Category Archives: Financial Planning

6 Reasons to Save Your Tax and Financial Documents (Besides Divorce)

You have a demanding career. Between meetings, travel, and a vesting schedule, you barely have time to read; the last thing on your mind is whether you saved last year’s tax form 5498. We get it. You’ve built real wealth, but you don’t have hours to manage paperwork — and you shouldn’t have to. Here’s […]

The Most Painful Stock Award Mistake for Corporate Executives in Minnesota?

If you’re a corporate executive in Minnesota, a large portion of your wealth might be tied to one company—your employer. And for a while, that works really well. Stock awards accumulate. Your income is strong. Your net worth grows year after year. It feels like the system is working exactly the way it’s supposed to. […]

Trump Accounts (2026): Should You Open the New $1,000 Retirement Account for Your Child?

Trump Accounts are generating some questions after they were rolled out in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This blog post includes an overview of the new Trump Account, including who is eligible for government seed money and when these accounts may or may not be helpful for your children. What Is a Trump […]

How the War in Iran Could Affect Your Investments — and Why Your Plan Can Be Built for This

Watching conflict unfold in the Middle East is deeply unsettling. Our thoughts are with every person affected by the human cost of what’s happening. It’s also completely understandable if your mind has drifted toward your financial future and what impact this war may have on it. During turbulent times like these, it’s not unusual to […]

Navigating Stock Awards as You Approach Retirement

For many professionals, especially those in executive or corporate roles, stock awards—such as stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), or performance shares—can represent a significant portion of total compensation. As retirement approaches, these equity-based benefits can play a major role in your overall financial picture. However, they also come with important timing, tax, and diversification […]

What HNW Donors Need to Know About the OBBBA’s Tax Impact on Giving

The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has reshaped the landscape for charitable giving, and for high-net-worth individuals, the changes can be significant. In this video, I’ll explain some key points: How the new tax law impacts the value of your charitable gifts When it might make sense to itemize versus take the […]

Should You Roll Over Your Old 401(k)? The Hidden Costs of Leaving It Behind

If you’re a corporate executive, you might have at least one 401(k) plan lingering from a prior employer. It’s just sitting there—unwatched, unmanaged, and probably not doing anything wrong… but not exactly doing anything strategic, either. I get it — you’re busy. You have teams to lead, goals to hit, and maybe even inboxes you […]

Understanding Deferred Compensation: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

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 […]

Top 4 Critical RSU Stock Award Mistakes to Avoid: Tax Traps, Planning Errors & Investment Risks

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 […]

How Tariffs and Inflation Could Impact Your Portfolio: What Investors Need to Know

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 […]