Comparisons hub
Side-by-Side Financial Decisions
Every important money decision boiled down to a verdict, a comparison table, and the calculator that runs your numbers. 20 US-specific comparisons covering retirement, tax, debt, housing, insurance, investing, and business structure.
20 head-to-head decisions
Pick the right side of every money decision
Each comparison gives you the verdict, a side-by-side table, and links to the calculator that runs your specific numbers. All US-2026 current.
01 · Retirement
401(k) vs Roth IRA
Pre-tax now or tax-free later? The right sequence for your first $30K.
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02 · Retirement
Traditional vs Roth 401(k)
Same limit, different tax timing. Bracket-based decision rules.
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03 · Tax
Standard vs Itemized Deduction
When do mortgage interest and SALT beat the $14,600 standard?
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04 · Investing
DCA vs Lump-Sum
Vanguard: lump-sum wins 67% of the time. When DCA still beats it.
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05 · Debt
Credit Card vs Personal Loan
22% vs 12% APR. The math on consolidating $10K+ balances.
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06 · Cash
HYSA vs Money Market
Both FDIC-insured, both pay ~4.5%. The 3-question decision.
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07 · Insurance
Term Life vs Whole Life
$30 vs $750 a month for the same $1M coverage. Math says term.
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08 · Auto
Lease vs Buy a Car
Lower monthly payment vs lower lifetime cost. 9-year cumulative.
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09 · Housing
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage
Save $200K in interest, or invest the difference?
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10 · Investing
ETF vs Mutual Fund
Same index, different wrapper. Tax efficiency vs convenience.
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11 · Investing
Robo vs Financial Advisor
The 1% fee that compounds to $300K. When the human is worth it.
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12 · Healthcare
HSA vs FSA
Triple-tax-free vs use-it-or-lose-it. When each one wins.
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13 · Business
LLC vs S-Corp
At what profit level does S-Corp election save more than it costs?
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14 · Retirement
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA
Pay tax now or later? After-tax retirement maturity comparison.
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15 · Retirement
FIRE vs Traditional Retirement
Retire at 45 vs 65. The 4% rule and what it costs upfront.
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16 · Investing
Mutual Funds vs Individual Stocks
Which wins for the average US investor over 20 years?
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17 · Investing
Active vs Index Fund
SPIVA data: 90% of active funds lose to the index over 15 years.
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18 · Investing
Stocks vs Real Estate
Returns, leverage, taxes, and time commitment compared.
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19 · Metrics
CAGR vs XIRR
One-time investment vs regular contributions. Pick the right metric.
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20 · Housing
Buy vs Rent a Home
Build wealth or stay flexible? The 5-year break-even rule.
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