Your
money
is losing
ground.
The dollar has lost 87% of its purchasing powerpurchasing powerWhat a dollar can actually buy, not what the dollar number says. A 1971 dollar bought a gallon of gas. Today's dollar buys roughly a third of one. Same dollar, much less buying ability.Full definition since 1971[1]. The same paycheck buys less every year. This site explains why, and what to do about it.
You don't have to agree with the Bitcoin thesis to use this site. The personal finance content stands on its own. Start wherever fits.
Where are you right now?
Pick the card that fits your situation. All 347 pages and 65 tools are free. No Bitcoin position required to get value from the personal finance content.
“I’m behind and stressed about money.”
Credit card debt. No savings. Paycheck to paycheck. Start with the fundamentals, zero judgment, zero jargon.
Start with zero-to-one →“I’m just getting started.”
Some income, some savings, never invested anything. Not sure where to put money or what accounts to open first.
Take the 11-question quiz →“I own Bitcoin on an exchange.”
You bought BTCBitcoin (BTC)The ticker symbol for Bitcoin, used on exchanges and in price quotes.Full definition on Coinbase, River, or Robinhood. It’s still there. That’s counterparty risk.
Get off the exchange →“I want to understand the monetary system.”
You know the basics. Now you want the Fed, the national debt, the petrodollarpetrodollarThe arrangement where oil is priced and traded globally in US dollars, creating structural international demand for the dollar.Full definition, and Bitcoin’s role in all of it.
How money works →“I just started earning real money.”
First job, first 401k, first real paycheck. Not sure what to do in what order.
The order of operations →“I’m 10-15 years from retirement.”
Your savings are real now. Roth conversions, Social Security timing, Medicare, and sequence of returns risksequence of returns riskThe risk that bad returns early in retirement permanently damage a portfolio supporting withdrawals. Two retirees with the same average return can have very different outcomes depending on the order of returns. all matter.
Retirement planning →“I work for myself.”
1099 income, self-employment taxself-employment taxThe 15.3% tax self-employed people pay on business income to cover both the employee and employer share of Social Security and Medicare.Full definition, no employer benefits, irregular cash flowcash flowMoney coming in minus money going out over a month or year. A positive number means you earn more than you spend; negative means the opposite.Full definition. The rules are completely different.
Self-employed finance →“I earn too much for a regular Roth IRA.”
Backdoor Roth, mega backdoor, NIITNet Investment Income Tax (NIIT)A 3.8% extra federal tax on investment income for higher earners (above $200k single, $250k married).Full definition, IRMAAIncome-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)A Medicare surcharge added to your monthly premium if your income exceeds certain thresholds.Full definition, Roth conversions, and tax bracket management. The complexity starts here.
High-income tax strategy →“I have kids and no idea where to start.”
529 accounts, custodial Roth, life insurance, and making sure you save for retirement before you save for college.
Parent financial planning →“I have debt and don’t know the order.”
Credit cards, student loans, car payments. Not all debt is equal. Here is the payoff order that actually works.
The debt framework →“I keep hearing about Bitcoin. Is it real?”
The honest case for it, the honest case against it, and what to do if you decide it makes sense.
The honest Bitcoin page →Run the numbers yourself
SOURCES (4) ▾
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator, bls.gov
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), M2 Money Stock (M2SL), fred.stlouisfed.org
- Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin Whitepaper (2008), bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
- CoinGecko historical price data (BTC CAGRCompound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)The average yearly growth rate of an investment, assuming profits are reinvested each year., 10-year trailing), coingecko.com
Last updated 2026-04-17. Not financial advice. Do your own research.