Start Here: What This Is — and Why It’s Free
Let me start by answering the question you’re probably already asking:
What’s the catch?
There isn’t one.
I’m not selling financial products. I’m not building a client list. There’s no course, membership, or consultation waiting at the end of these posts. You’re not going to hit a paywall after the third article.
Midlife Money Playbook is free — simply because it can be.
And because I think this information should be easier to find.
So what is this, exactly?
Midlife Money Playbook is a practical guide for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are trying to improve their financial trajectory — without becoming financial experts or spending their nights buried in spreadsheets.
It’s for people who are in their peak earning years and starting to feel the clock a little more clearly.
You might be asking things like:
Am I actually on track for retirement?
Should I be doing more — or just doing different things?
What are people with money doing that I don’t seem to know about?
This site exists to help answer those questions — in plain language — and to show you what you can actually do next.
What this site is (and what it isn’t)
This isn’t a site about getting rich.
It’s not about picking stocks, chasing trends, or optimizing every last dollar.
It’s about the quieter, more boring stuff that actually works — retirement accounts people don’t realize they qualify for, tax strategies that are legal but poorly explained, and ways to make better use of money you’re already earning.
Most of what’s here isn’t new or fancy. In fact, that’s the point.
These are tools that already exist. They’re just unevenly distributed. People with wealth tend to learn about them early, often through advisors. Everyone else stumbles into them late — or not at all.
I built this site to help close that gap.
Why I’m doing this for free
Over the years, I kept noticing something that bothered me.
The information that genuinely helps people build stability and long-term wealth isn’t secret — but it’s often locked behind paywalls, professional jargon, or the assumption that “you need an advisor for that.”
A lot of people don’t lack discipline or motivation. They lack access.
They’re trying to do the right things, but they’re making decisions with incomplete information. Or worse, they’re doing nothing because they don’t know where to start.
Midlife Money Playbook exists because I think people deserve better than that.
Who this is really for
If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and you feel like you should be “further along” than you are — this site is for you.
Maybe you’ve got debt.
Maybe retirement savings feel thin.
Maybe you’re doing okay on paper but still feel uneasy.
A lot of people here also have some kind of side income — freelance work, consulting, gig economy income, or a small business. You might not realize how many opportunities that opens up, especially when it comes to retirement and taxes.
This site connects those dots.
You don’t need to be wealthy.
You don’t need to be perfect with money.
You just need a willingness to learn and take a few intentional steps.
A quick word about me (just so you know who’s talking)
I’ve spent about 30 years working with money — through my own mistakes, through running a business that supports thousands of small business owners, and through formal training in financial management and financial planning.
I’m not a licensed financial advisor or CPA, and I’m not trying to be one. I don’t sell products or manage investments.
What I do is translate complicated systems into plain English — the kind most people never get access to unless they already have wealth or professional advisors.
Almost everything you’ll see here is something I’ve done myself, many times — for my own finances, for family, and through my work. This isn’t theory. It’s lived experience, explained clearly.
One belief that runs through everything here
You very rarely need a professional.
That might sound strange coming from someone who works in this space, but it’s true.
For most people, the biggest barrier isn’t intelligence or discipline — it’s confidence. The financial world makes things seem far more complicated than they need to be, which leads people to freeze or defer decisions indefinitely.
This site won’t just tell you what to do.
It will explain why something works — so you can decide for yourself.
When you understand the reasoning, you’re not just following instructions. You’re building knowledge that compounds over time.
How to use this site
You don’t need to read everything.
You don’t need to become an expert.
Each post is designed to be actionable — something you can understand and actually do. One play at a time.
If you’re new here, a good place to start is:
“The Best Way to Save for Retirement Nobody Talks About,” or
browsing the plays that match where you are right now
This isn’t about doing everything perfectly.
It’s about doing a few important things intentionally — while you still have time for them to matter.
Welcome to Midlife Money Playbook.
I’m glad you’re here.
Let’s get started.