Recommended
This page contains links to our partners. RBD may be compensated when a link is clicked. Read disclosures.
The recommendations below are products and services that I personally use or have vetted and endorse. If you have any questions about any of them, feel free to contact me. If you sign up or purchase some of these products I may be compensated at no additional cost to you. These referrals help to keep this blog running. I only endorse products and services that I would recommend to friends and family.
Money Tools
FREE net worth calculator and investment
portfolio analyzer. Lots of fancy analytics.
HIGHLY Recommended (Personal Capital is Now Empower)
Learn More →
Comprehensive online retirement calculator.
Input your numbers and see how secure
your retirement nest egg really is. FREE.
Learn More →
High-Yield Savings
Find the current highest-yielding savings,
money market, and CD accounts
Low minimums. No fees. Always members FDIC.
Learn More →
Real Estate Crowdfunding
Invest in high-quality real estate. $500 minimum.
All investors qualify. Read my Fundrise review here.
Learn More →
Excellent variety of asset types.
Diversified high-yield debt or equity.
$5,000 minimums (review)
Learn More →
Online Stock Brokerages and Investing
M1 Finance is a commission-free online broker.
Build your ideal portfolio – fund it over time.
Automatic rebalancing. Read my review here.
Learn More →
TradeStation is a top broker for IPOs
and high-volume traders. Commission-free.
Excellent desktop and mobile interfaces.
Learn More →
Public is a great online broker from long-term
buy-and-hold investors. Buy other assets
and see how your peers invest.
Learn More →
Mutual funds and online broker.
My oldest account tracing back to 1998,
now consolidating accounts here.
Learn More →
Robin Hood is a no-fee brokerage.
Trade stocks on mobile, pay nothing.
Yes, totally free.
Learn More →
Blogging Resources
The best site for buying Domains.
Get dot-com, dot-org, or whatever your need.
Find your perfect domain or purchase from owners
Learn More →
Popular blog hosting platform. Affordable
domain hosting to launch your business.
Learn how to start an online business.
Learn More →
An easy-to-use email marketing software
for amateur and professional bloggers.
Helps grow your list and engage with readers.
Learn More →
A top affiliate program platform
to help build your online business.
Check out additional blogging resources here.
Learn More →
THE place to find help
for your online business. Cheap logo design
website help, side gigs and more.
Learn More →
Perfect your writing with Grammarly.
Catch misspelled words and atrocious grammar
BEFORE you hit the publish button!
Learn More →
Premium SEO research tool.
A must have for business-minded bloggers.
Save 30% when you sign up from here.
Learn More →
Taxes
Craig is a former IT professional who left his 19-year career to be a full-time finance writer. A DIY investor since 1995, he started Retire Before Dad in 2013 as a creative outlet to share his investment portfolios. Craig studied Finance at Michigan State University and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children. Read more.
Favorite tools and investment services right now:
Sure Dividend — A reliable stock newsletter for DIY retirement investors. (review)
Fundrise — Simple real estate and venture capital investing for as little as $10. (review)
NewRetirement — Spreadsheets are insufficient. Get serious about planning for retirement. (review)
M1 Finance — A top online broker for long-term investors and dividend reinvestment. (review)