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 […]
Your Financial Fire Drill: Why Pasadena Retirees Should Prepare Before the Market Alarm Sounds
Most of us remember fire drills from elementary school. The alarm would sound, and without thinking too hard, we’d line up, walk calmly to the exit, and gather outside. No panic. No chaos. Just a practiced response to a stressful situation, because someone had the foresight to prepare us before the emergency happened. That preparation […]
The Hidden Tax Time Bomb in Your RSU Grants: California Edition
When I sit down with tech professionals and engineers here in Pasadena, the conversation about Restricted Stock Units often starts the same way: “My RSUs are vesting, and I’m excited about the extra income.” Then I ask, “Do you understand how much tax you’ll owe when they vest?” The silence that follows tells me everything […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Creating Passive Income Streams Aligned with Your Mission
“Income” is typically associated with a salary or wages—you exchange your time, services, or goods for money. This is called “active” income. It requires effort on your behalf, which means it’s inherently limited to how much you can produce and what the market deems a fair price. However, there is another form of income that […]
The Mission Street Wealth Planning Experience
We understand that with growing access to virtual investment software, robo-tools, and numerous advisory firms, you may be wondering what sets one professional apart from the other. Well, beyond the basics of wealth management and financial planning, we believe you can tell a lot about a firm by how they approach the client experience. To […]