The Alistair Blog
Stories about the broken world of traditional financial advice, deep dives into our microtools, and updates on what we're building to fix it.
Microtools
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Meet the FI Number Calculator: The Simplest, Most Important Number in Personal FinanceMicrotools
Your FI number is what you need to stop working forever. 25x your annual expenses — but what about Lean FI and Fat FI? Alistair's calculator shows all three targets so you know what's enough.
Meet the Bridge Account Calculator: The Early Retirement Gap Nobody Talks AboutMicrotools
Retire at 55? You've got 4.5 years before you can touch your 401(k) penalty-free. Alistair's bridge account calculator shows how much taxable money you need to cover the gap so you don't burn your retirement accounts.
Meet the Estate Tax & Gifting Planner: The $15M Question Nobody Talks AboutMicrotools
Estate tax planning isn't just for billionaires. With a $15 million federal exemption — and 17 states taxing far smaller estates — more families than you'd think face estate taxes. Alistair's microtool shows your exposure and what gifting can do about it.
Meet the Tax Bracket Visualizer: Because Your Marginal Rate Isn't What You Think It IsMicrotools
Most people can name their tax bracket and have no idea what their effective rate actually is. Alistair's visualizer shows where each dollar of your income is taxed and why your '24% bracket' might really be 16%.
Meet the Home Affordability Calculator: What the Bank Says You Can Borrow vs. What You ShouldMicrotools
Banks will approve you for far more house than you should buy. Alistair's affordability calculator uses the 28/36 rule to show what's actually comfortable — so your mortgage doesn't own you.
Meet the Life Insurance Needs Calculator: The DIME Method That Cuts Through the Sales PitchMicrotools
Insurance agents want to sell you a bigger policy. Your employer's 1x salary coverage isn't enough either. Alistair's DIME method calculator shows your actual coverage need — no commission attached.
Meet the Roth Conversion Ladder: Turning a Tax Time Bomb into Tax-Free WealthMicrotools
A large Traditional IRA is a deferred tax liability. Roth conversions can defuse it — but the timing and amounts matter enormously. Alistair's microtool models year-by-year conversions to find your optimal ladder.
Meet the Monte Carlo Retirement Simulator: Because Straight-Line Projections Lie to YouMicrotools
Most retirement calculators draw a straight line and tell you you're fine. Real markets don't work that way. Alistair's Monte Carlo simulator runs 1,000 scenarios to show your actual probability of success.
Meet the Debt Payoff Strategist: The Math Behind Snowball vs. Avalanche — and Why Both WorkMicrotools
Snowball or avalanche? One saves more interest, the other builds momentum. Alistair's debt payoff microtool shows you the exact paydown path — debt-free date, interest saved, and which strategy wins with your numbers.
Meet the Social Security Claiming Optimizer: The $100K Decision You Only Get One Shot AtMicrotools
Claim at 62, 67, or 70? The difference can be $100,000+ in lifetime benefits. Alistair's microtool calculates breakeven ages and shows which claiming strategy maximizes your total lifetime payout.