Notes on the math and tradeoffs behind the tools — no advice, just the reasoning.
A note whenever we publish something new. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Every other account gets taxed once, going in or coming out. The HSA is the only one that's never taxed at all, if you know the one trick that turns it into a stealth retirement fund.
Picking investments is the smallest part of the job. A good advisor's real value is stitching together taxes, estate, insurance, income, and behavior so the pieces stop working against each other.
Retiring early means covering every year between your last paycheck and Social Security, with no benefit checks and no penalty-free access to half your savings. Here's how big that gap really is.
The viral savings-rate-to-years table assumes Social Security doesn't exist. For most people that's off by half their retirement income, and the fix isn't what you'd expect.
The 4% rule was calibrated to survive 30 years of U.S. market history, not the 40-60 year horizon most FIRE retirees actually face. Three real historical cohorts, one interactive chart.
Mortgage interest and property tax are deductible, but only above the standard deduction, and only up to the SALT cap. Here's what that's actually worth.
Why 3-6 months of expenses is the standard target, and how to think about where your number should land.
Depreciation, mileage limits, and what leasing actually trades away for a lower monthly payment.
The opportunity cost of a down payment, appreciation, and transaction costs, the parts of buy-vs-rent that a monthly-payment comparison misses.
Where the '25x expenses' number comes from, what the 4% rule actually claims, and where it breaks down.
What Nestward is, why it's free and private, and how every tool is shareable without an account.