The Research
Everything we have published, organised by date. We are personal finance researchers, not advisors — every article on this site is plain-English education, never prescription. Browse by topic above the grid, or scroll through the latest research below.
18 articles
What is the FIRE movement? A plain-English explanation of Financial Independence Retire Early — the math, the variants, and the trade-offs of the FIRE framework.
8 min read
What does financial freedom mean? A plain-English definition, the levels people commonly talk about, and what the term actually requires in practical terms.
7 min read
What is diversification? A plain-English explanation of how spreading investments reduces risk, the different ways to diversify, and why the concept gets discussed so often.
8 min read
What is compound interest? A plain-English explanation of how interest builds on itself, why time matters more than rate, and how it works on both savings and debt.
8 min read
What is a W-2 form? A plain-English explanation of the U.S. tax form your employer issues each January, what each box means, and how it gets used at tax time.
8 min read
What is a credit report? A plain-English explanation of what's on it, where it comes from, who can see it, and how it differs from a credit score.
8 min read
What is a 1099 form? A plain-English explanation of the U.S. tax forms used to report non-employee income — freelance, gig, interest, dividends, and more.
8 min read
What are taxes actually used for? A plain-English breakdown of where federal, state, and local tax dollars go — and why understanding this matters for personal finance.
8 min read
How to read a pay stub: a plain-English walkthrough of every line item, from gross pay to deductions to net take-home, plus the year-to-date totals that matter at tax time.
8 min read
Difference between gross and net income, in plain English. What gets deducted, why the gap exists, and which number to budget against in real life.
7 min read
What is an interest rate? A plain-English explanation of how interest works, how it is calculated, and why the same number behaves differently in different contexts.
8 min read
What is the difference between APR and interest rate? A plain-English explanation of why they differ, what APR includes, and which to compare when shopping for a loan.
8 min read
How does inflation affect your money? A plain-English breakdown of what inflation does to savings, wages, debt, investments, and long-term goals.
9 min read
What is net worth? A plain-English explanation of the most foundational personal finance number, plus how to calculate yours in five minutes.
8 min read
What is inflation? A plain-English explanation of how prices rise, how it is measured, and what it actually means for everyday savings, wages, and debt.
9 min read
Common financial terms explained in plain English: income, interest, APR, credit utilization, net worth, and more. A beginner's glossary, no jargon.
9 min read
What is financial literacy? A plain-English explanation of the skill that helps people make informed money decisions. No jargon, no advice — just clear research.
8 min read
Personal finance basics explained in plain English: income, saving, debt, credit, and investing — the small set of concepts every adult tends to encounter.
8 min read