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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Meet the FI Planner: The Complete Roadmap to Financial IndependenceMicrotools
Most FI calculators stop at your FIRE date. Real life has pensions, Social Security, time-bound expenses, and what-if scenarios. Alistair's FI Planner models them all so your plan holds up against reality.
Avalanche vs. Snowball: The Math vs. The PsychologyDebt & Credit
The debt avalanche (highest interest first) mathematically wins every time. But the debt snowball (smallest balance first) has a higher success rate. Here's why psychology beats math when it comes to debt.
Meet the Value Matrix: Stop Cutting Costs Blindly — Start Spending on What MattersMicrotools
Most budgeting advice tells you to cut spending. The Value Matrix tells you where to cut and where to spend more — by scoring each category on joy, utility, and alignment with your goals.
Meet the Tax-Loss Harvesting Microtool: Your Portfolio's Hidden Tax RefundMicrotools
Tax-loss harvesting can save investors thousands per year in taxes. Most advisors do it once in December if you're lucky. Alistair's microtool walks you through it anytime — here's how it works.
Meet the Coast FI Calculator: The Number That Changes How You Think About WorkMicrotools
Coast FI is the point where your investments will grow to cover retirement on their own — no more contributions needed. Alistair's calculator finds your Coast FI number and the freedom it unlocks.
Meet the Mortgage Calculator: Your Monthly Payment, DeconstructedMicrotools
That monthly mortgage payment isn't just one number — it's a story about principal, interest, and how banks make their money. Alistair's calculator shows the full amortization schedule and how much that house really costs.
Coast FIRE: The Middle Path Nobody Talks AboutRetirement
You don't need to save 70% of your income or retire at 35. Coast FIRE is a lower-stress version of financial independence where front-loaded savings do the heavy lifting.
Meet the Compound Interest Calculator: The Eighth Wonder of the World, QuantifiedMicrotools
Compound interest is the most powerful force in wealth building — and the hardest to visualize. Alistair's calculator shows your money's growth path and why starting early matters more than saving more.
Meet the Savings Rate Calculator: The One Number That Predicts Your Financial FutureMicrotools
Your savings rate determines when you reach financial independence more than any other factor — more than your income, more than your investment returns. Alistair's calculator shows your rate and your timeline.
The $12,000 Handshake: What Traditional Advisors Really Cost YouHorror Stories
A 1% AUM fee sounds small — until you do the math. Over 30 years, a typical advisor fee can cost you hundreds of thousands in lost returns.
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