The 6 Pillars of Financial Planning
Cash Flow Management
Budgeting, emergency fund, debt payoff strategy
Risk Management
Insurance coverage for life's uncertainties
Investing & Retirement
Building wealth for the long term
Tax Planning
Minimizing your tax burden legally
Estate Planning
Protecting and transferring wealth
Education Planning
Funding education for yourself or children
The Savings Priority Order
Not sure where to put your next dollar? This is a common order of operations many planners describe:
Common Financial Goals
Build Emergency Fund
3-6 months of expenses in HYSA
Get Out of High-Interest Debt
Pay off credit cards, personal loans
Max Retirement Contributions
401(k) match → IRA → Full 401(k)
Buy a Home
20% down payment, closing costs
Fund Children's Education
529 plans, education savings
Achieve Financial Independence
25x annual expenses invested
Explore Planning Areas
Popular Strategies
View allHSA Triple Tax Advantage
The only account with tax-free contributions, growth, AND withdrawals for medical expenses.
Roth IRA
Tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement. The younger you start, the more powerful.
Employer 401(k) Match
An employer match adds employer money on top of your own contributions, up to a set limit.
High-Yield Savings Account
Earn 4-5% on emergency fund instead of 0.01% at big banks.
Backdoor Roth IRA
Legal workaround to contribute to Roth IRA when your income is too high.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Sell investments at a loss to offset gains and reduce taxes by up to $3,000/year.
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
Donate appreciated stock, avoid capital gains tax, get immediate deduction, grant to charities over time.
529 Education Savings Plan
Tax-free growth for education expenses, plus state tax deductions in many states.
Educational purposes only. This content provides general financial planning education and does not constitute financial advice. Everyone's situation is unique. Consult a qualified financial planner for advice specific to your situation.