James Whitfield
Retired Financial Planner
About James
James is a retired financial planner who helped clients navigate everything from first-time mortgages to retirement strategies. He now channels that experience into clear, practical writing about the money decisions most people face. He's particularly interested in making financial concepts accessible to people who find the jargon intimidating.
Articles by James
Guide
What's Your Net Worth? How to Calculate It and Why It Matters
Add up everything you own, subtract everything you owe, and understand the single number that best captures your financial health — then set a plan to grow it.
James Whitfield Guide
Can You Afford to Retire Early? Running the FIRE Numbers
Calculate your FIRE number, model how your investments need to grow, and decide whether early retirement is realistic for your income and savings rate.
James Whitfield Guide
How to Start Saving for College Without Losing Sleep
Build a realistic college savings plan using compound interest, savings projections, and future value calculations — start early, stress less.
James Whitfield Guide
Is That Investment Worth It? How to Calculate Real Returns
Learn to evaluate investments using ROI, compound interest, and growth projections — so you can compare opportunities on an equal footing.
James Whitfield Guide
Renting vs Buying: How to Run the Numbers for Your Situation
Stop guessing whether you should rent or buy — use mortgage, affordability, and rent calculators to compare the real costs side by side.
James Whitfield Guide
Should You Refinance Your Mortgage? A Number-Crunching Guide
Work out whether refinancing actually saves you money by comparing your current mortgage with new terms — including the break-even point.
James Whitfield Guide
How to Build a Retirement Plan from Scratch
A practical guide to estimating how much you need to retire, making the most of your 401(k), and understanding how compound interest works in your favour.
James Whitfield Guide
How Much House Can I Actually Afford?
Use mortgage, affordability, debt-to-income, and down payment calculators together to find a realistic home budget before you start looking.
James Whitfield