Companies use stock options as a form of equity compensation to supplement employees’ salaries — and if you’ve been awarded options, you’re essentially being given a chance to take an ownership stake in the company you work for. Stock options are not only an acknowledgement of the contributions you Read more…
A Critical Look at Annuities: Are They Right for A High Earner?
Annuities are often marketed as a safe and reliable way to secure income for retirement. However, while they can be useful in certain situations, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Plenty of annuity products are highly illiquid, costly, and inappropriate for many investors. Read more…
Special Needs Trusts: Protecting Family Interests and Securing the Future
For families with a loved one who has a disability, financial planning extends beyond traditional estate planning. A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a crucial legal tool that ensures financial support for the beneficiary, while preserving their eligibility for government benefits such as Supplemental Read more…
Making Sense of Your Equity Compensation Statements: A Breakdown of Key Terms and Examples
Reading an equity compensation statement can feel like translating a foreign language, except with a mishmash of terms, figures, and dates. Unfortunately, these statements rarely come with any explanations or glossaries, which can leave even the savviest professionals wondering, “What on earth am I Read more…
What You Should Know About Inheriting a 401K: Rules and Taxes
Inheriting a 401k might not be something you’ve planned for, but if it happens, it can be a valuable asset when handled correctly. While a financial windfall such as this can be amazing, an inherited 401K comes with specific rules and tax implications that can get tricky and cause some headaches if Read more…
The Different Types of Equity Compensation You Need to Know
When employees find out they're getting equity compensation from their employer, their first reaction is typically, "Great!" Their second reaction is often, "How does this work?" Both reactions are understandable. In most cases, equity compensation is a net win for employees. It rewards you for a Read more…
Compounded Annual Return vs. Average Annual Return
For DIY investors it can get complex to understand the various ways in which investments or investment managers report their rate of return (ROR), especially if you have a day job and don’t spend all of your time digging in on these figures. In this blog we unpack the difference between an average Read more…
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA): What Small Business Owners Need to Know
**Update: March 24, 2025: On March 21, 2025, FinCEN announced that domestic entities and their owners are now exempt from the BOI reporting rules. Foreign entities are still subject to the rules. Read the latest update here. **Update: February 19th, 2025: After several changes, the injunction on Read more…
Top States To Move To For Retirement
Are you thinking about moving to a different state when you retire? Many do. It’s a big move, and many only think about the climate or proximity to loved ones. You should also consider how moving could dramatically impact your investment strategy. No, investments don’t perform differently depending Read more…
Airbnb as an Investment Strategy?
To Be, Or Not Airbnb. Should I invest in an Airbnb property? A recent trend over the past few years is to buy residential properties and rent them out as a vacation or short-term rental through websites such as Airbnb or VRBO. Investment properties aren’t new, but this technology promises to put Read more…