Obsidian Metrics Blog
Long-form library essays on the redundancy-first framework, platform categorization by function, custody types, and structural risk in retail income systems.
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The Redundancy-First Framework for Retail Finance in 2026
Why platform redundancy beats higher yield, and how to architect a retail financial system that survives a single-venue failure. A library-grade framework.
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Categorize Your Platforms by Function, Not Brand
Why every retail-finance tracker is wrong, and the four-function categorization we use to score every platform on the same rubric.
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Custody Types Explained — SIPC, FDIC, and Self-Custody
The single largest determinant of platform risk is custody, and most retail content gets it wrong. A reference guide to the three custody envelopes and how to score them.
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Where to Park Cash in 2026 — The Full Function-Slot Breakdown
A library-grade breakdown of the five real cash-parking venues in 2026 — what each one is, which function slot it fills, and when none of them is right.
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The 4-Function Financial Framework — Why Categorizing Platforms by Brand Is a Losing Game
The four-function framework — on-ramp, cash layer, yield venue, redundancy anchor — Obsidian Metrics uses to categorize every retail finance platform.
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Coinbase vs Kraken vs Binance.US in 2026 — Which Centralized Custodial On-Ramp
A framework comparison of the three US-accessible centralized crypto on-ramps in 2026. All three fill the same function slot. Most operators only need one.
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Robo-Advisors in 2026 — Wealthfront, Betterment, M1, and Why "Set and Forget" Is a Function Slot, Not a Strategy
Wealthfront, Betterment, and M1 compared through the function-slot lens. Robos fit specific slots — yield venue or growth layer — not a strategy.
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The Quarterly Review — What to Actually Check Every 90 Days in a Redundancy-First Stack
A 90-day review procedure for a redundancy-first financial stack. Six checks, no recommendations, library-grade. Educational framework.
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Return of Capital — When a “Distribution” Isn’t Profit (and How to Audit It)
A framework-first audit procedure for payout claims: profit vs return of capital, what to verify, and how to log it. Educational only.