The same tools we use to think about markets.
Two flagship market tools built on our own original research, plus five calculators for the personal-finance math that compounds over a lifetime. Free. No signup required.
Built by Advising Alpha. Used by the team daily.
Market tools
2 toolsMarket Normality Indicator
Where today sits in relation to 75 years of S&P 500 history, across four metrics.
Open the tool →Original researchS&P 500 Seasonality
75 years of calendar patterns, tested empirically.
Open the tool →The MNI is our flagship market-state read. Four metrics — drawdown from all time high, distance from the 200 day moving average, 12 month rolling return, and YTD — each scored against 75 years of daily S&P history. The output is a calm, calibrated reading of where today actually sits, rather than a reactive headline. Updated daily. Free.
Original research over 19,000+ trading days. Average returns by month and day of week, first half vs second half of month, and the Sell in May effect tested against the data. Observational, not prescriptive. Use it as a calibration tool when seasonality narratives hit the headlines.
Personal calculators
4 calculatorsFor the math that actually matters in a long-horizon investor’s life. Compounding, fees, drawdowns, risk fit, time to a target.
Compound Returns Calculator
Start with a number, contribute monthly, watch the curve.
Open the calculator →Fee Drag Calculator
What does a 1% annual fee actually cost you?
Open the calculator →Time to a Million
How long does it actually take to compound to $1M?
Open the calculator →Drawdown Recovery Calculator
How much does a 50% drawdown actually cost?
Open the calculator →What each calculator answers
Compounding is the closest thing investing has to magic. Drop in starting balance, monthly contribution, time horizon, and assumed return. See the year by year balance and the breakdown between what you contributed and what compounding added.
A 1% annual management fee compounds into roughly a quarter of your ending balance over 30 years. A 2% fee takes nearly half. See exactly what fees cost in dollars and percent of ending balance, with the same starting capital and return rate compared head-to-head.
Set a target. Drop in your starting amount, monthly contribution, and an assumed return rate. The calculator finds the month you cross the target and shows the breakdown between your contributions and growth from compounding.
Drawdowns are asymmetric. A 50% loss requires a 100% gain just to break even. See the recovery math for any drawdown size, plus the years required to recover at typical return rates.
The Market Normality Report
The methodology behind the Market Normality Indicator. The four metrics, the zoning, and the historical context that turns a panic-inducing headline into a normal reading. Twelve brand-designed pages. Print-ready. Free.
Get the report →