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.
The Accuracy Problem in AI Financial Advice
Most AI tools answer financial questions by hoping the model's training data is recent enough. That's a recipe for disaster. Here's what we built instead.
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Zero-Based Budgeting: Why Every Dollar Needs a JobMoney Basics
Most budgets fail because they're aspirational, not intentional. Zero-based budgeting forces a hard question no other method asks: what is this dollar actually doing for me?
The Car Loan Is a Wealth Destruction MachineDebt & Credit
Financing a depreciating asset at 7% while it loses 20% of its value the moment you drive it off the lot isn't just bad math — it's the single biggest wealth-building mistake middle-class Americans make.
The Scarcity Mindset: How Growing Up Broke Shapes Every Money DecisionMoney Psychology
Growing up without money doesn't just affect your bank account — it literally rewires how your brain processes financial decisions, even decades after your circumstances change. Here's the science and how to break the pattern.
Credit Card Rewards: Are You Gaming the System or Is It Gaming You?Debt & Credit
The points-and-miles community treats credit cards like a game to be won. But the data shows that rewards cards make you spend more — enough to erase any cash back. Who's really winning?
The Marriage Tax Penalty (and Bonus) ExplainedTax Strategy
Getting married changes your tax bill — sometimes by thousands. The IRS doesn't care about your wedding budget. Here's when tying the knot saves you money and when it costs you.
The Latte Factor Is Real — But It's Not About CoffeeMoney Basics
David Bach was right that small expenses add up, but he picked the wrong target. The real latte factor in 2026 is subscriptions, convenience fees, and algorithmic pricing.
Alistair vs. Empower: The Dashboard or the Coach?Industry Insights
Empower gives you a free financial dashboard with net worth tracking and an investment checkup — then pitches 0.89% AUM wealth management. Alistair puts an AI assistant in your pocket for $4.99/month. Which one actually makes you better with money?
Alistair vs. Domain Money: The Human-AI Financial Advice ShowdownIndustry Insights
Domain Money pairs you with a dedicated CFP for a flat annual fee starting at $2,900. Alistair puts an AI assistant in your pocket for $4.99/month. Which path actually makes you wealthier?
Alistair vs. Range: Two Visions for the Future of Financial AdviceIndustry Insights
Range charges $3,950/year for a team of human advisors wrapped in software. Alistair puts the AI itself in the driver's seat — for $4.99/month. Which model actually delivers better financial guidance?
Loss Aversion: Why Selling Hurts Twice as Much as Buying Feels GoodMoney Psychology
Kahneman and Tversky won a Nobel Prize proving that losses hurt roughly twice as much as equivalent gains feel good. That one insight explains most investing mistakes — here's how to override your own brain.
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