Why we built RetireQuest
Because spreadsheets are boring, most finance apps are privacy nightmares, and defeating debt really should feel as satisfying as defeating a final boss.
The origin quest
Like a lot of people, we started tracking finances in spreadsheets. Twelve tabs. Nested formulas. VLOOKUP hell. It worked — barely — until it didn't. The spreadsheet didn't tell us when we'd retire. It didn't celebrate when we paid off a loan. It definitely didn't make us want to open it every week.
Then we tried the popular apps. The ones that want your bank login, your Social Security number, your full legal name, and your firstborn. Mint, Personal Capital, YNAB — great products, but we were uncomfortable with how much PII they collected just to tell us we spent too much on coffee.
We wanted something different: a tool that's genuinely motivating, that feels like a game rather than a chore, and that respects your privacy as a first principle — not an afterthought.
So we built it. We're obsessive about JRPGs and equally obsessive about financial independence. It turns out they're a perfect match: both are long campaigns where consistency, strategy, and patience win the day.
What we stand for
Privacy is non-negotiable
We don't need your account numbers, SSN, or full name to help you plan retirement. We only collect what's required for the math to work. Your sensitive data stays off our servers.
Finance should feel good
Most financial apps make you feel bad about your choices. We believe tracking your progress should be energizing and rewarding. Gamification isn't gimmicky — it makes the boring stuff stick.
FIRE for everyone
Financial independence isn't just for high earners or tech workers. We built RetireQuest for traditional retirees AND FIRE chasers, for people paying off credit cards AND people optimizing tax-advantaged accounts.
Privacy, in plain English
"Privacy-first" gets thrown around a lot. Here's exactly what it means for RetireQuest:
What we collect
- ✓Your email address (for authentication)
- ✓A hero name of your choosing (not your real name)
- ✓Loan amounts and APRs (no account numbers)
- ✓Investment fund types and amounts (no account numbers)
- ✓Expense categories and amounts
- ✓Income amounts and types
- ✓City and state (for cost-of-living comparison)
What we never collect
- ✗Full legal names
- ✗Street addresses
- ✗Bank account or brokerage account numbers
- ✗Social Security numbers or tax IDs
- ✗Insurance policy numbers
- ✗Credit card numbers
- ✗Government ID numbers
We also don't sell your data, share it with third parties for advertising, or use it to train AI models. Your financial information is yours.
Built in the open
We're building this project transparently. The tech stack is deliberately boring in the best way: