39 beginner-friendly explanations of every financial concept a pre-retiree needs to understand. Clear definitions, 2026 numbers, pros and cons, and the part most people miss. All free.
9 concepts
How ownership shares work, dividends, growth vs value, and risk.
Treasury, municipal, corporate: duration, yield, and the role of bonds in retirement.
What ETFs are, how they differ from mutual funds, and why they dominate modern portfolios.
Active vs passive, expense ratios, loads, and target-date funds explained.
What an index is, S&P 500 vs total market vs international, and why costs matter most.
REITs, commodities, private equity, and hedge funds. Who they're actually for.
Principal protection, caps, and when these complex products make sense.
Fixed, variable, indexed, SPIA, QLAC: honest pros and cons of each type.
Calls, puts, covered calls for income, and the risks nobody mentions.
4 concepts
Term, whole, universal, variable: when you actually need it in retirement.
LTC insurance, hybrid policies, self-insuring, and Medicaid planning.
Pre-retirement income protection and how it really works.
What it covers, why retirees with assets need it.
6 concepts
Parts A, B, C, and D explained without the jargon.
How MA plans work, HMO vs PPO, pros and cons vs Original Medicare.
Supplement plans, Plan G vs Plan N, and when to buy.
Eligibility, asset limits, spend-down rules, and how it differs from Medicare.
Triple tax advantage and how to use an HSA strategically in retirement.
Health insurance for early retirees before Medicare kicks in.
7 concepts
How it works, employer match, 2026 limits, and the Roth 401(k) option.
Traditional vs Roth, 2026 limits, and income phaseouts.
Conversion ladder, backdoor Roth, mega backdoor, and the 5-year rules.
The retirement plan for teachers and nonprofit workers.
For government employees, and why there's no early withdrawal penalty.
The simplest retirement plan for self-employed and small business owners.
Defined benefit vs defined contribution, lump sum vs monthly, and COLA.
4 concepts
HYSA, money market, CDs, T-bills, and I-bonds compared.
How much, where to keep it, and how it changes in retirement.
How to build one, current rates, and when it makes sense.
T-bills, T-notes, T-bonds, TIPS, and I-bonds explained.
4 concepts
4% rule, guardrails, bucket strategy, and dynamic withdrawal.
Dividend aristocrats, yield vs growth, and tax implications.
How to build one for reliable retirement income.
IRS tables, calculation, and strategies to reduce them.
5 concepts
How marginal rates actually work. Most people get this wrong.
Short-term vs long-term, the 0% bracket, and wash sale rules.
When it pays, tax impact, and the IRMAA interaction.
Federal exemption, state estate taxes, and step-up in basis.
Annual exclusion, lifetime exemption, and 529 superfunding.
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