📊

Investment Platforms

Where to open accounts and start building your portfolio.

Fidelity

Best for most investors

A full-service brokerage with no account minimums, commission-free trading, excellent research, and outstanding customer service. Makes complex processes like backdoor Roth conversions simple.

  • $0 account minimum
  • $0 stock/ETF commissions
  • Fractional shares available
  • 24/7 customer service

Best for: All-around investing, retirement accounts

Open an Account →

Charles Schwab

Full-service powerhouse

A trusted name in investing with excellent research, banking integration, and now combined with TD Ameritrade's powerful trading tools. Great for those who want everything in one place.

  • $0 stock/ETF commissions
  • Integrated banking services
  • thinkorswim trading platform
  • Extensive educational resources

Best for: Full-service needs, active traders

Open an Account →
📈

Planning & Tracking Tools

Software to project your path and track your progress.

Empower

Free financial dashboard

Link all your accounts to see your complete financial picture. Includes retirement planner, fee analyzer, and investment checkup. Formerly Personal Capital.

  • Free net worth tracking
  • Retirement planner
  • Investment fee analyzer
  • Cash flow tracking

Best for: Tracking net worth, seeing the big picture

Get Started Free →

Portfolio Visualizer

Backtest your strategy

Powerful tool for backtesting asset allocations, analyzing portfolio performance, and understanding risk/return tradeoffs through historical data.

  • Historical backtesting
  • Asset allocation analysis
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Factor analysis

Best for: Data-driven investors

Try Free →
📋

Comparison & Research

Compare products and make informed financial decisions.

Saving for College

529 plan comparisons

Comprehensive 529 plan comparisons across all 50 states. Evaluate fees, investment options, and state tax benefits to find the best plan for your family.

  • State-by-state comparisons
  • Fee analysis
  • Tax benefit calculator
  • Plan ratings and reviews

Best for: Parents researching 529 plans

Compare Plans →

Policygenius

Insurance comparison

Compare life insurance quotes from multiple carriers in one place. Unbiased comparison shopping for term life, disability, and other insurance products.

  • Multiple carrier quotes
  • Unbiased recommendations
  • Licensed advisors available
  • No-pressure process

Best for: Shopping for life insurance

Get Quotes →

Bankrate

Calculators and comparisons

Comprehensive financial calculators for mortgages, savings, retirement, and more. Useful for modeling different scenarios before making decisions.

  • Mortgage calculator
  • Savings calculators
  • Rate comparisons
  • Educational content

Best for: Running the numbers

Use Calculators →
📰

Newsletters & Publications

Trusted sources for ongoing financial news and education.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Magazine & Newsletter

Trusted source for practical personal finance advice since 1947. Covers investing, taxes, retirement, and more with a straightforward approach.

  • Print and digital options
  • Tax and retirement guides
  • Long track record

Best for: Comprehensive coverage

Visit Site →

Barron's

Weekly Financial Publication

In-depth market analysis, stock picks, and investment ideas from experienced financial journalists. A trusted voice for serious investors since 1921.

  • Weekly market analysis
  • In-depth stock coverage
  • Retirement planning features

Best for: Serious investors, market analysis

Visit Site →

MarketWatch

Financial News

Market news and personal finance coverage. Good for staying informed on economic trends without the sensationalism.

  • Free daily content
  • Retirement coverage
  • Market updates

Best for: Market news, economic trends

Visit Site →
📚

Recommended Reading

The books that shaped my financial philosophy, organized by life stage.

Timeless Classics

All Life Stages
📖

The Psychology of Money

by Morgan Housel

Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness. Why behavior matters more than knowledge.

View on Amazon →
📖

Think and Grow Rich

by Napoleon Hill

The original wealth mindset book. Distills lessons from 500 successful people into principles that still resonate nearly a century later.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Richest Man in Babylon

by George S. Clason

Ancient wisdom through parables. Simple rules like "pay yourself first" presented as timeless stories from Babylon.

View on Amazon →
📖

Your Money or Your Life

by Vicki Robin

Transforms how you think about money and life energy. The foundation for financial independence.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing

by John C. Bogle

The definitive case for index funds from Vanguard's founder. Bogle's philosophy in his own words.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Millionaire Next Door

by Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko

Research-based look at how ordinary people build extraordinary wealth. Spoiler: it's not flashy.

View on Amazon →
🌱

Building Your Foundation

20s & 30s
📖

The Simple Path to Wealth

by JL Collins

The essential guide to building wealth through index investing. Written as letters to his daughter.

View on Amazon →
📖

I Will Teach You to Be Rich

by Ramit Sethi

A practical 6-week program for banking, saving, budgeting, and investing. No-nonsense advice.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Total Money Makeover

by Dave Ramsey

The definitive guide to the debt snowball method. Great for getting out of debt fast.

View on Amazon →
🌳

Peak Earning Years

40s
📖

Die With Zero

by Bill Perkins

Optimize your life, not just your wealth. Challenges conventional wisdom about endless accumulation.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Four Pillars of Investing

by William Bernstein

Master the theory, history, psychology, and business of investing. A deeper dive for serious investors.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing

by Taylor Larimore et al.

The collective wisdom of the Bogleheads community. Covers the essentials of low-cost, long-term investing in plain language.

View on Amazon →
🍂

Preparing for the Transition

50s & 60s
📖

How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?

by Todd Tresidder

Cut through the confusion with clear frameworks for calculating your retirement number.

View on Amazon →
📖

The New Retirementality

by Mitch Anthony

Rethink retirement as a life transition, not just a financial event. Purpose matters as much as portfolio.

View on Amazon →
📖

Get What's Yours: Social Security

by Kotlikoff, Moeller & Solman

Navigate the complex world of Social Security benefits. Maximize what you've earned.

View on Amazon →
🏔️

Living in Retirement

Retirement
📖

Die With Zero

by Bill Perkins

Permission to enjoy your wealth. Life is about experiences, not dying with the biggest balance.

View on Amazon →
📖

How Much Can I Spend in Retirement?

by Wade Pfau

Academic rigor meets practical advice on sustainable withdrawal strategies.

View on Amazon →
📖

The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning

by Taylor Larimore et al.

The Bogleheads' wisdom on making your money last through decades of retirement.

View on Amazon →