AI Prompts for Claude for Financial Planning

Help me build a complete financial snapshot. I will share: income [AMOUNT AND SOURCES], monthly expenses [MAJOR CATEGORIES], debts [LIST WITH BALANCES AND INTEREST RATES], savings [AMOUNTS AND WHERE], and assets [HOME, INVESTMENTS, OTHER]. Organize this into a clear picture and tell me what stands out, both positive and concerning.

Help me calculate my real monthly cash flow. My take-home income is [AMOUNT]. My fixed expenses are [LIST]. My variable expenses average [ESTIMATE]. I also have irregular expenses like [EXAMPLES: CAR INSURANCE, SUBSCRIPTIONS, GIFTS, MEDICAL]. Build a realistic monthly budget that accounts for the irregular stuff, not just the obvious monthly bills.

I want to understand where my money really goes. Here are my last three months of spending by category: [PASTE OR DESCRIBE]. Help me analyze this. Which categories are higher than I probably realize? Where am I getting the least value for my spending? What would I cut if I actually looked at this every month?

Help me calculate and understand my net worth. My assets include [LIST: HOME VALUE, SAVINGS, INVESTMENTS, CAR, OTHER]. My liabilities include [LIST: MORTGAGE, STUDENT LOANS, CAR LOAN, CREDIT CARDS, OTHER]. Calculate my net worth and explain what it tells me about my financial health and what I should focus on to improve it.

I have competing financial priorities: [LIST: PAYING OFF DEBT, SAVING FOR A HOUSE, INVESTING FOR RETIREMENT, BUILDING AN EMERGENCY FUND, ETC.]. Help me think through how to rank these. What does the math say about which to tackle first? What does my personal situation say? Help me build a priority order I actually believe in.

Help me build a realistic monthly budget. My take-home income is [AMOUNT]. My non-negotiable expenses are [LIST]. I want to allocate money toward [GOALS: EMERGENCY FUND, VACATION, INVESTING, ETC.]. Design a budget that is specific enough to follow but flexible enough to handle real life. Include a category for irregular expenses.

My budget feels completely tight and I cannot see where to find extra money. Here are my income and expenses: [DESCRIBE]. Help me audit this honestly. What expenses are genuinely fixed versus just habitual? Where are the best trade-offs between quality of life and financial progress? Give me realistic options, not just "cancel subscriptions."

I tend to overspend in [CATEGORY: EATING OUT, ONLINE SHOPPING, TRAVEL, ETC.] and it kills my budget every month. Help me design a system to control spending in this category without feeling like I am constantly restricting myself. I want a sustainable approach, not white-knuckling it.

I keep getting surprised by irregular expenses that blow up my budget. Help me build a sinking fund system. List common irregular expenses for someone in my situation: [DESCRIBE: HOMEOWNER, CAR OWNER, PET OWNER, ETC.]. For each, estimate an annual cost and help me calculate what to set aside monthly so these never feel like emergencies.

I am considering a major purchase: [DESCRIBE: CAR, APPLIANCE, VACATION, HOME IMPROVEMENT, ETC.] that costs [AMOUNT]. Help me think through this decision financially. Can I actually afford it? What is the opportunity cost? Should I pay cash, finance it, or save up? What would I tell a friend in my exact situation?

Here are my debts: [LIST WITH BALANCE, INTEREST RATE, MINIMUM PAYMENT FOR EACH]. Help me build a payoff plan. Compare the avalanche method (highest interest first) and snowball method (smallest balance first) for my specific debts. Calculate the total interest I will pay under each approach and the time to payoff. Recommend one and tell me why.

Help me think through the right size for my emergency fund. My monthly expenses are [AMOUNT]. My job stability is [DESCRIBE]. My other assets are [DESCRIBE]. Walk me through how to calculate the right number for my situation, where to keep it, and how to build it without neglecting other priorities.

I have [DEBT TYPE] at [INTEREST RATE] and I am also trying to invest for [GOAL]. Should I pay off the debt faster or invest more? Walk me through the math and the factors that make this decision more nuanced than just comparing interest rates. Then give me a recommendation for my specific numbers.

I am considering [REFINANCING MY MORTGAGE / CONSOLIDATING STUDENT LOANS / TRANSFERRING CREDIT CARD BALANCES TO A 0% CARD]. Help me think through whether this makes sense. What are the real savings? What are the risks and fees? What would I need to be true about my situation for this to be the right move?

My take-home income is [AMOUNT] and I currently save about [PERCENTAGE OR AMOUNT] per month. I want to reach a savings rate of [TARGET]. Help me build a realistic plan to get there: what to cut, what to earn more of, and how to sequence the changes so I actually stick to them rather than burning out after a month.

Help me build a five-year financial roadmap. Here is my current situation: [INCOME, SAVINGS, DEBTS, GOALS]. Here are my goals in rough priority order: [LIST]. Build a year-by-year plan showing what I should be focused on each year, what milestones I should hit, and how each stage sets up the next.

I am planning for [LIFE EVENT: BUYING A HOME, HAVING A CHILD, CHANGING CAREERS, GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, GETTING MARRIED, RETIREMENT]. Help me build a financial plan for this event. What do I need to save? What costs am I probably underestimating? What should I do in the next six to twelve months to prepare?

Help me think through retirement planning for my situation: [AGE, CURRENT SAVINGS, INCOME, DESIRED RETIREMENT AGE]. How much do I actually need? Am I on track? What is the most important lever I can pull right now? Explain the math clearly without oversimplifying it.

I am deciding whether to [BIG DECISION: BUY VS RENT, PAY OFF MORTGAGE EARLY, TAKE A LOWER-PAYING JOB I LOVE, GO BACK TO SCHOOL]. Help me think through the long-term financial implications of each path. What does the math say over ten and twenty years? What non-financial factors should I weigh alongside the numbers?

It has been [TIMEFRAME] since I set my financial plan. Here is what changed: [INCOME CHANGE, NEW EXPENSES, LIFE EVENTS, PROGRESS MADE]. Help me review and update my plan. What assumptions need updating? Are my goals still the right ones? What should my focus be for the next twelve months?