularity has opened the gates for DeFi projects to create new ways to build wealth. But with all the flexibility and digital asset applications brought forth by DeFi, it can quickly become confusing for consumer investors and TradFi institutions to navigate. Getting accustomed to DeFi processes and the technology required to build yield-earning protocols slows adoption across the board. As many centralized institutions may be skeptical of crypto, dedicating the time to fully grasp DeFi can seem daunting. Bearing the complexities of decentralized financial strategies and technology in mind, there is a space for companies facilitating simplified DeFi experiences to empower curiosity and exploration. One project bridging the gap is Spool, a DAO platform building seamless DeFi products for investors of all backgrounds. With the launch of its flagship Smart Vault creation tool, the project enables individuals and institutions to create fully customizable and diversified yield portfolios. Creating a Smart Vault, or a “Spool,” takes just 5 steps, alleviating the obstacles that often accompany building DeFi products. In the creation process, users can tailor all aspects of their portfolio including assets, risk models, strategies, and allocations to suit their goals. The Spool toolkit eases the grueling aspects of building and managing comprehensive yield-generating portfolios that stop the DeFi-curious in their tracks. “Spool is the first on-chain DeFi toolbox that enables an entire industry to create complex, decentralized fixed-income in a highly efficient manner,” says Simon Schaber, Spool's Chief Business Development Officer. “These Spool Smart Vaults introduce professional risk management to DeFi for the very first time by employing elaborate risk models. We allow creators to front-load portfolio management decisions which then auto-rebalance and auto compound, as well as easy monetization by enabling performance fees for each vault.” The Spool Smart Vault creation pathway grants user agency over every key parameter of their DeFi portfolio, which include: Spool Asset Users can select from 3 stablecoins including USDC, DAI, and USDT to start building the portfolio. Risk Model Spool’s native risk model analyzes key facets of yield generators including APY, TVL, time deployed, code audits, bug bounties, and depth of smart contracts to generate a comprehensive risk score. External risk model providers can create additional models implementing their own assessment criteria, which can be added to the platform once approved by the Spool DAO. This allows capital contributors to choose which model to utilize based on parameters that best suit their needs. Strategies Creators can select and combine multiple strategies to build a diversified yield portfolio. Currently available strategies use key yield farming protocols and liquidity pools such as Aave, Curve, Harvest, Convex, and Yearn, among others. Risk Appetite Capital contributors can set an adjustable risk appetite for their chosen investments using a sliding scale from 1 to 10. Each setting automatically updates fund allocations to each strategy and the projected APY which reflects the risk appetite. Performance Fee  Once all the yield generators are selected, Spool creators can set a performance fee to a maximum of 20 percent, generating additional profit from other investors choosing to deposit in the Smart Vault. Spool creators can then name their Spool and connect their crypto wallet, activating the Smart Vault. “Spool is 100 percent permissionless and non-custodial, funds are routed through created Smart Vaults but never locked in. This makes us a prime partner for professional custodians as well as institutions getting into DeFi for the first time,” adds Schaber. “Funds that are currently idle and safely locked in custody platforms can now earn yield in a professional, secure manner.” The Smart Vault feature opens the door for further developments, including a whitelabeled Software Development Kit (SDK) built for front-end integration by third-party developers. This allows other projects and businesses to easily utilize Spool’s Smart Vault solution while retaining their own brand identity. Additional integrations to Spool’s native infrastructure include user-generated risk models and additional strategy protocols. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.