The Financial Toolbox

These are the tools we use to manage our money.

This list is updated regularly to make sure it represents the best of the best.

We've built relationships with some of our favorite companies on this list. As a result, using some of these links support what we do at no cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support!

Our Picks

Best for Budgeting
Monarch: Modern money management

Get clarity, confidence, and peace of mind for your finances. Track all of your account balances, transactions, and investments in one place.

Best for Investing
M1 Finance

They're perfect for DIY investors who prefer a hands-off approach but can still pick individual stocks and funds. We specifically use them for the Golden Butterfly portion of our portfolio.

Best for Debt Consolidation
Hometap: Simple, affordable HELOCs

Borrow against the equity in your home at low, competitive rates. The term is 10 years, with no payments until the debt is due. This is ideal for paying down higher-cost debt, like credit cards.

Best for Business
Mercury: Complete Cash Management

Best-in-class digital-first banking. Easily manage your cash, automate savings, and create credit card numbers for every expense so you never get overcharged.

 

Investing Portfolios

Warren Buffet 90/10 Portfolio

Warren announced that after he passes, the trustee of his wife's inheritance has been told to put 90% of her money into a stock index fund and 10% into short-term government bonds.

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Golden Butterfly Portfolio

This portfolio is a modified version of the Permanent Portfolio with one additional asset class. This is done to incorporate some of the characteristics of a few other notable lazy portfolios.

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All-Weather Portfolio

This portfolio's single goal is to make money in all market conditions regardless of interest rates, deflation, what new pandemic is threatening our shores, or who the POTUS is. It does this by focusing on growth and inflation cycles.

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Dividend Aristocrats Portfolio

This is an index fund of the most consistent dividend-paying companies in the S&P 500. It has historically outperformed the S&P 500 long-term. Over the past 10 years, it has returned 10.98% on an average annual basis whereas the S&P 500 only returned 10.53% during that same period.

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Real Estate

Rental Properties for Passive Investors

Our proven, data-driven approach to building a portfolio of income-producing rental properties that perform in the long-term.

Fundrise

Diversify into income-producing real estate without the dramatics of actual tenants. Fundrise eREITs are a diverse family of funds, each of which pursues a focused real estate investment strategy.

 

Debt

The 10 Day Debt Plan

This free course outlines a proven framework that thousands of people have used to eliminate their debt, develop better money habits, and start building a secure financial future.

National Debt Relief

Credit card companies will forgive some of your debt if you’re in trouble. Get a $10,000 bill reduced to $4,000 just by asking. National Debt Relief negotiates on your behalf.

 

Wealth Building

Empower - Track your entire portfolio for free

Tools to help you plan for retirement, monitor investments, and uncover hidden fees. Run simulations on your net worth and determine what it will look like after major life events.

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Trust and Will: Protect your legacy

Make sure your wealth stays with the people you love. Easily create an estate plan so if something were to happen to you, everyone is protected and supported by what you've built.

 

Business

WP Engine

We host ListenMoneyMatters.com with WP Engine. They are the best WordPress managed-hosting service that we've found. And we've tried a lot of em. Nothing beats the power and ease of use of their admin tools.

HostGator

When it comes to finding the highest quality host for the lowest price, HostGator wins hands down. Depending on the day, it's between $2.75 and $3.95/month for the tier you need.

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Lasso

We built this to monetize Listen Money Matters and now we're sharing it with you. If you want to make money online, you need this tool. It's the best plugin you'll ever use, if we do say so ourselves.

QuickBooks

As you start building your business, this will likely be the most valuable tool in your arsenal. Not only will it answer questions like "How much did I profit last month?" but it will help track where you spent your money.

Gusto

Businesses need to run payroll. Gusto is an affordable modern payroll platform that you can fully control online, and love it. They will even help you with a 401k, IRA or HSA. Gusto's also incredibly affordable.

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