The Ninety-Minute Setup
One quiet evening. Coffee or tea. Seven steps, and the system runs for the rest of your working life. Check them off as you go; this page remembers.
0 of 7 complete
Step 1. Open the high-yield savings account
Ally, Marcus, Discover, Capital One 360, American Express, or a peer. Fifteen to twenty minutes. Confirm FDIC insurance.
Ally, Marcus, Discover, Capital One 360, American Express, or a peer. Fifteen to twenty minutes. Confirm FDIC insurance.
Step 2. Rename the account
Not 'Savings.' A name your future self will recognize.
Not 'Savings.' A name your future self will recognize.
Step 3. Set the recurring transfer
From checking, two to three business days after each payday, for your Chapter 10 amount.
From checking, two to three business days after each payday, for your Chapter 10 amount.
Step 4. Open the investment account
401(k) to the full match first. Then a Roth IRA at Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schwab.
401(k) to the full match first. Then a Roth IRA at Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schwab.
Step 5. Set the automatic contribution
A recurring monthly transfer into the investment account.
A recurring monthly transfer into the investment account.
Step 6. Turn on automatic investing
The step most people miss. Money that lands must buy the fund automatically, or it sits as cash.
The step most people miss. Money that lands must buy the fund automatically, or it sits as cash.
Step 7. Log out and go to sleep
The next time you think about this, the numbers will already be real.
The next time you think about this, the numbers will already be real.