You've probably seen the bright purple thumbnails or heard the high-energy banter of Brian Preston and Bo Hanson. They aren’t just another pair of "finance bros" shouting about crypto or "hustle culture." No. They’ve built an entire ecosystem around something called the Money Guy FOO, which stands for the Financial Order of Operations. It sounds technical. It’s actually just a roadmap for people who are tired of guessing where their next dollar should go.
Most of us feel like we’re playing a game of financial Whac-A-Mole. One month you’re trying to save for a house, the next you’re panicked about a car repair, and somewhere in the middle, you’re wondering if you should be buying Nvidia stock because your neighbor mentioned it at a BBQ. The Money Guy FOO is designed to kill that indecision. It’s a nine-step process that Brian Preston, a CPA and CFP with decades of experience, refined to help people prioritize their wealth-building journey without losing their minds.
What is the Money Guy FOO and Why Does it Matter?
Let's be real. Most financial advice is either too vague ("just save money!") or too aggressive ("eat only beans and rice until your debt is gone"). The Money Guy FOO occupies a middle ground that feels human. It acknowledges that you need a life today while still protecting your future self.
The core philosophy is built on "Wealth Multipliers." This is the idea that a single dollar in your 20s or 30s isn't just a dollar—it’s a seed that can grow into $20, $50, or even $88 by the time you retire. If you mess up the order of operations, you’re basically burning those seeds before they can ever hit the soil.
Step 1: Deductibles Covered
This is the "keep the lights on" phase. Before you do anything fancy, you need enough cash to cover your highest insurance deductible. If your car insurance has a $1,000 deductible, you need $1,000 in the bank. Period.
It’s not a full emergency fund. Not yet. It’s a "disaster buffer." It keeps you from putting a popped tire or a broken tooth on a credit card with 24% interest. Honestly, starting here is the only way to break the cycle of debt that keeps so many people stuck.
The Power of the Employer Match
If you work for a company that offers a 401(k) match and you aren't taking it, you are literally leaving a 100% return on the table. That’s Step 2 of the Money Guy FOO.
Think about it. Where else in the world can you double your money instantly with zero risk? Nowhere. Not in real estate, not in the S&P 500, and certainly not in your cousin’s "sure thing" startup. Brian and Bo call this "free money," and they aren't exaggerating. Even if you have high-interest debt, the math usually favors getting the match first because the return is so massive and immediate.
Step 3: High-Interest Debt Removal
This is where things get spicy. Not all debt is created equal. The Money Guy team differentiates between "low-interest" debt (like a 3% mortgage) and "high-interest" debt that eats your soul. Usually, they're looking at credit cards or personal loans.
If you're carrying a balance on a card at 20%+, you are in a financial house fire. You don't worry about the landscaping when the kitchen is on fire. You put the fire out.
The Emergency Fund: The 3-6 Month Rule
Step 4 is the big one. This is your full emergency fund. Unlike Step 1, which was just about deductibles, this is about survival. If you lose your job tomorrow, how long can you pay the rent?
The Money Guy FOO suggests 3 to 6 months of living expenses. If you have a super stable job in a high-demand field, you might lean toward 3 months. If you’re a 1099 contractor or work in a volatile industry, aim for 6. Keep this in a High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA). Don't invest it. It’s not meant to make you rich; it’s meant to keep you from becoming poor.
Step 5: Roth and HSA Contributions
Now we’re getting into the fun stuff. Tax-free growth. The Roth IRA and the Health Savings Account (HSA) are the "holy grails" of the American tax code.
- The Roth IRA: You put in after-tax money, it grows, and you take it out tax-free in retirement.
- The HSA: This is the "triple tax advantage" unicorn. Tax-deductible going in, grows tax-deferred, and comes out tax-free for medical expenses.
Many people ask why this comes after the emergency fund. It’s because these accounts have annual limits. If you miss a year of contributions, you can never get that "tax-free space" back. It's gone forever.
Hyper-Accumulation and the 25% Rule
Once you hit Step 6, you’re entering the "Wealth Creator" phase. This is where you aim to save 25% of your gross income.
Does 25% sound impossible? For many, it is—at first. But the Money Guy FOO isn't about perfection; it's about a trajectory. You might start at 5% and work your way up as you get raises. The goal is to reach that 25% mark because that’s the mathematical "escape velocity" needed to replace your paycheck in retirement.
Step 7: Hyper-Accumulation
This step is an extension of the 25% rule. It’s about looking at your "Three-Bucket" strategy:
- Taxable Brokerage Accounts: Great for accessibility before age 59.5.
- Tax-Deferred: Traditional 401(k)s or IRAs.
- Tax-Free: Roth accounts.
Having money in all three buckets gives you massive flexibility when you eventually stop working. You can control your tax bracket by choosing which bucket to pull from each year.
Beyond the Basics: Steps 8 and 9
Step 8 is "Prepaid Future Expenses." This is for things like kids' college (529 plans) or upgrading your home. It’s important to note that you shouldn't be funding a 529 plan if you haven't secured your own retirement first. Your kids can get a loan for college; you can't get a loan for retirement.
Step 9 is the final boss: Low-interest debt payoff. This is when you finally start throwing extra money at that 3% mortgage. Honestly, in a high-inflation environment, paying off a low-interest mortgage early might not be the "optimal" math move, but the psychological freedom of owning your home outright is a massive wealth-builder in its own right.
The Nuance of the FOO
What sets this system apart from something like Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps is the nuance. Ramsey is great for people who are drowning in debt and need a behavioral "kick in the pants." The Money Guy FOO is for the "financial mutants"—people who are mathematically minded and want to optimize every penny.
For example, the FOO allows for "reasonable" car loans (the 20/3/8 rule: 20% down, 3 years to pay off, no more than 8% of your gross income), whereas Ramsey says "cash only." The Money Guy team understands that in the real world, someone might need a reliable car to get to a high-paying job.
Actionable Next Steps to Master Your Money
If you want to actually implement the Money Guy FOO, don't try to do it all at once. That's a recipe for burnout.
- Audit your current step: Look at your bank accounts right now. Do you have your highest deductible covered? If not, that's your only mission for the next 30 days.
- Check your employer match: Log into your benefits portal. Are you contributing enough to get every single dollar your company offers? If you’re at 4% and they match up to 6%, move that dial today.
- Calculate your 25%: Take your gross household income and multiply it by 0.25. That’s the target. If you’re currently at 10%, don't panic. Just commit to increasing it by 1% every time you get a raise or a bonus.
- Review your debt interest rates: List every debt you owe from highest interest rate to lowest. If anything is over 6-8% (excluding your mortgage), it needs to be prioritized after you get your employer match.
- Automate everything: Wealth is built in the "boring" middle. Set up automatic transfers to your HYSA and your brokerage accounts. If you don't see the money, you won't spend it.
The beauty of this system is that it removes the emotional weight of "what should I do?" You just look at the list, find where you are, and do the next thing. It’s simple, but it isn’t easy. Staying disciplined when the world is telling you to buy a new SUV or go on a luxury vacation is the real challenge. But if you follow the order, the math will eventually do the heavy lifting for you.