PATHWAY 01 — JUST STARTING OUT
Small decisions now, made deliberately, change everything later.
In your early earning years, time is the asset you have the most of. This pathway explains the handful of decisions that carry the most weight — where your first dollars should go, what order to fund things in, and how to protect the plan while it's still young.
Start here
The quick explanation
An emergency reserve comes before any long-term strategy — it is what keeps the plan from being interrupted.
Contributing consistently matters more than picking the perfect account in your first years.
Coverage is cheapest and easiest to qualify for when you are young and healthy.
Understand the strategy
See how the strategy works
What you'll understand after watching
How the order of funding — reserve, match, tax-advantaged, then flexible savings — is decided.
Why fees and taxes quietly change the outcome of two otherwise identical savers.
What to revisit each time your income, household, or goals change.
Ready for your numbers?