409(a) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plans present a fantastic way to defer taxes and build net worth. But, after many years of contributing to the program coupled with investment gains, these plans can become a substantial portion of your net worth. And because these plans are an unsecured liability of your employer they come with more risk than other forms of... Read More
In this article, we cover how compensation at Microsoft works and how you can maximize your benefits. Whether you're a long-time employee wondering if you're taking advantage of all the financial opportunities available to you or a new hire just trying to figure out how it all works—we've got you covered. Like any major corporation, Microsoft offers a host... Read More
The Mega Backdoor Roth is a powerful new feature in many employer 401(k) plans that can turbocharge your savings. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about how the Mega Backdoor Roth works, why you should consider it, and some of the rules you need to know—including contribution limits for 2021. What is... Read More
In this post, we’ll outline everything you need to know about diversifying a concentrated stock position. We’ll cover what is too concentrated, the benefits of portfolio diversification (and the drawbacks), plus provide some tips on managing taxes. In our conversations with Tech professionals, we’ve learned that most know they should diversify their portfolio. But they don’t know how to... Read More
Article Summary & Key Points Employees of what was formerly Mentor Graphics, now Siemens, may find that they are eligible for Siemens’ Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) and wonder if they should defer their salary and/or bonus into the plan. In this article, we lay out 4-steps to consider as you evaluate this decision: Why Defer? The Benefits of Deferred Compensation... Read More
Ideally, with each paycheck or bonus paid we would have all the cash flow we need to support regular cash-flow needs, achieve our larger financial objectives and optimize deferrals to tax-advantaged accounts and other tax savings opportunities. However, money is a resource, and like most resources it’s limited. We are forced to prioritize where we spend, the objectives we further,... Read More
While preparing to write my first blog, I was reminded of my time in college and how I would hope a lecture would be done earlier than the time allotted and not go over time. With that in mind, I want to keep the blog post concise but still provide you with all the necessary information on the subject. That... Read More
Every year, we get a lot of questions about Medicare open enrollment and who is eligible to make changes to their coverage. Below is a guide to help you navigate some of the questions we are frequently asked. When is Medicare open enrollment for 2021 coverage? The open enrollment period, or Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), runs from October 15 through... Read More
This post is part two of ‘How Much Company Stock Should I Hold?’ In this article, we dive deeper into two areas: If you hold company stock, what form of equity compensation is the best to own, and How to maintain your desired allocation over time What Type of Company Stock Should I Hold? Let’s assume that you wish to... Read More
How did the market do today? Whether it’s NPR, the Wall Street Journal or small talk with your neighbor, most conversations about the stock market and economy inevitably reference either the Dow, NASDAQ or S&P 500. But are they appropriate measurements? What do they actually track? And most importantly, are they appropriate measure of performance? The investment benchmark industry is... Read More
