Now that retirement is on the horizon, you’re asking yourself: how much can I actually spend each year without running out of money? For decades, the answer has been the 4% rule.

There are a lot of ways to diversify concentrated stock, but most are complex and end in you writing a huge check to the IRS. A 351 Exchange allows you the benefits without the downsides.

One of our clients inherited a large Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and wanted to buy a new home with it. Unfortunately, she was surprised to learn that she could not afford the level of home that she was anticipating.

In retirement, you need to plan for ways to reduce high (but necessary) costs, like Medicare premiums. Before planning, our client was spending over $600 per month for it, which we helped her reduce.

I recently sat down with a widow who spent the last 3 years, and over $1M in legal fees, disputing her late husband’s estate with his kids from a prior marriage. If you or someone you know is in this situation, read this and see how proactive planning can help:.

Your estate is what you own when you die. Everyone (regardless of net worth) has one. A trust is a legal structure designed to manage and transfer your assets efficiently. It is optional and can improve how wealth transitions from one generation to the next.

Losing a spouse unexpectedly is overwhelming. This is especially true during retirement when finances, benefits, and household responsibilities are often shared. This guide outlines the tasks a retired widow should take after the unexpected death of a spouse.

After your spouse passes, your Revocable Living Trust must be split into 2 trusts: one Survivor’s Trust and one Bypass Trust. Once split, the next step is figuring out how to fund each, because it will have legal (estate), tax, and investment ramifications. Your attorney can help, but most address things from a legal perspective. And, most CPAs will address things from a tax perspective. That’s where we come in.

Equity compensation is a common part of compensation packages, and for many employees it becomes one of the largest assets you own. RSUs, stock options, and ESPP shares can grow well beyond their original value. If you give to charity, or want to, those appreciated shares are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal.

When your parent starts to experience diminished capacity, it can be overwhelming. Apart from the emotional toll, there's the financial aspect to make sure they have enough to fund any long-term care needs. Recently, a retiree's daughter came to us for help with exactly this.

Here’s a real life scenario we deal with all the time. Your dad passed away a few weeks ago. You went with your mom to the attorney’s office. He informed her that their Revocable Living Trust requires that the assets now be split into 2 trusts: one Survivor’s Trust, and one Bypass Trust. Her head is spinning. She has some very important decisions to make. We deal with this stuff every day.

Planning for equity compensation (RSUs/NQSOs/ISOs) at publicly traded companies is always complex, and planning for the same type of equity compensation at private companies adds an additional layer of complexity. This is why our client approached us looking for a plan.

If you have an overly complex investment portfolio and want to simplify and diversify it without triggering a giant tax bill, you should consider a 351 Exchange.

Selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions most people ever make. And as there is with any large gain, there will likely be a sizable tax bill with it. That’s why before you sell, it’s important to see how you can mitigate that future bill through proactive planning.

Estate taxes are always a problem for the high net worth, but there are strategies you can use to reduce them. One involves establishing a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT). Recently, we helped one of our high-net-worth clients in Eagle, Idaho create a SLAT to move $5M outside of his taxable estate (without depriving his wife of access to it).

If you’re a homeowner, you could be sitting on a financial tool called a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). A HELOC lets you take advantage of the equity you've built in your home to fund major expenses.

This week, we helped one of our retired clients in San Ramon, CA adjust her estate plan so that her charitable wishes don’t impact how much money she leaves for her spouse and children.  

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) made significant changes to the tax code. For example, things like bike commuting benefits all the way through the tax brackets/tax rates were impacted. In this article, we discuss changes to itemized deductions that will affect the financial plans of high-income families.

This week, we helped one of our business owner clients in Danville, CA optimize his salary to better manage his payroll taxes and his CA SDI taxes.

This week, we helped one of our multi-generational financial planning clients in the Bay Area fund a Dynasty Trust that his grandfather established.