What is the financial order of operations, the flowchart people refer to?

The financial order of operations is a priority list that tells you where each dollar should go first, so you're not guessing. A common version: (1) cover basic living expenses; (2) capture any 401(k) employer match — it's free money; (3) pay off high-interest debt like credit cards; (4) build a starter emergency fund of about one month, then grow it to 3–6 months; (5) max tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, IRA, then more 401(k)); (6) pay down moderate-interest debt; (7) invest in taxable accounts and pursue bigger goals. The point is to handle guaranteed returns (a match, high-interest payoff) before optional ones. Once your foundation is set, see where you stand at wealthserene.com/assessments/financial-wellness.