Sources & Methodology

97 official sources

1. AnnualCreditReport.com

   AnnualCreditReport.com

   Used in:Review your credit health

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2. CareerOneStop

   CareerOneStop career resources

   Used in:Review income opportunities

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3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   An essential guide to building an emergency fund

   Used in:Step 1: Establish a minimum emergency fundStep 5: Build a full emergency fund

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4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   CFPB budgeting resources

   Used in:Review recurring spending and lifestyle changes

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5. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   CFPB credit reports and scores

   Used in:Review your credit health

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6. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   CFPB financial well-being resources

   Used in:Review your financial picture

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7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   Consolidating or refinancing student loans

   Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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8. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   Determine your down payment: preserve an emergency cushion

   Used in:Step 3: Know your protection and retirement numbers

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9. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

   How amortization can affect an auto loan

   Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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10. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Make saving automatic

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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11. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Mortgage prepayment penalties

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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12. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Mortgage servicer rules and extra principal payments

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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13. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    My savings rule to live by

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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14. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Planning for diminished capacity and illness

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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15. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Reducing debt worksheet

    Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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16. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    What is a certificate of deposit?

    Used in:Step 5: Build a full emergency fund

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17. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    What to know about consolidating credit-card debt

    Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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18. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

    Financial products that are insured by the FDIC

    Used in:Step 1: Establish a minimum emergency fundStep 5: Build a full emergency fund

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19. Federal Student Aid

    Five things before consolidating federal student loans

    Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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20. Federal Trade Commission

    Debt-relief and credit-repair scams

    Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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21. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

    Investment goals

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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22. FINRA

    Brokerage account guidance

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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23. FINRA

    Choosing beneficiaries

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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24. FINRA

    Concentration risk

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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25. FINRA

    Estate planning and powers of attorney

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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26. Internal Revenue Service

    2026 HSA inflation-adjusted limits

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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27. Internal Revenue Service

    2026 maximum capital-gain rate thresholds

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 taxPayroll policyStep 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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28. Internal Revenue Service

    2026 retirement contribution and Roth phaseout adjustments

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stabilityStep 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goalStep 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limitsTax-Advantaged Accounts

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29. Internal Revenue Service

    401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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30. Internal Revenue Service

    Capital gains and losses

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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31. Internal Revenue Service

    Catch-up contribution rules

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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32. Internal Revenue Service

    Designated Roth accounts and in-plan rollovers

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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33. Internal Revenue Service

    Dividends and other corporate distributions

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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34. Internal Revenue Service

    Exceptions to tax on early distributions

    Used in:Retirement Buckets

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35. Internal Revenue Service

    Instructions for Form 8606

    Used in:Step 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goal

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36. Internal Revenue Service

    Instructions for Form 8606

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 iraDecision policy

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37. Internal Revenue Service

    IRA contribution limits

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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38. Internal Revenue Service

    IRS charitable contribution resources

    Used in:Review your legacy intentions

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39. Internal Revenue Service

    IRS Tax Withholding Estimator

    Used in:Build your tax awareness

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40. Internal Revenue Service

    IRS withholding information

    Used in:Build your tax awareness

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41. Internal Revenue Service

    Matching contributions help you save more for retirement

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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42. Internal Revenue Service

    Net Investment Income Tax

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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43. Internal Revenue Service

    Notice 2025-67

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 iraDecision policy2026 retirementContributions policy

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44. Internal Revenue Service

    One-participant 401(k) plans

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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45. Internal Revenue Service

    Operating a 401(k) plan

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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46. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 526: Charitable contributions

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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47. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 527: Residential Rental Property

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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48. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 551: Basis of assets

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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49. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 559: Survivors, executors, and administrators

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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50. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 590-A: Contributions to IRAs

    Used in:Step 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goal

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51. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 590-B: Distributions from IRAs

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stabilityStep 5: Build a full emergency fundStep 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goal

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52. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 936: Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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53. Internal Revenue Service

    Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts

    Used in:Step 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goal

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54. Internal Revenue Service

    Qualified student loan payment matching guidance

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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55. Internal Revenue Service

    Qualified tuition programs

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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56. Internal Revenue Service

    Reinvested-dividend reporting and cost basis

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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57. Internal Revenue Service

    Required minimum distribution FAQs

    Used in:Step 7: Fund tax-advantaged accounts toward your retirement goal

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58. Internal Revenue Service

    Retirement account beneficiary guidance

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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59. Internal Revenue Service

    Retirement Plans for Small Business, including designated Roth employer contributions

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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60. Internal Revenue Service

    Retirement topics: Required minimum distributions

    Used in:Retirement BucketsRoth vs. Traditional Calculator

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61. Internal Revenue Service

    Revenue Procedure 2025-19

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 retirementContributions policyTax-Advantaged Accounts

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62. Internal Revenue Service

    Roth comparison chart

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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63. Internal Revenue Service

    Roth IRAs

    Used in:Retirement Buckets

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64. Internal Revenue Service

    Salary deferrals when eligible for more than one plan

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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65. Internal Revenue Service

    Schedule 1-A additional deductions

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 taxPayroll policy

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66. Internal Revenue Service

    SEP contribution limits

    Used in:Step 8: Maximize retirement contributions within 2026 limits

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67. Internal Revenue Service

    SIMPLE IRA contribution rules

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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68. Internal Revenue Service

    State government tax-agency directory

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 taxPayroll policy

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69. Internal Revenue Service

    Traditional and Roth IRAs

    Used in:Retirement Buckets

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70. Investor.gov

    Asset allocation and time horizon

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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71. Investor.gov

    Beginner's guide to asset allocation

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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72. Investor.gov

    Cash sweep programs for uninvested cash

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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73. Investor.gov

    Diversify your investments

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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74. Investor.gov

    Fractional-share investing

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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75. Investor.gov

    How fees and expenses affect an investment portfolio

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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76. Investor.gov

    Index funds

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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77. Investor.gov

    Introduction to 529 plans

    Used in:Step 11: Build a legacy that starts with stability

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78. Investor.gov

    Introduction to investing and compound growth

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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79. Investor.gov

    Investor.gov asset allocation and diversification

    Used in:Review your investment strategy

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80. Investor.gov

    Investor.gov research and due diligence

    Used in:Review your growth strategy

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81. Investor.gov

    Order execution and payment for order flow

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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82. Investor.gov

    Pay off credit cards or other high-interest debt

    Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt

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83. Investor.gov

    Real Estate Investment Trusts

    Used in:Step 10: Choose between low-interest debt payoff and investing

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84. National Association of Insurance Commissioners

    NAIC consumer insurance resources

    Used in:Review your insurance coverage

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85. National Credit Union Administration

    Share insurance coverage

    Used in:Step 1: Establish a minimum emergency fundStep 5: Build a full emergency fund

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86. National Institute on Aging

    National Institute on Aging advance care planning

    Used in:Review basic estate documents and beneficiariesReview your legacy intentions

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87. Ready.gov

    Ready.gov planning guidance

    Used in:Review your household risks

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88. Social Security Administration

    Contribution and benefit base

    Policy source last verified 2025-12-01

    Used in:2026 taxPayroll policy

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89. Social Security Administration

    Get a Social Security benefits estimate

    Used in:Step 3: Know your protection and retirement numbers

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90. Tax Foundation

    2026 state tax changes

    Used in:Step 9: Invest through a taxable brokerage account

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91. TreasuryDirect

    Selling a Treasury marketable security

    Used in:Step 5: Build a full emergency fund

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92. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Purchasing power and constant dollars

    Used in:Step 3: Know your protection and retirement numbers

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93. U.S. Department of Defense

    Blended Retirement System

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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94. U.S. Department of Labor

    Retirement savings toolkit

    Used in:Step 6: Fund near-term savings goals

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95. U.S. Department of Labor

    Retirement toolkit

    Used in:Step 3: Know your protection and retirement numbers

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96. U.S. Department of Labor

    Target date retirement funds

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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97. Vanguard

    How America Saves 2025

    Used in:Step 2: Maximize employer matches

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