Financial Roadmap · All Pathways

From day one to financially free — one phase at a time.

Every learning pathway maps to a phased roadmap: what to stabilize, what to build, and what to master. Pick the path that matches your season and follow the milestones.

PATH A · Just getting started PATH B · Debt-free and building PATH C · Catching up in your 40s & 50s PATH D · AI-powered operator PATH E · Build & maintain great credit PATH F · Investor from CDs to crypto

PATH ASee modules →

Just getting started

New to managing money or restarting after a setback.

North star: $1K buffer → 3-month emergency fund → first retirement contribution.

Step 1 of 3

Months 1–3

Phase 1 · Stabilize

Know where every dollar goes and stop bleeding.

·Track a full month of income & spending
·Build a zero-based monthly budget
·Save first $1,000 buffer in a HYSA
·Cancel or renegotiate 3 recurring bills
·Pull all three credit reports (free)

Step 2 of 3

Months 4–9

Phase 2 · Protect

Real emergency fund, real credit, real safety net.

·3 months of essential expenses saved
·Credit utilization under 30% on every card
·Open the right high-yield savings + checking pair
·Set up sinking funds for known big expenses
·Get basic renters/auto/health coverage in order

Step 3 of 3

Months 10–18

Phase 3 · Launch

Start compounding — retirement + tax basics.

·Contribute to a Roth IRA or 401(k) match
·Understand W-4, standard deduction, and refunds
·Draft your personal balance sheet
·Read one behavioral finance module and pick 3 rules to live by
·Schedule quarterly money reviews on your calendar

PATH BSee modules →

Debt-free and building

Basics handled — ready to invest, optimize taxes, and grow income.

North star: First real portfolio, tax-optimized, with a 12-month forecast.

Step 1 of 3

Months 1–3

Phase 1 · Clear the runway

Kill remaining bad debt and lock in the plan.

·Finish avalanche/snowball on all consumer debt
·Build a 12-month cash flow forecast
·Confirm 3–6 month emergency fund is fully funded
·Set a target savings rate (20%+)
·Automate every transfer on payday

Step 2 of 3

Months 4–12

Phase 2 · Build the portfolio

Diversified core, tax-advantaged first.

·Max employer match, then Roth IRA
·Open a taxable brokerage with a 3-fund core
·Understand basis, wash sales, and capital gains
·Layer in I-Bonds or T-Bills for short-term goals
·Track net worth monthly

Step 3 of 3

Year 2+

Phase 3 · Optimize & scale

Tax alpha, side income, equity comp.

·Walk through a full tax return line-by-line
·Add HSA, 529, or backdoor Roth if eligible
·Launch a side-income stream
·Model equity comp (RSUs/ISOs) tax impact
·Run an annual financial review workshop

PATH CSee modules →

Catching up in your 40s & 50s

Feel behind on retirement and need an aggressive, realistic plan.

North star: A funded retirement projection with income you can actually live on.

Step 1 of 3

Months 1–3

Phase 1 · Diagnose

Get honest about the gap.

·Complete a personal balance sheet
·Project retirement need vs current trajectory
·List all retirement accounts and beneficiaries
·Audit existing insurance (life, disability, LTC)
·Book a licensed advisor consultation

Step 2 of 3

Months 4–18

Phase 2 · Push hard

Max catch-up contributions and portfolio quality.

·Use age 50+ catch-up limits on 401(k)/IRA
·Rebalance to a target-date-appropriate mix
·Consolidate stray old 401(k)s where it helps
·Model Social Security claiming ages
·Plan Roth conversions in low-income years

Step 3 of 3

Year 2+

Phase 3 · Protect the finish line

Turn savings into paycheck; secure the estate.

·Design a retirement income withdrawal plan
·Update wills, POAs, and beneficiaries
·Set up healthcare-cost bridge (pre-Medicare)
·Run an annual review with tax + estate lens
·Teach a family member your full plan

PATH DSee modules →

AI-powered operator

You want to automate research, bookkeeping, and money decisions.

North star: Your own AI stack for taxes, portfolio, and monthly close.

Step 1 of 3

Weeks 1–4

Phase 1 · Prompting foundations

Ask better questions, verify every answer.

·Master role/context/output prompt structure
·Build a personal library of money prompts
·Learn to fact-check AI with primary sources
·Set data privacy rules for what you paste
·Pick your model + tooling stack

Step 2 of 3

Weeks 5–12

Phase 2 · Automate the boring

Bookkeeping, statements, and research on autopilot.

·Auto-categorize transactions with AI
·Summarize monthly statements into one report
·Draft a personal tax memo pre-filing
·Screen investments with a research copilot
·Build a rebalancing check every quarter

Step 3 of 3

Ongoing

Phase 3 · Operator scale

Agents that work while you sleep.

·Connect AI to email, calendar, and bank exports
·Run monthly close in under 30 minutes
·Automate bill negotiation reminders
·Publish your own money dashboard
·Retrain your stack every quarter

PATH ESee modules →

Build & maintain great credit

Raise your score, clean your report, and keep credit strong for life.

North star: 740+ score, low utilization, mortgage-ready file.

Step 1 of 3

Months 1–3

Phase 1 · Repair & report

Know your file and fix what's wrong.

·Pull all three bureau reports
·Dispute inaccurate or outdated items
·Cap utilization under 30%, target 10%
·Set autopay on every card & loan
·Freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus

Step 2 of 3

Months 4–12

Phase 2 · Build depth

Right mix, longer average age, cleaner history.

·Add a secured or starter card if thin file
·Diversify credit mix (installment + revolving)
·Ask for credit-limit increases every 6 months
·Avoid closing your oldest account
·Track score monthly with a free monitor

Step 3 of 3

Year 2+

Phase 3 · Leverage & protect

Use credit as a tool, not a trap.

·Reach mortgage/auto-loan readiness
·Build a rewards strategy that fits real spend
·Set fraud alerts and identity monitoring
·Plan credit around major life events
·Teach family members the same system

PATH FSee modules →

Investor from CDs to crypto

Want a full map of where money goes across the risk spectrum.

North star: A written IPS with a core-satellite portfolio you actually follow.

Step 1 of 3

Months 1–2

Phase 1 · Cash & safety

Master the low-risk end before reaching for return.

·Ladder HYSA, T-Bills, and CDs for short-term cash
·Understand money market funds vs money market accounts
·Set your emergency reserve floor
·Learn how yield curves signal risk
·Define horizons for every dollar

Step 2 of 3

Months 3–6

Phase 2 · Core portfolio

Bonds, index funds, and disciplined rebalancing.

·Choose your bond duration and quality
·Build a 3-fund or target allocation core
·Write your Investment Policy Statement
·Set rebalance triggers (bands or dates)
·Automate contributions every payday

Step 3 of 3

Ongoing

Phase 3 · Satellites & alt

Add stocks, real estate, crypto, and alternatives with sizing rules.

·Cap individual stocks at a firm % of net worth
·Add dividend or REIT sleeve for income
·Size crypto as a small satellite you can lose
·Explore covered calls or alternatives only after core is built
·Run an annual portfolio review with tax loss harvesting

Not sure which path?

Take the 60-second placement quiz on the courses page.

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