Firing Your Financial Advisor? Here's Your Step-by-Step DIY Investing Checklist.

Content Idea 1: The "Am I Ready for a Roth IRA?" Flowchart & Explainer

• Recurring Problem: People often wonder, "Should I open a Roth IRA?" or "What's the difference between a Roth and a Traditional IRA?" There's a lot of confusion around eligibility, benefits, and how it all works.
• Content Solution: A visual flowchart that walks you through key questions like income limits and existing retirement plans. We'll also include a simple breakdown of Roth vs. Traditional IRAs, contribution limits, tax-free growth, and a straightforward explanation of the Backdoor Roth IRA for those with higher incomes.
• Target Audience: Young professionals in their 20s and 30s starting their careers, individuals looking to supplement their employer-sponsored retirement plans, and anyone who finds retirement account jargon confusing.

Content Idea 2: "Decoding Your Paystub: Where Does All My Money Go?" - An Interactive Guide

• Recurring Problem: Many people, especially those new to the workforce or dealing with changing pay structures, are confused by the deductions on their paystubs. They ask, "What is FICA?" or "Why is my take-home pay so much lower than my gross pay?"
• Content Solution: An interactive guide (or a heavily annotated image) of a sample paystub. Users can hover over or click on sections like "Gross Pay," "Federal Tax," "State Tax," "FICA," "401k Deduction," and "Health Insurance Premium" to get clear, simple explanations of what each item means and how it's calculated.
• Target Audience: New entrants to the workforce, individuals who have recently changed jobs or experienced a change in their benefits, and anyone who feels mystified by their paystub.

Content Idea 3: "The 'Oops, I Have Debt' Triage Kit: Prioritizing and Tackling Your Debts"

• Recurring Problem: Many users feel overwhelmed by multiple types of debt, such as credit cards, student loans, and personal loans. They often ask, "Which debt should I pay off first?" or "Snowball vs. Avalanche method - which is better?"
• Content Solution: A step-by-step guide to help users:
  1. List all their debts (amount, interest rate, minimum payment).
  2. Understand the pros and cons of the Snowball vs. Avalanche methods (with examples).
  3. Identify "bad" debt (high-interest credit cards) versus "less bad" debt (lower-interest student loans).
  4. Get actionable tips on balance transfers, debt consolidation options, and negotiating with creditors.
• Target Audience: Individuals with multiple sources of debt, people feeling financial stress due to debt, and those looking for a clear action plan to become debt-free.

Content Idea 4: "ELI5: Asset Allocation & The Magical Three-Fund Portfolio"

• Recurring Problem: Beyond just "firing their FA," many users are confused about how to actually construct a simple, effective investment portfolio. They ask, "What is asset allocation?" or "How many funds do I need?"
• Content Solution: A very simple explanation of what asset allocation is (don't put all your eggs in one basket) and why it matters. Then, a clear, concise introduction to the concept of a Three-Fund Portfolio (e.g., Total US Stock Market Index, Total International Stock Market Index, Total Bond Market Index), explaining what each component does and how to determine a basic split based on age and risk tolerance. Include examples of popular low-cost ETFs for each.
• Target Audience: DIY investors, individuals new to investing, people who have recently decided to manage their own money, and those seeking a simple, "set-it-and-forget-it" investment strategy.