About us
Plain-English investing education, taught by people who have actually taught it.
Budget Crane exists because most investing content fails beginners in one of two ways: it drowns them in jargon, or it sells them something. We do neither. Every guide on this site starts from a simple question — what does a complete beginner genuinely need to understand here? — and ends with checkable facts, worked examples, and an honest list of limitations.
Our editorial standards
Every number we publish is checked against a primary source before it goes live. Reviews are written from hands-on use, never from press releases. We update guides when rules and limits change, and we disclose that our content is educational — not financial, tax, or legal advice — on every page. When we cover an outside product, our opinion is our own.
The team
Mara Ellison
Founder & Editor
Mara spent nine years as a financial counselor at a community credit union, helping first-time savers open their first investment accounts. She founded Budget Crane to write the plain-English guides she wished she could have handed to those members.
Devon Okafor
Staff Writer
Devon covers index funds, retirement accounts, and long-horizon investing basics. A former middle-school math teacher, he specializes in turning percentage points and expense ratios into examples a beginner can actually follow.
Priya Raman
Research Writer
Priya writes about investor behavior: risk tolerance, emotional decisions, and the myths that cost beginners money. She fact-checks every number that appears on Budget Crane against primary sources before publication.