Financial Guides
In-depth explanations of inflation, investment returns, and financial history. All data from the same sources that power the calculators.
Reading list
8 guides- The History of US Inflation, 1913 to 2026From post-WWI price spikes to Depression-era deflation, the 1970s oil shocks, and the COVID-era surge, told through the BLS price record.8 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- How Inflation Erodes Savings and Purchasing PowerWhy the dollar balance in your account looks fine while its real value shrinks every year, and how to measure the loss.6 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- Understanding the Consumer Price IndexHow the BLS tracks about 80,000 prices each month, what goes into the basket, why housing dominates the calculation, and where the CPI falls short.7 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- Gold vs. Stocks: What the Historical Data ShowsA decade-by-decade comparison from 1990 to 2026: why gold beat stocks in the 2000s, why stocks led in the 2010s, and what drives each asset.7 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- The 1970s Stagflation: Causes, Timeline, and LessonsHow the end of Bretton Woods, two oil shocks, and a decade of loose money produced the worst sustained inflation in modern US history.9 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- How to Protect Your Money from InflationI-Bonds, TIPS, high-yield savings, equities, and real assets: what each one protects against, what it costs, and where it falls short.6 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- Compound Interest: The Math Behind Long-Term WealthWhy $10,000 at 8% for 30 years becomes about $100,000. The formula, the Rule of 72, and why starting a few years earlier matters more than a higher rate.6 min read →Updated October 10, 2026
- Bitcoin's Historical Returns: What the Data ShowsFrom $0.30 at the end of 2010 to about $84,035 in 2026. The market cycles, the declines of 50% to more than 90% that followed every run-up, and what the data cannot tell you.7 min read →Updated October 10, 2026