diff --git a/src/analytics/analysis.zig b/src/analytics/analysis.zig
index 9d0aaaa..b61e46f 100644
--- a/src/analytics/analysis.zig
+++ b/src/analytics/analysis.zig
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Allocation = @import("valuation.zig").Allocation;
 const ClassificationMap = @import("../models/classification.zig").ClassificationMap;
 const ClassificationEntry = @import("../models/classification.zig").ClassificationEntry;
@@ -546,7 +547,7 @@ pub fn parseAccountsFile(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, data: []const u8) !Accoun
     defer it.deinit();
 
     while (try it.next()) |fields| {
-        const entry = fields.to(AccountTaxEntry, .{}) catch continue;
+        const entry = fields.to(AccountTaxEntry, srf_opts.user_edited) catch continue;
 
         // A zero/negative large-lot threshold is nonsensical (zero
         // flags every new lot; negative is meaningless). Reject it and
@@ -1271,6 +1272,28 @@ test "parseAccountsFile: cash_is_contribution default false, opt-in true" {
     try std.testing.expect(!am.cashIsContribution("Nonexistent"));
 }
 
+test "parseAccountsFile: a hand-typed string separator on a numeric field still parses" {
+    // `accounts.srf` is hand-edited, so `harvested::5000` instead of
+    // `harvested:num:5000` is a slip rather than different intent. Under
+    // SRF's strict default that string reaches an unchecked
+    // `val.?.number` - a panic in Debug and undefined behaviour in
+    // ReleaseFast - which is why this parser opts into
+    // `srf_opts.user_edited`. Pinned because the option is easy to drop
+    // and the failure is silent in the build zfin actually ships.
+    const data =
+        \\#!srfv1
+        \\account::Sample Brokerage,tax_type::taxable,harvested::5000,harvested_date::2026-06-01
+        \\account::Sample IRA,tax_type::traditional,audit_large_lot_threshold::25000
+    ;
+    const allocator = std.testing.allocator;
+    var am = try parseAccountsFile(allocator, data);
+    defer am.deinit();
+
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 2), am.entries.len);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 5000), am.entries[0].harvested.?, 0.001);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 25000), am.entries[1].audit_large_lot_threshold.?, 0.001);
+}
+
 test "parseAccountsFile: direct_indexing default false, opt-in true" {
     const data =
         \\#!srfv1
diff --git a/src/analytics/projections.zig b/src/analytics/projections.zig
index 4228529..c63552e 100644
--- a/src/analytics/projections.zig
+++ b/src/analytics/projections.zig
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const log = std.log.scoped(.projections);
 const shiller = @import("../data/shiller.zig");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
 
 /// `log.warn` wrapper that no-ops under `zig build test`. Used for
@@ -762,7 +763,7 @@ pub fn parseProjectionsConfig(data: ?[]const u8) UserConfig {
     var annotation_count: u8 = 0;
 
     while (it.next() catch null) |field_it| {
-        const rec = field_it.to(SrfProjection, .{}) catch continue;
+        const rec = field_it.to(SrfProjection, srf_opts.user_edited) catch continue;
         switch (rec) {
             .config => |c| {
                 config.target_stock_pct = c.target_stock_pct orelse config.target_stock_pct;
diff --git a/src/cache/store.zig b/src/cache/store.zig
index 0668952..47b630e 100644
--- a/src/cache/store.zig
+++ b/src/cache/store.zig
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const log = std.log.scoped(.cache);
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const atomic = @import("../atomic.zig");
 const version = @import("../version.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
@@ -1343,7 +1344,7 @@ pub const Store = struct {
 
         const created = it.created orelse std.Io.Timestamp.now(self.io, .real).toSeconds();
         const fields = (it.next() catch return null) orelse return null;
-        const meta = fields.to(CandleMeta, .{}) catch return null;
+        const meta = fields.to(CandleMeta, srf_opts.machine_written) catch return null;
         return .{ .meta = meta, .created = created };
     }
 
@@ -1889,7 +1890,7 @@ pub const Store = struct {
         }
 
         // Per-record coercion. Most types use SRF's generalized
-        // `fields.to(T, .{})` - correct for any struct shape but
+        // `fields.to(T, ...)` - correct for any struct shape but
         // pays a per-field abstraction cost (coerce() boundary,
         // found-bitmap bookkeeping, inline-for dispatch chain).
         //
@@ -1904,7 +1905,7 @@ pub const Store = struct {
             var item: T = if (comptime T == Candle)
                 coerceCandleSpecialized(fields) catch continue
             else
-                fields.to(T, .{}) catch continue;
+                fields.to(T, srf_opts.machine_written) catch continue;
             if (comptime postProcess) |pp| {
                 pp(&item, allocator) catch {
                     if (comptime @hasDecl(T, "deinit")) item.deinit(allocator);
@@ -1968,7 +1969,7 @@ pub const Store = struct {
         defer it.deinit();
 
         const fields = (try it.next()) orelse return error.InvalidData;
-        return fields.to(CandleMeta, .{}) catch error.InvalidData;
+        return fields.to(CandleMeta, srf_opts.machine_written) catch error.InvalidData;
     }
 
     // ── Private serialization: options (bespoke) ─────────────────
@@ -2038,7 +2039,7 @@ pub const Store = struct {
         }
 
         while (try it.next()) |fields| {
-            const opt_rec = fields.to(OptionsRecord, .{}) catch continue;
+            const opt_rec = fields.to(OptionsRecord, srf_opts.machine_written) catch continue;
             switch (opt_rec) {
                 .chain => |ch| {
                     const idx = chains.items.len;
@@ -2111,18 +2112,10 @@ pub fn deserializePortfolio(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, data: []const u8) !Por
     var skipped: usize = 0;
     while (try it.next()) |fields| {
         const line = it.state.line;
-        // `strings_to_numbers` because these are HUMAN-EDITED files, which is
-        // exactly the case srf's default strict coercion is not for - its own
-        // doc says "if you want to use this for human-edited files, turn this
-        // on". Strict mode assumes the writer was a machine, so a numeric
-        // field spelled with a string separator (`close_price::200.00` instead
-        // of `close_price:num:200.00`) reaches an unchecked `val.?.number` and
-        // takes the whole process down. One such typo was enough to panic every
-        // `zfin portfolio` run.
-        //
-        // The `catch` below still handles genuinely unparseable values; this
-        // only stops a hand-typed separator from being fatal.
-        var lot = fields.to(Lot, .{ .strings_to_numbers = true }) catch {
+        // `user_edited` coercion: see `srf_opts.zig` for why hand-edited
+        // files get different options from cache files. The `catch`
+        // below still handles genuinely unparseable values.
+        var lot = fields.to(Lot, srf_opts.user_edited) catch {
             std.log.warn("portfolio: could not parse record at line {d}", .{line});
             skipped += 1;
             continue;
diff --git a/src/commands/common.zig b/src/commands/common.zig
index 3b24ee7..ed22375 100644
--- a/src/commands/common.zig
+++ b/src/commands/common.zig
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const zfin = @import("../root.zig");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const history = @import("../history.zig");
 const git = @import("../git.zig");
 const framework = @import("framework.zig");
@@ -1007,7 +1008,7 @@ pub fn loadWatchlist(io: std.Io, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, path: []const u8)
 
     var syms: std.ArrayList([]const u8) = .empty;
     while (it.next() catch null) |fields| {
-        const entry = fields.to(WatchEntry, .{}) catch continue;
+        const entry = fields.to(WatchEntry, srf_opts.user_edited) catch continue;
         const duped = allocator.dupe(u8, entry.symbol) catch continue;
         syms.append(allocator, duped) catch {
             allocator.free(duped);
diff --git a/src/data/Journal.zig b/src/data/Journal.zig
index 33347ca..589c21a 100644
--- a/src/data/Journal.zig
+++ b/src/data/Journal.zig
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
 const atomic = @import("../atomic.zig");
 
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ pub fn parse(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, data: []const u8) !Journal {
     defer it.deinit();
 
     while (try it.next()) |fields| {
-        const rec = try fields.to(JournalRecord, .{});
+        const rec = try fields.to(JournalRecord, srf_opts.user_edited);
         switch (rec) {
             .acknowledgment => |a| {
                 try entries.append(allocator, .{
diff --git a/src/data/imported_values.zig b/src/data/imported_values.zig
index dbd6ff5..f838a54 100644
--- a/src/data/imported_values.zig
+++ b/src/data/imported_values.zig
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
 
 // ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ pub fn parseImportedValues(
     errdefer points.deinit(allocator);
 
     while (it.next() catch return error.InvalidSrf) |fields| {
-        const point = fields.to(HistoryPoint, .{}) catch return error.InvalidSrf;
+        const point = fields.to(HistoryPoint, srf_opts.user_edited) catch return error.InvalidSrf;
         try points.append(allocator, point);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/history.zig b/src/history.zig
index e3a161e..2aaa99e 100644
--- a/src/history.zig
+++ b/src/history.zig
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("srf_opts.zig");
 const snapshot = @import("models/snapshot.zig");
 const Date = @import("Date.zig");
 const timeline = @import("analytics/timeline.zig");
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ pub fn parseSnapshotBytes(
         // record kind we don't know about). Every other srf error
         // indicates malformed data in a record we SHOULD understand, so
         // we propagate it up rather than silently losing rows.
-        const rec = field_it.to(SnapshotRecord, .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
+        const rec = field_it.to(SnapshotRecord, srf_opts.machine_written) catch |err| switch (err) {
             error.ActiveTagDoesNotExist => continue,
             else => return error.InvalidSrf,
         };
diff --git a/src/models/classification.zig b/src/models/classification.zig
index a3fc18a..dd73c4c 100644
--- a/src/models/classification.zig
+++ b/src/models/classification.zig
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 ///   symbol::02315N600,asset_class::Bonds,pct:num:15
 const std = @import("std");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
 
 /// A single classification entry for a symbol.
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ pub fn parseClassificationFile(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, data: []const u8) !
     defer it.deinit();
 
     while (try it.next()) |fields| {
-        const entry = fields.to(ClassificationEntry, .{}) catch continue;
+        const entry = fields.to(ClassificationEntry, srf_opts.user_edited) catch continue;
         // Pre-fill `bucket` if the user didn't curate one. This
         // shifts the cost of `deriveBucket` to parse time and
         // makes downstream code free to read `entry.bucket`
@@ -269,6 +270,24 @@ test "parse classification file: missing name field stays null (backwards compat
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings("Technology", cm.entries[0].sector.?);
 }
 
+test "parse classification file: a hand-typed string separator on pct still parses" {
+    // `metadata.srf` is hand-edited, so `pct::60` instead of `pct:num:60`
+    // must not be fatal. See `srf_opts.user_edited` - under strict
+    // coercion this string reaches an unchecked `val.?.number`, which is
+    // undefined behaviour in ReleaseFast.
+    const data =
+        \\#!srfv1
+        \\symbol::SYM,sector::Technology,pct::60
+        \\symbol::SYM,sector::Healthcare,pct:num:40
+    ;
+    var map = try parseClassificationFile(std.testing.allocator, data);
+    defer map.deinit();
+
+    try std.testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 2), map.entries.len);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 60), map.entries[0].pct, 0.001);
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 40), map.entries[1].pct, 0.001);
+}
+
 test "parse classification file: bucket round-trips" {
     const data =
         \\#!srfv1
diff --git a/src/models/transaction_log.zig b/src/models/transaction_log.zig
index 33f8a8a..349f3a6 100644
--- a/src/models/transaction_log.zig
+++ b/src/models/transaction_log.zig
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 const Date = @import("../Date.zig");
 
 const logger = std.log.scoped(.transaction_log);
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ pub fn parseTransactionLogFile(
     defer it.deinit();
 
     while (try it.next()) |fields| {
-        const parsed = fields.to(TransferRecord, .{}) catch |err| {
+        const parsed = fields.to(TransferRecord, srf_opts.user_edited) catch |err| {
             // Tests intentionally feed malformed records to exercise the
             // skip path; real parse failures stay visible outside tests.
             if (!builtin.is_test) {
@@ -560,6 +561,21 @@ test "parseTransactionLogFile: single cash transfer" {
     try testing.expect(r.note == null);
 }
 
+test "parseTransactionLogFile: a hand-typed string separator on amount still parses" {
+    // Hand-edited file, so `amount::50000` instead of `amount:num:50000`
+    // must not be fatal. See `srf_opts.user_edited` - under strict
+    // coercion this string reaches an unchecked `val.?.number`, which is
+    // undefined behaviour in ReleaseFast.
+    var log = try parseTransactionLogFile(testing.allocator,
+        \\#!srfv1
+        \\transfer::2026-05-02,type::cash,amount::50000,from::Acct A,to::Acct B,dest_lot::cash
+        \\
+    );
+    defer log.deinit();
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 1), log.transfers.len);
+    try testing.expectEqual(@as(f64, 50000), log.transfers[0].amount);
+}
+
 test "parseTransactionLogFile: single lot-destination transfer" {
     var log = try parseTransactionLogFile(testing.allocator,
         \\#!srfv1
diff --git a/src/service.zig b/src/service.zig
index 45bd7ca..5883dc7 100644
--- a/src/service.zig
+++ b/src/service.zig
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const Config = @import("Config.zig");
 const cache = @import("cache/store.zig");
 const freshness = @import("cache/freshness.zig");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("srf_opts.zig");
 const analysis = @import("analytics/analysis.zig");
 const transaction_log = @import("models/transaction_log.zig");
 const TwelveData = @import("providers/twelvedata.zig").TwelveData;
@@ -2987,7 +2988,7 @@ pub const DataService = struct {
         defer it.deinit();
 
         while (it.next() catch return result) |fields| {
-            const entry = fields.to(CusipEntry, .{}) catch continue;
+            const entry = fields.to(CusipEntry, srf_opts.machine_written) catch continue;
             if (entry.cusip.len == 0 or entry.ticker.len == 0) continue;
             // First occurrence wins; getOrPut stores the borrowed
             // slices directly - they live in `backing`, no dupe.
@@ -3153,7 +3154,7 @@ pub const DataService = struct {
         var it = srf.iterator(&reader, arena, .{ .parse_allocator = .none }) catch return;
         defer it.deinit();
         while (it.next() catch return) |fields| {
-            const e = fields.to(CusipEntry, .{}) catch continue;
+            const e = fields.to(CusipEntry, srf_opts.machine_written) catch continue;
             if (e.cusip.len == 0 or e.ticker.len == 0) continue;
             if (have.contains(e.cusip) or out.contains(e.cusip)) continue;
             const kc = arena.dupe(u8, e.cusip) catch continue;
diff --git a/src/srf_opts.zig b/src/srf_opts.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58be8d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/srf_opts.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+//! SRF coercion policy, in one place.
+//!
+//! SRF encodes a field's type in its separator: `key::v` is a string,
+//! `key:num:v` a number, `key:bool:v` a boolean. Coercion into a typed
+//! struct therefore depends on the writer having picked the right one.
+//!
+//! That assumption holds for files zfin writes and breaks for files
+//! people write, so the two get different options - and which one a
+//! parser wants is a property of where the file came from, not of the
+//! struct being parsed. Naming the two policies keeps that decision
+//! visible at the call site instead of buried in whichever comment
+//! happened to explain it first.
+
+const srf = @import("srf");
+
+/// For files a HUMAN edits: `portfolio.srf`, `accounts.srf`,
+/// `metadata.srf`, `watchlist.srf`, `transaction_log.srf`,
+/// `projections.srf`, `imported_values.srf`, `acknowledgments.srf`, and
+/// the keybind config.
+///
+/// Accepts a string where a number was declared, because a hand-typed
+/// `close_price::200.00` instead of `close_price:num:200.00` is a
+/// slip, not a different intent. SRF's own doc says as much: strict
+/// coercion is "intended for performant access for cache use cases...
+/// if you want to use this for human-edited files, turn this on".
+///
+/// It is also a safety measure, which is the part worth not
+/// forgetting. Under strict coercion a string reaching a numeric field
+/// falls through to an unchecked `val.?.number` inside SRF - a panic
+/// in Debug/ReleaseSafe and undefined behaviour in ReleaseFast, which
+/// is how zfin is built. One `close_price::200.00` once took down
+/// every `zfin portfolio` run; the fix was to turn this on for
+/// `portfolio.srf` alone, which left every other hand-edited file
+/// exposed to the same typo.
+///
+/// This is mitigation, not a cure. Two holes remain, both needing an
+/// upstream fix in SRF's `coerce`:
+///
+///   - a non-string, non-number value in a numeric field (say
+///     `harvested:bool:true`) still reaches the unchecked access;
+///   - enum fields ignore this option entirely, so a typo like
+///     `security_type::stok` still hits `stringToEnum(...).?`.
+pub const user_edited: srf.CoercionOptions = .{ .strings_to_numbers = true };
+
+/// For files ZFIN writes: the candle, quote, and options caches,
+/// `cusip_tickers.srf` under `cache_dir`, server responses, and the
+/// `history/<date>-portfolio.srf` snapshots produced by
+/// `zfin snapshot`.
+///
+/// Keeps SRF's strict default. The writer is a machine that always
+/// emits `:num:` for numbers, so accepting a string instead would only
+/// mask a serializer bug rather than tolerate a human slip - these
+/// files are not edited after the fact. Strictness is also free
+/// performance on the hot paths, where a cached candle file is
+/// millions of records.
+pub const machine_written: srf.CoercionOptions = .{};
diff --git a/src/tui/keybinds.zig b/src/tui/keybinds.zig
index c822d98..3c90e74 100644
--- a/src/tui/keybinds.zig
+++ b/src/tui/keybinds.zig
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const vaxis = @import("vaxis");
 const srf = @import("srf");
+const srf_opts = @import("../srf_opts.zig");
 
 pub const Action = enum {
     quit,
@@ -486,7 +487,7 @@ pub fn loadFromDataChecked(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, data: []const u8) LoadO
 
     var idx: usize = 0;
     while (ri.next() catch return .fallback) |fields| : (idx += 1) {
-        const raw = fields.to(RawRecord, .{}) catch |err| {
+        const raw = fields.to(RawRecord, srf_opts.user_edited) catch |err| {
             // Per-record parse failure (missing field, bad key
             // string, unknown action). Don't drop the whole file -
             // skip the record and warn the user. Record index is