Investing Prompts That Teach, Not Just Stock Tips

Analyze [ticker] fundamentally. Include: business model explanation, revenue sources + growth, profitability metrics (margins, ROE, ROIC), debt levels, moats/competitive advantages, key risks, management assessment, valuation (P/E vs industry, DCF framework), who should buy/avoid. Based on publicly available info up to cutoff.

Analyze my portfolio. Current holdings: [list with %]. Goals: [describe]. Risk tolerance: [describe]. Include: diversification analysis (sector, geography, asset class), overweight/underweight vs target allocation, fee audit (expense ratios), tax efficiency, rebalancing suggestions, concentration risks, opportunities.

Compare ETFs [list tickers]. Similar exposure analysis. Include: holdings overlap, expense ratios, tracking error, tax efficiency, liquidity, dividend yield + growth, top holdings, recent performance. Recommend one for [use case].

Research [sector/industry]. Include: current landscape, major players, recent trends, growth drivers, regulatory headwinds, disruption risks, top companies ranked by quality, ETFs providing exposure, thesis for/against investing, time horizon considerations.

Decode [ticker] earnings report. Key metrics: revenue, EPS, guidance, cash flow. Include: what beat/missed expectations, management commentary themes, guidance direction, margin trends, capital allocation, analyst reaction, whether stock move justified, long-term thesis impact.

Asset allocation for [age]. Risk tolerance: [conservative/moderate/aggressive]. Goals: [retirement, other]. Include: stock/bond split, domestic/international, REITs, alternatives, cash buffer, glide path over decades, tax-advantaged accounts priority. Simple principles, not magic formula.

Build three-fund portfolio. Accounts: [401k, IRA, taxable]. Risk level: [describe]. Include: US total stock (VTI equivalent), international stock (VXUS equivalent), US bonds (BND equivalent), allocation %, fund options per account type, rebalancing rules, why simple beats complex.

Calculate retirement number. Current age: [X]. Annual spending: [estimate]. Expected retirement age: [Y]. Social Security estimate: [amount]. Include: 4% rule application, total needed, current on track, required monthly savings, contribution priority (401k match → Roth → taxable), catch-up if behind.

Rebalancing strategy. Current allocation: [describe]. Target: [describe]. Include: frequency (quarterly/annually/threshold-based), tax implications (taxable vs IRA), new contributions for rebalancing vs selling, automation via target-date funds, keeping emotions out of it.

Tax-loss harvesting strategy. Current taxable holdings: [describe]. Losses available: [amount]. Include: wash sale rule (30-day), similar-but-not-identical swaps, $3K/year against ordinary income, carry-forward losses, year-end timing, not letting tax tail wag investment dog.

Optimize 401(k). Current: contribution %, employer match, fund options. Include: max employer match (free money), fund selection (low-cost index), Roth vs Traditional decision framework, target-date funds evaluation, rollover decisions (leaving job), loan policies warning, withdrawing rules.

Roth vs Traditional IRA decision. Income: [current]. Tax bracket: [current]. Expected retirement bracket: [estimate]. Include: Roth rules (post-tax, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawal, no RMD), Traditional rules (pre-tax, tax-free growth, taxed withdrawal, RMD at 73), income limits, conversion strategy, general rule of thumb.

Backdoor Roth IRA if over income limit. Income: [amount over limit]. Include: step-by-step (contribute Traditional, immediately convert to Roth), pro-rata rule warning (existing Traditional IRA balance complicates), mega backdoor for 401(k) plans allowing, proper tax form handling (8606).

Use HSA as retirement tool. Current HSA: [describe]. Include: triple tax advantage (pre-tax, tax-free growth, tax-free medical), investing HSA balance (not keeping cash), contribution limits, spending medical out-of-pocket + reimbursing later, IRA-like at 65.

FIRE math for early retirement. Current: income [X], expenses [Y], savings rate [Z]. Include: FIRE number (25× expenses), time to FIRE (based on savings rate), lean vs fat vs barista FIRE, safe withdrawal rate debate (4% vs 3.25%), healthcare bridge before Medicare.