Compensation
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Posted on May 14, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Income Volatility Isn’t a Bug—It’s a Feature
How to Weaponize Uneven Compensation for Long-Term Wealth When your compensation is tied to performance, your financial life doesn’t follow a straight line—it spikes, dips, and sometimes disappears for quarters at a time. Whether you’re in sales, trading, consulting, or running your own company, volatility is part of the deal. The problem? Most wealth plans […]
Posted on April 30, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Stock Options vs. Smart Money Moves—Vesting in 2025
🎉 Your Vested Wealth Is Growing, But So Is Your Tax Bill. Let’s Fix That Equity compensation is either a brilliant windfall or a minefield—depending on how you play your cards. If you’re juggling RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, or ESPPs, you need to know your key dates like you know the passcode to your phone. Ignoring […]
Posted on April 21, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Stock Option Taxes: How to Keep More of What You Earn
💸 Stock Options ≠ Cash—Until You Get the Taxes Right Stock options often feel like a hidden financial superpower—until tax season rolls around.Exercising and selling equity compensation isn’t like a regular paycheck—it’s more like navigating a financial minefield. With the right strategy, you can turn those stock options into long-term wealth without handing a big […]
Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Financial Planning for Go to Market Leaders and Sales Professionals
The financial lives of high earners like GTM leaders are a reflection of our professional ones– high-stakes, intricate, and full of potential. It’s not unusual for an exceptionally talented sales leader in the right company in the right industry to make enough money to retire for life in less than five years. But, equity is […]
Posted on October 28, 2024 by Dan Pascone
Play Defense, Build Legacy: Wealth Protection Strategies for High Earners
Building wealth is only half the battle in high-net-worth financial planning. You can build the largest, most elaborate sandcastle, but one good wave—or a menace with a stick—can knock it all down if you aren’t prepared. Safeguarding your wealth through thoughtful risk management and estate planning is just as essential. It’s one of those things […]
Posted on October 14, 2024 by Dan Pascone
Retirement and Tax Planning: A Dynamic Approach for High Earners
Retirement planning and tax planning are intrinsically linked because things you do in one area can directly impact the outcomes in the other. Retirement planning and tax planning are intrinsically linked because things you do in one area can directly impact the outcomes in the other. There’s often a push-and-pull between the two—some strategies offer […]
Posted on October 9, 2024 by Dan Pascone
Structuring a Comprehensive Financial Plan for High Earners: A 4-Part Series
In the words of personal finance celebrity Dave Ramsey: “You must gain control over your money, or the lack of it will forever control you.” Creating a solid financial plan is more than just a spreadsheet exercise—it’s a strategic roadmap that directs how your wealth grows, is preserved, and, eventually, how it supports your life’s ambitions. […]
Posted on September 9, 2024 by Dan Pascone
Maximizing Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs): A High Earner’s Guide to Wealth Building and Risk Management
Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) are company-sponsored programs that allow employees to purchase company stock, typically at a discount. ESPPs are a great way to attract and retain talent. These plans have become increasingly popular among publicly traded companies, which use them to align employee interests with those of the company (and shareholders). ESPPs operate […]
Posted on August 24, 2024 by Dan Pascone
The QSBS Advantage: How to Turn Startup Equity into Tax-Free Wealth
Imagine a world where you can invest in a promising startup, hold onto your shares for a few years, and then, when the time is right, sell those shares and keep a significant chunk (and maybe all) of your gains out of the taxman’s reach. Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) refers to shares in a […]
Posted on July 29, 2024 by Dan Pascone
4 Financial Factors to Consider Beyond Salary
As a financial planner, evaluating job offers for high earners has evolved into an art form that goes beyond calculating the base salary. While the appeal of perks like free lunches, gym memberships, and in-office catering options is undeniable, these surface-level attractions are often used to distract from an otherwise lackluster package; they’re the cherries […]