A new job can be exciting: a fresh start, new title, and (hopefully) more money. But changing jobs also means navigating a new retirement plan and benefit package as well as tying up loose financial […]
Essential Money Moves for Professionals Transitioning to a New Job
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
July
10,
2018
How to figure out if you can afford to send your kids to private school
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
June
26,
2018
in
Private School,
Education,
Wealth and Family
Private school isn't always part of the plan for many families. Parents often try to buy a nice house in a great school district under the assumption that their kids will attend the local public […]
Should Married Couples Combine their Finances?
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
June
12,
2018
in
Wealth and Family,
Building Wealth,
Financial Planning for Couples
What's the best way for married couples to manage their financial life? This is a true "iceberg" question - seems innocuous enough but there's a lot going on under the surface. There can be a wide […]
What Happens to Stock Options if I Leave the Company?
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
May
29,
2018
in
Stock options,
ISOs,
NQSOs,
RSUs,
SARs,
Employee benefits
It's common for employees to move around, especially in tech and biotech. Before signing a new offer letter, make sure to understand what could happen to your stock options, restricted stock units, […]
3 Things You Should Know About Your Parents' Estate Plan
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
May
15,
2018
in
Estate planning,
Wealth and Family
Estate planning discussions are seldom had between loved ones. And understandably so - asking your spouse or parents to discuss their own mortality isn't exactly a conversation many of us have over […]
What's the Difference Between a 401(k) and 403(b)?
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
May
01,
2018
in
403(b) Plans,
401(k) Plans,
Retirement Planning
How is a 403(b) different from a 401(k)?
Although 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans are very similar, there are some key differences between the two. If you recently changed jobs and aren't sure how […]
The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Money
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
April
17,
2018
in
Asset Management,
Building Wealth
Growing up, kids are taught very simple facts about money: you need to earn it to pay your bills and save it to retire and buy things you want along the way. Yet, as we get older, these basic facts […]
How to Use a Roth IRA, Even When You Earn Too Much
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
April
10,
2018
in
Retirement Planning,
401(k) Plans,
403(b) Plans,
Roth IRA,
tax planning
If you have an old 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, now may be a good time to consider converting to a Roth IRA. Diversifying your retirement savings can really pay off down the line for some […]
Retirement Planning with a 403(b)
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
April
03,
2018
in
403(b) Plans,
Retirement Planning,
Investing
Updated for 2019. Although the 401(k) retirement plan is more common, many Americans have access to a similar employer-sponsored retirement plan called a 403(b) plan. 403(b) plans are generally used […]
Beware of the Deferred Compensation Plan
by
Kristin McFarland, CFP®
on
March
20,
2018
in
Employee benefits,
Financial Planning
A nonqualified deferred compensation plan (NQDC) allows executives to defer income until a later date, therefore avoiding paying income tax until the money is paid out. While the cash is in "deferral […]
