The Tech Money blog is the place where the worlds of technology and personal finance collide. Here, we like to go below the surface level and get into the nerdy little details that a simple Google search won’t tell you. If you prefer to read long form content in the areas of investing, taxes, equity compensation, real estate, career advancement, and entrepreneurship.
If you work in tech and wish you understood your money better, then this is the place for you. Each week, we will bring you fresh, relevant content designed to help make you just a little bit smarter about your money.
Prioritizing Employee Savings and Retirement Benefits
If you’re lucky enough to work for one of the many tech companies that offer multiple ways to save money, you may be wondering which programs to prioritize. Microsoft employees,
Negotiating Job Offers
If there’s one thing I love to do, it’s to negotiate. I know it can be intimidating and sometimes scary, but I tend to see it as a game. I’ve
Performance Shares: The Future of Executive Compensation
Creating stock grants that base payouts for executive employees on more than just their continued employment has become the new norm for a growing number of companies. These special stock
Breaking Down the Mega Backdoor Roth Strategy
You may or may not have heard of a Mega Backdoor Roth, but they are becoming increasingly common, especially in the tech world. Often confused with a Backdoor Roth IRA
What Happens to Your RSUs When You Retire?
While in the middle of your career and possibly raising a family—likely in your 30s, 40s or 50s—it can be challenging to plan for the day full-time employment is an
ESPPs Become More Attractive in a Bear Market
For opportunistic investors, employer stock purchase plans (ESPPs) become more attractive in a bear market. This is because stocks are bought at an additional “discount” on top of the 15%
How to Manage Your Emotions Around Your Equity in a Down Market
With the tech-heavy Nasdaq index down more than 25% so far this year, many tech employees worry that they are seeing a replay of the dot-com boom and bust of
Cerner Employees: How Does the Oracle Buyout Affect Your Stock Compensation?
On December 20th, 2021, Cerner put out a news release with the simple title Oracle Buys Cerner. As a former Kansas City tech employee who has gone through an acquisition,
Changing Jobs? You May Want to Take Your 401(k) With You
If you recently changed jobs or are currently considering an offer for a new one, you have probably thought about your new salary and benefits package, the commute, and perhaps
Own Company Stock Inside Your 401(k)? Here’s Something to Be Aware Of
These days, companies must get creative about the ways in which they both compensate and motivate their workforce. One of the most popular practices is to offer employees opportunities to
How to Save for Retirement as a One Income Household
When a couple makes the decision to live exclusively on the salary of one spouse or partner, they may take the time to review their monthly cash flow and cut
Here’s How to Know Whether to Self-Prepare Your Taxes or Hire a Professional
Every year, somewhere between January 1st and April 15th, millions of Americans work their way through the five stages of grief as they prepare and file federal and state tax
Time to Negotiate Your Next Pay Increase? Ask for Stock Instead of More Cash
If there is one thing that workers of all job types across every industry can agree on, it is that they could always benefit from having more money in their
Ways to Make Your Charitable Giving Count Come Tax Time
When it comes to managing personal finances, charitable giving is a well-established tool often used to assist individuals and small businesses with year-end tax planning. With strategic and well-timed donations,
Considering an Early Retirement Offer from Your Employer? Here’s What to Consider First
Right now, a growing number of employers are offering more tenured workers large, lump sum payments to turn in their key cards and credentials and retire early. In times of
Your Employer Just Granted You Stock Options. Now What?
Stock options are no longer just for the few executives at the very top of the org chart. Many publicly traded companies now make them available to non-executive staff. And
You Just Turned 50 and You’re Behind on Your Retirement Savings. Here’s How to Catch Up
When it comes to saving for retirement, it is never too early to start, but the last decade or so before you reach retirement age can be especially critical. By
Just Inherited a Retirement Account from a Loved One? Here’s How to Keep the IRS from Taking Half
We have all seen the headlines: Baby Boomers are set to pass somewhere between $60-75 trillion — depending on the study — to their heirs over the next 20 or
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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’
