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Posted on January 6, 2026 by Dan Pascone
Year-End Money Conversation With Your Partner
TL;DR Answer Box Year-end money conversation with your partner works when it is structured, short, and focused on alignment instead of math. Use a simple agenda, pick one or two shared numbers, and assign clear ownership so money decisions stop becoming recurring friction. If you earn variable income or equity, set rules for bonuses and […]
Posted on December 29, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Year-End Financial Cleanup Checklist for 2026
TL;DR Answer Box Year-end financial cleanup checklist: reduce complexity before 2026 by consolidating low-value accounts, updating beneficiaries, and building an “if something happens” file that your spouse can use in minutes. Then do a quick gap scan on estate and insurance basics so you start 2026 with clean data and fewer loose ends. Last updated: […]
Posted on December 22, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Year-End Portfolio Review for High Earners
TL;DR Answer Box Year-end portfolio review should start with cash flow timing, not benchmarks. Map your next 1, 5, and 10 years, fund near-term goals with safer capital, place assets in the right accounts for taxes, and use gains and losses to clean up legacy holdings. Finish with a one-page action plan you can actually […]
Posted on December 15, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Max Your 2025 Benefits: 401(k), HSA, FSA & Mega Backdoor Roth
TL;DR: A 10-minute year-end benefits sweep can max your 2025 benefits: top off your 401(k) (plus age-50 catch-up), invest your HSA for the long haul, clear your FSAs before forfeits, and—if your plan allows—use a Mega Backdoor Roth to expand Roth space. These moves shift thousands from taxable to tax-advantaged, on autopilot next year. Last […]
Posted on December 8, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Last-Chance Tax Moves for RSUs, Bonuses & Variable Pay
TL;DR: December is your cleanup window if RSUs/bonuses pushed you into higher brackets. Patch under-withholding via a W-4 change or an estimated payment, and consider front-loading giving with a donor-advised fund. Then lock next year’s diversification with a rules-based 10b5-1 plan so equity sales run on autopilot—and move you toward a work-optional life. Last updated: […]
Posted on December 1, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Gratitude Ledger: A 5-Minute Thanksgiving Money Habit
TL;DR: Use a simple three-question “Gratitude Ledger” this Thanksgiving to turn appreciation into action. Then, in the weeks right after the holiday, make a few focused year-end moves—retirement contributions, equity/bonus planning, and charitable giving—so 2026 starts strong. Last updated: November 27, 2025 🦃 This Thanksgiving, Try a Gratitude Ledger for Your Money Start with appreciation […]
Posted on November 24, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Reduce Financial Stress with a Control-First Playbook
TL;DR: Reduce financial stress fast with a control-first playbook: route all income to one hub, automate two sweeps (living + wealth), keep a named Stability Reserve, cap single-stock concentration with a rules-based 10b5-1 plan, and run a weekly dashboard + monthly money huddle. Last updated: November 27, 2025 💆 Reduce Financial Stress Fast with a […]
Posted on November 17, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Remote Work Tax Traps for Executives: Avoid These 3 Costly Mistakes
TL;DR: For hybrid and remote executives, three traps create the biggest tax surprises: (1) convenience-of-the-employer rules that can source all wages to a high-tax state, (2) city wage taxes (like Philadelphia) that allow refunds for required out-of-city days, and (3) multi-state equity income allocation on RSU vests and option exercises. Fix it with documented assignment […]
Posted on November 10, 2025 by Dan Pascone
When Interest Rates Fall: Smart Moves for High Earners
TL;DR: When the Fed eases, opportunities appear before the headlines: refinance or term-out variable debt, extend bond duration from ultra-short into short/intermediate, and refresh equity-comp plans (10b5-1, withholding) so you’re positioned if valuations expand. Keep 6–12 months of expenses in true cash; put the rest to work. Last updated: November 10, 2025 Positioning Your Finances […]
Posted on November 3, 2025 by Dan Pascone
Buy Back Your Time: A High Earner’s Guide
TL;DR: At high-income levels, growth comes from doing less, not more. Use a simple framework: if a task can be outsourced for less than your hourly rate, delegate it; if it doesn’t bring joy, delete it; if it increases income, energy, or fulfillment, keep it. Start with one delegate and one invest move this week […]