Equity Compensation at 50+: Strategic Moves for Late-Career Tech Professionals
If you’re in your 50s or 60s working at a tech company in Southern California, you’ve likely accumulated a complex web of stock options, RSUs, and perhaps even ESPP shares. You’re also probably closer to retirement than you’d like to admit. The question I hear most often from late-career tech professionals in Pasadena: “What do […]
The Two RMD Trap: Why Delaying Your First Distribution Could Cost You Thousands
Picture this: You just turned 73, and you’re finally facing your first required minimum distribution. You’ve heard you can delay it until April 1st of the following year, so you decide to wait. Smart move, right? Not so fast. That delay could mean taking two RMDs in one year and pushing yourself into a higher […]
RSUs vs. Stock Options: Which Type of Equity Compensation Are You Getting (And Why It Matters)
At 56, David thought he understood his compensation package from the technology company where he’d worked for eight years. He knew he had “stock stuff” that vested over time, and he’d been told it was valuable. But when he sat down to review his retirement readiness, he realized he couldn’t answer basic questions: What exactly […]
Year-End Financial Moves: A December Checklist to Finish the Year Strong
December brings more than holiday gatherings and year-end celebrations. It’s also one of the most critical months for your financial well-being. The decisions you make before the calendar flips to January can significantly impact your tax situation, retirement readiness, and long-term financial goals. While it’s easy to let financial planning slide during the busy holiday […]
The BBB’s SALT Cap & What it Means for Taxpayers
For those of us in the Golden State, we know there’s a cost to living in paradise: the California state tax rate. Having the highest tax rate in the nation isn’t exactly something to brag about, but it does mean we’re no strangers to savvy tax planning, especially as it relates to retirement planning. And […]
6 Wealth-Building Habits I’ve Learned from 30 Years of Working with High-Net-Worth Clients
As a certified financial planner with over three decades of experience, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with high-net-worth individuals and business owners across various industries. My clients include medical professionals, attorneys, entrepreneurs, and other successful individuals who’ve mastered the art of growing their businesses, reducing their taxes, and managing their wealth effectively. Through […]
The Great Rotation: A Compelling Case for Global Investing
For more than a decade, U.S.-based stocks have largely dominated the stock market and outperformed their international counterparts. But history tells us that this power dynamic doesn’t last forever, and in recent months, we’ve started to experience a shift which we’ve dubbed “the great rotation.” After a period of U.S. dominated markets, international stocks may […]
For The Win: Maximizing Your Opportunity and Savvy Tax Planning
While investors often associate wealth management with growth strategies, there’s another important piece to the equation—protecting the earnings you’ve worked so hard to grow. Taxes are an inevitability, but that doesn’t mean you should pay more than you have to. California residents, especially, are hit with some of the highest taxes in the country—making it […]
Top 5 Benefits of Working With a Financial Advisor
Some things are just too difficult or stressful to do on our own. Sometimes, what we need is a little boost or a jumpstart to get started on work that will ultimately improve our lives over the long term. It just takes the right motivation to energize ourselves, which is why it pays off when […]
Wealth, Family, and the Future of Care: Is Self-Insuring the Right Choice?
One of the most frequent questions financial advisors receive from high-income clients is whether or not they should self-insure their long-term care (LTC). With a robust portfolio, self-insurance might seem feasible, but is this approach the right choice? For high-net-worth individuals, the answer typically requires a closer look at financial impacts and, equally importantly, the […]