When you’re going through a career transition—whether it’s a promotion, a company exit, or even early retirement—your financial to-do list can be long and complicated. Among the most overlooked (and misunderstood) elements of executive compensation are the non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans for a) salary reduction arrangements and b) bonus deferral plans. If you’re fortunate […]
Author Archives: Brian Lahr
Financial Planning
Top 4 Critical RSU Stock Award Mistakes to Avoid: Tax Traps, Planning Errors & Investment Risks
07
May
May
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), otherwise known as stock awards, can be a powerful component of your compensation package, offering the potential to build wealth over time. But, without proper planning and understanding, they can also lead to unintended financial consequences. If you’re not careful, RSUs can become a tax trap, expose you to too much […]
Financial Planning
How Tariffs and Inflation Could Impact Your Portfolio: What Investors Need to Know
03
Apr
Apr
The Emotional Impact of Economic Change Headlines about economic changes, particularly those involving tariffs, can trigger strong emotions among investors. The uncertainty surrounding trade policies and inflation can lead to fear-driven decision-making, which can be detrimental to long-term financial health. Many investors are asking: How will recent tariffs impact my portfolio? While no one can […]
13
Mar
Mar
Are you a government or corporate employee who’s concerned about layoffs? If so, you’re not alone. As of March 2025, the United States has experienced significant layoffs across both federal and private sectors. In February alone, layoffs surged to 172,017, the highest monthly total since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you are a […]
06
Mar
Mar
The first couple of months of 2025 have seen some volatility in the stock market and frequent headlines related to tariffs, inflation, policy changes, and geopolitical issues around the globe. “Should I be worried?” is a question on the minds of many investors this week. While market volatility and media headlines may tempt investors to […]
18
Feb
Feb
You are probably familiar with health savings accounts (HSAs), which can be used to cover certain healthcare costs with pre-tax dollars. To contribute to an HSA, you must be enrolled in an HSA-eligible plan, also known as a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). These plans typically have lower monthly premiums but require you to cover […]
17
Dec
Dec
When the calendar turns to 2025, there will be some substantially higher catch up contributions (part of SECURE 2.0) that were signed into law by President Biden in 2022 to enhance retirement savings options. Here are the details you need to know. Increased 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2025 Starting in 2025, the maximum 401(k) contribution […]
09
Oct
Oct
In today’s blog, I’m going to review detailed information looking back at Q3’s market, as noted by Dimension’s Quarterly Review. But first, I’ll review three takeaways from July through September. Key Takeaways Takeaway #1 The S&P 500 hit record highs, while the tech heavy NASDAQ lagged the broader market. Takeaway #2 The Fed lowered interest […]
18
Sep
Sep
When is the worst time to do tax planning? My answer is any time after January 1st! Why? Because many opportunities expired at the end of the year (December 31st). In this post we’ll touch on 5 tax minimization strategies you might want to consider before year-end. Many of these strategies could help reduce your […]