Personal Finance Guides
Free, research-backed guides on building wealth — written in plain English, not jargon. Each guide pairs with a free calculator so you can apply the concepts to your own numbers.
Personal Finance
Retirement Planning 101
How much do you need to retire? The 4% rule, account types (401k, IRA, Roth), Social Security strategy, and a step-by-step savings framework — complete beginner guide.
How to Build Net Worth
What is net worth, how to calculate it, and the proven strategies to grow it — covering income, savings rate, debt payoff, and investing. Includes Federal Reserve benchmark data.
What Is FIRE? The Complete Guide
Financial Independence, Retire Early explained — FIRE number calculation, Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE vs Coast FIRE, investment strategies, and how to start your own path to FI.
Backdoor Roth IRA: How It Works (2026 Step-by-Step)
Earn too much for a Roth? The legal workaround high earners use — step-by-step instructions, the pro-rata rule trap, Form 8606, and the mega backdoor Roth, with 2026 IRS figures.
How Much Do I Need to Retire? (The Real Number)
The 25x rule, the 4% rule, and how Social Security shrinks your target — plus savings benchmarks by age and a free estimator to find your retirement number.
How to Find a Fee-Only Financial Advisor (Without Getting Sold To)
Fee-only advisors earn nothing from products. Learn the critical difference from fee-based, the three directories to use (NAPFA, Garrett, XY Planning Network), 5 questions for every first call, and the red flags that mean walk away.
What to Do With an Inheritance (Step-by-Step Guide)
Received an inheritance? A step-by-step guide covering the 30-90 day pause rule, estate administration, step-up in basis, inherited IRA 10-year rule, the financial decision hierarchy, and the six most common mistakes that destroy inherited wealth.
Social Security Myths That Cost Retirees $100,000+
The 7 most expensive Social Security myths debunked with SSA data — claiming at 62, the spousal benefit misconception (50% of PIA, not 70 benefit), why break-even is the wrong framework, taxation of benefits, and the 35-year formula.
Is My Financial Advisor a Fiduciary? How to Check
75% of Americans assume their advisor is a fiduciary — most are wrong. Learn the fiduciary vs suitability distinction, how to verify using BrokerCheck + Form ADV, the four questions to ask, and why the DOL fiduciary rule was vacated in March 2026.
Global Mobility
The HENRY's Guide to Going Global
Why HENRYs are going global, tax implications, healthcare, SS portability, account access, visa options, and the complete decision framework for living abroad as an American.
Retire in Portugal: A US Expat's Complete Guide
D7 visa, the end of the NHR tax regime, SNS healthcare, US-Portugal totalization, cost of living in Lisbon vs Porto vs Algarve — everything Americans need to know.
Retire in Thailand: A US Expat's Complete Guide
LTR visa, remittance-based tax, private healthcare costs, Bangkok vs Chiang Mai cost of living, and no totalization agreement implications.
Retire in Mexico: A US Expat's Complete Guide
Residente Temporal visa, US-Mexico tax treaty, IMSS healthcare, Social Security in Mexico, CDMX vs Merida vs San Miguel cost of living.
Retire in the UAE (Dubai): A US Expat's Complete Guide
Zero income tax, Golden Visa, healthcare costs, the real cost of living in Dubai, FBAR implications, and Islamic finance bridge.
Retire in Malaysia: A US Expat's Complete Guide
MM2H visa, Islamic finance hub, world-class affordable healthcare, and cost of living in KL, Penang, and Langkawi.
Retire in Japan: A US Expat's Complete Guide
Visa options, US-Japan totalization, NHI healthcare, pension transfer, cost of living in Tokyo vs rural Japan.
Keep Your US Accounts Abroad
401(k) access, IRA contributions, brokerage restrictions, PFIC rules, FBAR reporting — everything about keeping US financial accounts while living overseas.
Digital Nomad Tax Survival Guide
Tax residency rules, 183-day rule, state domicile traps (CA/NY), FEIE vs FTC, and estimated tax patterns for location-independent workers.
Social Security Abroad: What You Keep, What You Lose
Portability rules, 31 totalization countries, restricted countries, Medicare gap, WEP for foreign pensions, survivor benefits abroad.
FIRE Abroad: The Geoarbitrage Playbook
Framework for evaluating countries for FIRE: COL ratio, tax burden, healthcare, visa path. Compare 5 popular destinations with budget breakdowns.
Expat Health Insurance: Coverage Compared
SafetyWing vs Cigna Global vs local systems. Medicare gap. When each option fits. Cost comparison by age and coverage level.
Wealth Strategy
Estate Tax Strategies for High-Net-Worth Families
The 2026 federal exemption is $15 million per person and permanent — the TCJA sunset was removed before it took effect. Portability, GRATs, IDGTs and dynasty trusts, without the deadline.
How Family Offices Work (And Why You Probably Don't Need One)
SFO vs MFO, typical minimums, the service stack, and when a fee-only CFP is the better choice for most families.
Concentrated Stock Risk: When One Position Is Your Net Worth
IPO/RSU/founder equity risks, 10b5-1 plans, exchange funds, charitable giving of stock, collar strategies.
Philanthropy vs Donor-Advised Funds: Tax-Smart Giving
DAF basics, bunching strategy, QCD from IRA, appreciated stock donation, Fidelity vs Schwab Charitable comparison.
Also: free calculators
Every guide pairs with an interactive calculator. Run your own numbers in seconds.