Frequently Asked Questions

  • There is an overwhelming amount of financial information on the internet. Probably too much. My goal is to cut through that and share tailored content for the people who find this site so they can actually learn something and take action. Long term, I will be transitioning this into a full financial planning practice where people can work with me directly on hyper-personalized advice. For now, think of it as a financially literate friend who writes things down.

  • Primarily Washington State residents looking to build wealth and make smarter financial decisions. I write most frequently for people in Olympia and the surrounding area, with a focus on Washington State employees, nurses, tech workers, and people in construction and real estate. If you do not fit neatly into one of those categories, most of the content is useful regardless. Good personal finance principles do not change that much based on your job title.

  • Not yet. Ask me again in late 2026 though. I will be licensed to do so by then.

  • It is not that different. Everything on this site is searchable somewhere on the internet and I would encourage everyone to use Google to build a baseline understanding of financial topics. The difference is the amount of information out there is overwhelming and almost never tailored to your specific situation. My goal is to write specific content for specific audiences so it actually feels relevant. I also think there is something to hearing it from someone in your community who has actually lived through it rather than a financial institution or a content farm optimizing for clicks.

  • I encourage everyone to learn about personal finance independently and double check what they read, including here. That said, I know firsthand how overwhelming taxes, retirement planning, and investing can feel when you are encountering it for the first time. I have spent years learning the strategies, the edge cases, and the practical realities of all of it. My experience is not extraordinary, but it is varied and it is real. I have lived through layoffs, uneven paychecks, real estate transactions, and the kind of financial decisions most people only face once or twice in their life. My hope is that sharing what I learned openly and honestly saves people time and gives them a little more confidence in their own financial situation.

  • If you are a Washington State employee in Pers 2, start with the investment flow guide for your PERS plan. If you are newer to personal finance in general, this "I have money, what do I do with it" on Reddit was foundational to my learning as I began learning. If you just want to get a sense of who I am and why I built this, read the About page.

  • You can reach me anytime through the contact page or directly at tristanscott.gates@gmail.com.