Financial Order of Operations:
Which step are you on?
The 9-step sequence for what to do with your next dollar. Answer five questions to find your current step and what to prioritize. Based on the Money Guy Show framework verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: The 9-step Financial Order of Operations is published by Money Guy Show.Verify at: Money Guy Show: Financial Order of Operations ↗Money Guy Show is a CFP-led RIA. The FOO is publicly documented at the linked URL..
Worked example: You have a $1,000/month employer 401(k) match you are not fully capturing, and $4,000 in credit card debt at 22% APRAnnual Percentage Rate (APR)The yearly cost of borrowing money, shown as a percentage.Full definition. Step 2 (capture the full match) comes before Step 3 (high-interest debt). The match is an instant 50-100% return; the debt is 22% interest. Max the match first, then attack the debt.
The Money Guy framework predates Bitcoin as a mainstream asset and does not name it. Our view: a Bitcoin allocation is not a separate step, it is part of long-term investing, and it belongs after the guaranteed wins, not ahead of them. The employer match, high-interest debt payoff, emergency fund, and tax-advantaged space all come first because their returns are certain; Bitcoin is volatile and uncertain. Once you are hyper-accumulating (Step 7, saving 25%+ of gross), a sized Bitcoin position fits inside your long-term investing, sized to what you can hold through an 80% drawdown.
Never fund a Bitcoin buy by skipping the match or carrying a credit-card balance; the order exists for a reason. See how much Bitcoin to own and the allocation range tool.
How this tool works
- This is a decision tree, not a calculator. The 5-8 yes/no questions route you to the FOO step that matches your current situation.
- The framework is from Money Guy Show, a CFP-led RIA firm. The 9 steps are publicly documented at moneyguy.com/guide/foo/.
- FOO is not a strict sequence. Life interrupts. If something pushes you back a step, that is expected. The framework tells you where to send your next dollar once you stabilize.
- The site's existing 8-step order at /personal-finance/order-of-operations/ starts with a $1,000 starter emergency fund instead of full deductible coverage. Both frameworks have merit; pick the one that fits your situation.
Not financial advice. Decision tool, not investment advice. Consult a fee-only fiduciaryfiduciaryA person legally required to act in your best financial interest. Fee-only financial advisors are fiduciaries; commission-based advisors may not be.Full definition for advice on your specific situation.
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HOW THIS IS CALCULATED
This tool runs entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server. All formulas use standard financial math. Verify the methodology or inspect the source code in your browser's dev tools.