About the Author
James Collins
Financial strategist, educator, Marine, and author working to give ordinary people a clearer map of the systems shaping their money.
Why this book exists
James wrote Breaking Up with the 401(k) for working Americans who followed the conventional script and still sensed that part of the story was missing.
The book does not ask readers to abandon saving, reject markets, distrust every professional, or replace one automatic answer with another. It asks them to see the distinctions: account and asset, access and readiness, possibility and suitability, information and advice.
His standard is simple: provocative title, governed explanation; plain English, primary sources, and better questions before action.
Author and content reviewer
James Collins
James is the designated reviewer for published educational content and future calculator assumptions. James approved the current site updates, including the Living Rulebook, Withdrawal Tax Illustration, and Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 companions, on October 17, 2026. Rule-sensitive material follows a quarterly review cycle, with additional review when material authority changes.