Tools I Use to Automate My Wealth
Hands-Off Financial Engines for Fat FI/RE & Tax Efficiency
No generic affiliate clutter. These are the exact software platforms, low-cost brokerages, and proprietary calculators running our personal balance sheet.
Dashboards & Net Worth Tracking
Empower (formerly Personal Capital)
Track your entire net worth in one centralized dashboard. Empower links all your bank accounts, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, mortgages, and credit cards with built-in fee analyzers and retirement planners.
We used this to track our net worth trajectory to our first $1M. The free portfolio fee checker is top-tier, though their advisory team will occasionally call you to offer wealth management.
Brokerages & Automated Investing
Fidelity
My top choice for automating investments, managing taxable brokerage accounts, and setting up Backdoor and Mega Backdoor Roth IRAs. Zero account fees, zero minimums, and zero-expense-ratio index funds.
Where our personal index funds and Roth IRAs live. Their uninvested cash earns high interest automatically without needing manual transfers.
E*TRADE
A great platform for self-directed investors looking for hands-off recurring stock and ETF purchases with zero trading commissions and an intuitive user interface.
Solid choice for recurring ETF buys, especially if your employer already uses Morgan Stanley or E*TRADE for stock options and RSUs.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR Pro)
The undisputed industry leader for transparent, rock-bottom margin borrowing rates (SOFR + 0.75%–1.5%) and global market access. Learn how to borrow cash for real estate and taxes in our comprehensive 2-part guide.
Unbeatable if you need low-rate portfolio liquidity without selling stocks or triggering capital gains.
Tax Optimization & Retirement Calculators
Treasury Bill Ladder Builder & Cash Flow Planner
Build 4-week, 8-week, 13-week, and 26-week rolling T-bill ladders. Compare state-tax savings against bank savings accounts and see weekly payout dates.
Built because we needed an exact schedule of when Treasury cash lands in our bank account without state income tax.
When Can I Retire? Runway & Readiness Simulator
Deterministic 40-year multi-bucket retirement simulator tracking Taxable, Pre-Tax, Roth, and Cash assets with smart withdrawal ordering and crash stress testing.
Built to answer the exact question: How long does our money last if the market drops 25% the year after we leave our job?
Netflix SOP Calculator & Option Opportunity Cost Simulator
Model the Netflix 40% option cost factor (2.5x leverage), +40% salary breakeven, +66.7% direct stock parity, and after-tax NSO exercise proceeds vs. S&P 500 compounding.
Models the 2.5x option leverage factor so tech employees do not leave six figures on the table.
Amazon 5/15/40/40 Vesting & Year 3 Cliff Calculator
Simulate back-loaded 5% / 15% / 40% / 40% RSU vesting schedules alongside Year 1 and Year 2 cash sign-on bonuses to spot Year 3 compensation cliffs.
Calculates the exact stock growth needed so you do not hit a pay drop when Year 1 and 2 sign-on bonuses end.
Borrow Against Stocks Calculator (SBLOC & Margin Simulator)
Model your safe borrowing capacity against taxable index funds and stocks. Simulate market crash buffers to eliminate margin calls, and compare real rates across IBKR Pro, Robinhood Gold, negotiated SBLOCs, and European SPX Box Spreads.
We use margin to buy real estate cash and bridge liquidity. This calculator ensures you never get margin called in a crash.
ETF Overlap & True Concentration Risk Screener
Multi-ETF weighted look-through analyzer. Reveals hidden single-stock concentration, sector tilts, and overlap redundancy across up to 6 user-selected funds.
Exposes that owning VOO and QQQ means you are effectively double-buying Apple and Microsoft.
Mega Backdoor Roth Contribution Calculator
Calculate your exact after-tax 401(k) contribution space for Mega Backdoor Roth conversions based on elective employee deferrals, employer match formulas, and IRS compensation limits.
The single best tax strategy for high-earning W-2 employees to shelter up to $70,000 annually tax-free.
Real Estate Analysis & Deal Evaluation
Buck by Buck Real Estate Evaluation Tool
Our proprietary real estate calculator designed to analyze rental cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash ROI, and long-term equity payoff before buying any property.
The actual model we use to underwrite long-term and medium-term rentals before making an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Recommended Tools
Direct answers on tool selection criteria, affiliate disclosures, and data privacy.
How are these financial tools and brokerages chosen?
Every platform on this page was vetted through hands-on personal use in an early-retirement wealth workflow. We evaluate platforms strictly on low fees, ease of automation, robust tax-advantaged account support, and reliable execution. We accept zero paid endorsements for tool placements.
Does Buck by Buck sell or share my personal financial data?
No. None of our calculators or tools connect to your bank accounts, request credentials, or store your personal balance sheets on external servers. All simulations run client-side in your own browser.
What is the difference between an SBLOC and margin borrowing?
A Securities-Backed Line of Credit (SBLOC) is a non-purpose line of credit issued through a bank affiliate, allowing you to draw cash for real estate or taxes without selling shares. Standard margin is revolving debt held directly against your broker margin agreement. Both borrow against your taxable equities without triggering capital gains taxes.
Which brokerage is best for automatic index fund investing?
Fidelity is our premier recommendation for automating index fund purchases with $0 minimums and automatic cash-sweep yields (SPAXX). E*TRADE is our top choice for self-directed investors who wish to automate recurring purchases of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with zero commissions.
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