The Alt DeskArticles
Plain-English guides, checked against official sources, with links to each one.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Brazil
How to get a Brazilian CPF as a non-resident
What a CPF is, who needs one, the consular and in-country routes, documents, and the yearly upkeep step most guides skip.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Brazil
Consórcio explained
How Brazil's self-financed purchase pools work. The draw, the bid, the carta de crédito, the real risks, and notes for foreigners.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Rails
Why your crypto cost basis is probably wrong
Fees, swaps, moves between your own wallets and Form 1099-DA. Four places basis goes wrong, and a 20-minute check.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Rails
Self-custody tiers in plain words
Exchange, hosted wallet, single key, multisig. Who can lose your coins at each tier, and the one test to run on yours.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Tangibles
The real cost of buying silver
Spot is not your price. Premium over spot, the dealer buyback spread, and how far spot must move before you break even.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Brazil
Sending money from the US to Brazil: what it really costs
Fees, spread and IOF. How to measure your real cost, and the VET number Brazilian rules make institutions show you.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Brazil
CDB and Tesouro Direto basics for CPF holders
Who owes you the money, how the FGC limit works, fees, taxes, and what changes if you live outside Brazil.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
Income
Sort your income streams by payoff per hour
The stream that brings in the most can pay the least for your time. A one-evening check to rank every stream.