Author

About the Author
Malcolm Ethridge is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, speaker, blogger, and self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. His areas of expertise include retirement planning, investments, tax planning, insurance, equity compensation, and other executive benefits. He leverages that expertise to help senior managers and executives in tech make sense of some of the most complex financial situations that working professionals tend to face.

Should You Invest or Pay Off Debt? It Depends

It is not uncommon for individuals to experience a sudden windfall from either an inheritance, a legal settlement, a gift, or a bonus from their employer. If you have the good fortune to find yourself in this situation, there are several steps you should consider in order to make those dollars most impactful. One of…

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The Intangible Benefits of Working with a Financial Advisor

In the last decade or so, there has been a fundamental shift in the personal finance industry, moving away from product sales and towards holistic planning involving one or multiple financial goals. Decades ago, the financial advice industry was designed to be great for the stockbroker. Today, it is far better for the investor. With…

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The TCJA Blessed the Backdoor Roth IRA. Why Aren’t More People Using It?

Buried in the text of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) lies a statement that Congress approved, blessing the so-called “back-door” Roth IRA: “Although an individual with AGI exceeding certain limits is not permitted to make a contribution directly to a Roth IRA, the individual can make a contribution to a traditional IRA…

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Roth IRAs Are Not for Everyone. Here’s Who They Are For

The key advantage to utilizing a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is that when done properly, your withdrawals in retirement are not taxed. For that reason, it has become the most coveted retirement vehicle there is. Roth IRAs prompt many savers to wonder whether they should either begin contributing to or converting a portion or…

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How Much is Too Much When It Comes to Owning Stock in the Company You Work For?

For many executives and senior level managers, compensation comes in the form of a set salary, a cash bonus (or two), and some form of equity ownership in the company. For executives and senior managers of publicly traded companies, equity ownership typically comes in the form of company stock. Publicly traded companies offer senior leaders…

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Just Inherited a House from a Relative? Here’s What You Should Know

When a loved one passes away, the grieving process can be difficult enough without factoring in any of the financial responsibilities that an inheritance can create. And when that inheritance includes a house, there are several decisions to make — many of which will need to be made in a timely manner. Coupled with the…

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The Pros and Cons of Variable Annuities

A variable annuity is a contract executed with an insurance company wherein an investor agrees to make a lump sum payment to the company in exchange for a guaranteed future income stream. Often used for retirement planning purposes, variable annuities come with many features and functions, some complex, and others more straightforward. The one feature…

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Life Insurance Is Not a Financial Plan

These days, life insurance is often improperly sold as a complete financial plan. Life insurance salespeople are generally concerned with the amount of insurance a person has the capacity to pay for rather than the amount of coverage they actually need. As a result, the sales conversation often focuses on the death benefit of the…

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If You Own Property in More Than One State, You Need a Trust

In the world of personal finance, rarely is it possible to find advice that is straightforward and offers a definitive yes or no answer. In this case, however, both apply almost uniformly. Any person who owns real, fixed assets (houses, land, buildings, etc.) in multiple states can save their loved ones months of extra paperwork…

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Here’s How to Keep Your State from Taking Your Money

Hidden within the layers of bureaucracy of every state government lies the office of unclaimed property. This office serves at the pleasure of both the state treasurer and chief financial officer and is responsible for carrying out the process of escheatment. Escheatment refers to an archaic process whereby the title of financial assets such as…

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Why It Matters That Your Financial Advisor Is A Fiduciary

In April 2016, the Department of Labor released its “Fiduciary Rule” to the public. Though the rule was formally vacated by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018, consumers’ awareness of the term fiduciary remained. By definition, a fiduciary is an individual or organization that takes on the responsibility of acting on behalf of…

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