Pillar 3 of 3
Organize the execution
Every Decide option that has a realistic execution path gets a playbook — a DIY-tier badge, a checklist, state-specific flags, and an explicit bridge-to-pro section.
DIY-doableSafe to complete without a professional, given reasonable diligence.
Possible but riskyTechnically doable, but failure modes are severe or fact-specific enough that most people should consider a pro.
Attorney-requiredDon't DIY. The cost of getting it wrong dwarfs the cost of a licensed professional.
Essentials playbooks
6 playbooks
Execution checklists for the core foundation items every adult should have in place.
EssentialTrusts · Revocable living trust
Virginia revocable living trust — draft, execute, fund
Possible but risky
A 14-step path from "I should probably have a trust" to "my trust is drafted, signed, and actually funded with the right assets." Virginia-focused. 🟡 DIY-possible with care; skip to an attorney if any of the bridge-to-pro triggers apply to you.
14 checklist stepsOpen playbook
EssentialCash flow & wealth-building · HSA — the triple-tax-advantaged retirement account hiding as a medical account
Open an HSA and start receipt-stockpiling
DIY-doable
A 12-step path to opening an HSA, moving it off the employer custodian if you have one, investing the balance, and starting the receipt-stockpile system that turns an HSA into a stealth Roth IRA. Federal mechanics. 🟢 DIY; requires HDHP enrollment.
12 checklist stepsOpen playbook
EssentialCash flow & wealth-building · Financial Order of Operations (FOO)
Follow the Financial Order of Operations
DIY-doable
A 12-step path through the canonical 9-priority stack for every dollar above your Needs budget: employer 401(k) match → high-interest debt → emergency fund → HSA max → Roth IRA → remaining 401(k) → Mega Backdoor Roth → ESPP → taxable brokerage. Federal mechanics; state notes for VA, WV, and AL. 🟢 DIY for nearly every household; the sequencing IS the value.
12 checklist stepsOpen playbook
EssentialCash flow & wealth-building · Roth IRA — $7,000/year of tax-free retirement money
Open and fund a Roth IRA
DIY-doable
A 12-step path from no-Roth-IRA to a fully-funded, invested, automated Roth IRA — including the Backdoor Roth for filers above the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) phaseout and a pointer to the Mega Backdoor Roth for eligible workplace plans. Federal mechanics under 26 USC § 408A; VA / WV / AL state tilts noted. 🟢 DIY for direct contributions; 🟡 for Backdoor Roth when other pre-tax IRA balances exist (pro-rata trap).
12 checklist stepsOpen playbook
EssentialCash flow & wealth-building · 401(k) up to the employer match + auto-escalation
Capture the 401(k) match and auto-escalate
DIY-doable
A 12-step path from no-401(k)-participation (or under-participation) to capturing the full employer match, enabling SECURE 2.0 auto-escalation, and picking the right Roth-vs-Traditional split. The highest-ROI single money move available to a W-2 employee — a typical 4% match on a $80k salary is $3,200/yr of free compensation. Federal mechanics. 🟢 DIY.
12 checklist stepsOpen playbook
EssentialCash flow & wealth-building · Emergency fund in a high-yield savings account
Build an emergency fund in an HYSA
DIY-doable
A 12-step path from zero to a fully-funded emergency reserve parked in a High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA). Covers target sizing (3–6 months of essential expenses with adjustments for single-income vs dual-income and W-2 vs 1099 stability), provider selection, FDIC/NCUA insurance verification, sub-account buckets, automated funding, and the exit signal that redirects further savings up the Financial Order of Operations (FOO). Federal mechanics; works identically in VA, WV, and AL. 🟢 DIY.
12 checklist stepsOpen playbook
Additional playbooks
1 playbook
Advanced plays — only relevant once the essentials above are in place.