Personal Finance
Personal Finance Decision Tree #
52 concepts organized by true dependency order - the financial knowledge graph behind every dollar decision.
52
Concepts
8
Categories
6
Entry Points
5
Difficulty Levels
[## Browse All Concepts →
Sortable table with difficulty ratings, prerequisites, and downstream unlock counts.](/money/inventory/)[## View Dependency Graph →
Interactive visualization showing how all 52 concepts connect.](/money/graph/)
Why This Exists #
The Reddit r/personalfinance Prime Directive is a great flowchart - it tells you what to do in what order. But it doesn't tell you why. This decision tree layers conceptual understanding beneath every action step so you can adapt when your situation doesn't match the flowchart.
Personal finance advice is full of rules of thumb - "always pay off high-interest debt first," "save 15% for retirement," "buy index funds." These rules work for most people most of the time. But when you understand the math underneath, you can make better decisions at the margins where the generic advice breaks down.
A knowledge graph for understanding your money, not just following instructions.
How It Works #
Concept Nodes, Not Checklist Steps #
Each node teaches one concept with real prerequisites. "Pre-Tax vs Post-Tax" requires understanding "Tax Brackets" and "Compound Interest" first - because without those, the Roth vs Traditional decision is just memorized dogma.
Non-Linear Paths #
You can go deep on real estate without touching options, or deep on tax strategy without touching real estate. The graph shows what actually depends on what - not a one-size-fits-all sequence.
Difficulty Calibration #
Level 1 is budgeting and compound interest. Level 5 is business entity tax optimization and alternative investments. Enter wherever your current knowledge puts you.
Categories #
Cash Flow7 conceptsProtection5 conceptsDebt9 conceptsRetirement8 conceptsInvesting8 conceptsReal Estate4 conceptsTax Strategy7 conceptsLife Planning4 concepts
Where to Start #
If you're starting from scratch, these foundation concepts unlock everything downstream:
[Compound Interest
Exponential growth over time. The Rule of 72. Why starting early dominates starting big.](/money/compound-interest/)[Budgeting
Tracking and allocating every dollar. Zero-based budgeting, 50/30/20 framework, envelope methods.](/money/budget-basics/)[Opportunity Cost
Every dollar has exactly one best use. The hidden cost of every financial decision - what you give up by choosing this over that.](/money/opportunity-cost/)[Income & Expenses
Cash inflows vs outflows. Fixed vs variable costs. The operating statement of your personal finances.](/money/income-and-expenses/)[Bank Accounts
Checking, high-yield savings, CDs, money market. FDIC insurance. Where to park cash and why.](/money/bank-account-structure/)[Net Worth
What you own minus what you owe. The single number that summarizes your financial position. Assets minus liabilities.](/money/net-worth-basics/)
Based On #
The ordering follows the r/personalfinance Prime Directive - the community-maintained flowchart that has helped millions of people get their finances in order. Restructured here as a knowledge graph with conceptual foundations layered underneath each action step.