Power User

Memory Categories

Why Categories Matter

NeoCash organizes every memory — whether a profile fact or a key decision — into one of nine financial categories. This structure serves two purposes: it keeps your Memory Editor browsable and organized, and it helps the AI retrieve the right memories for the right conversations.

When you ask about investment options, the AI pulls memories from Assets, Income, and Goals. When you discuss tax planning, it reaches for Tax, Income, and Family. Categories make this retrieval targeted and efficient.

The Nine Categories

1. Income

Everything related to money coming in. This is foundational for budgeting, saving, and investment recommendations.

Example facts:

  • Base salary of $125,000 at Acme Corp
  • Annual bonus typically 10-15% of base salary
  • Side income of $1,500/month from freelance consulting
  • Spouse earns $85,000 as a teacher

Example decisions:

  • Decided to negotiate for a 12% raise at next review cycle
  • Chose to take on freelance work to accelerate debt payoff

2. Expenses

Your spending patterns, recurring bills, and discretionary costs. Expense memories help the AI understand your cash flow and identify savings opportunities.

Example facts:

  • Monthly mortgage payment is $2,100
  • Car insurance is $180/month for two vehicles
  • Grocery spending averages $800/month
  • Streaming subscriptions total $65/month

Example decisions:

  • Decided to cancel unused gym membership, saving $50/month
  • Committed to reducing dining out budget from $600 to $400/month

3. Assets

What you own — from bank accounts and investment portfolios to real estate and vehicles. Asset memories give the AI a picture of your net worth and investment allocation.

Example facts:

  • 401(k) at Fidelity with $87,000, invested in target-date 2055 fund
  • Primary residence purchased for $380,000, current value $450,000

Example decisions:

  • Decided to open a taxable brokerage account with $500/month contributions

4. Debts

Outstanding liabilities including mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and personal loans. Debt memories are critical for payoff strategy recommendations.

Example facts:

  • Mortgage balance of $310,000 at 3.25% fixed, 26 years remaining
  • Student loan balance of $34,500 at 4.5% federal
  • Credit card balance of $4,200 at 19.9% APR
  • Car loan of $12,000 at 5.1%, 30 months remaining

Example decisions:

  • Decided to use the avalanche method (highest interest first) for debt payoff
  • Chose to refinance student loans to a 3.8% rate
  • Committed to paying $500 extra per month toward credit card balance

5. Insurance

All insurance coverage including health, life, auto, home, disability, and umbrella policies. Insurance memories help the AI identify coverage gaps and recommend adjustments.

Example facts:

  • Health insurance through employer, PPO plan, $3,000 deductible
  • Term life insurance for $500,000, expires in 2038
  • No disability insurance currently

Example decisions:

  • Decided to add umbrella insurance policy for $1M coverage
  • Chose to increase life insurance to $750,000 after second child

6. Tax

Tax filing status, strategies, deductions, credits, and tax-advantaged account usage. Tax memories enable more precise planning recommendations.

Example facts:

  • Filing status: married filing jointly
  • Effective tax rate approximately 22%
  • Contributes to HSA, maxing out family limit

Example decisions:

  • Decided to do a Roth conversion of $20,000 this year
  • Chose to start making estimated quarterly tax payments for freelance income

7. Family

Dependents, marital status, and household financial dynamics. Family memories influence recommendations for insurance, education savings, estate planning, and budgeting.

Example facts:

  • Married to Sarah since 2018
  • Two children: Emma (age 7) and Jack (age 4)
  • Parents are both retired, financially independent
  • Spouse manages day-to-day household budget

Example decisions:

  • Decided to open 529 plans for both children
  • Chose to name spouse as primary beneficiary on all accounts
  • Decided to start estate planning process this year

8. Goals

Short-term and long-term financial objectives. Goal memories drive the AI’s strategic recommendations and help prioritize competing financial demands.

Example facts:

  • Primary goal: retire by age 55
  • Want to save for children’s college education (full tuition target)
  • Planning to buy a vacation property within 5 years
  • Emergency fund target is 6 months of expenses ($30,000)

Example decisions:

  • Decided to prioritize emergency fund before vacation property savings
  • Chose to target FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) path
  • Committed to saving 30% of gross income toward retirement

9. Preferences

Risk tolerance, investment philosophy, communication style, and other personal preferences that shape how the AI interacts with you and what it recommends.

Example facts:

  • Risk tolerance is moderate-aggressive
  • Prefers index fund investing over individual stock picking
  • Wants detailed explanations with numbers, not just summaries
  • Interested in ESG/sustainable investing options

Example decisions:

  • Decided to avoid cryptocurrency investments
  • Chose passive investing strategy over active management
  • Opted for detailed analysis style in AI responses

Category Assignment

When the AI extracts a memory from conversation, it automatically assigns a category based on the content. Most memories clearly belong to one category, but some could fit multiple. In those cases, the AI selects the most relevant primary category.

For example, “contributing the maximum to HSA” could be Tax, Assets, or Expenses. The AI typically categorizes it under Tax since the primary motivation is tax advantage.

Browsing by Category

The Memory Editor lets you filter memories by category. This is useful when you want to review everything the AI knows about a specific area of your finances before starting a conversation on that topic. It is also a good way to spot outdated or incorrect memories that need updating.