Frequently Answered Planning Questions

What are the financial planning questions we address most often?

General Financial Planning Questions

Retirement Planning

  • How much do I need to save for retirement?

  • What type of retirement accounts should I use (401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, etc.)?

  • Am I on track for retirement?

  • How should I adjust my savings if I want to retire early?

Investment Planning

  • How should I allocate my investments to achieve my goals?

  • How should I go about implementing my allocation into ETFs and/or individual stocks?

  • What is the best way to start investing with a small amount of money?

  • How do I reduce investment fees and taxes?

Insurance Management

  • Do I have enough insurance (health, life, disability, or long-term care)?

  • What type of life insurance is best for my situation?

  • How much should I be paying for insurance coverage?

Education

  • How can I save for my children’s education?

  • What are the pros and cons of using a 529 plan?

  • Should I prioritize saving for retirement or my kids’ college?

Estate Planning

  • Do I need a will or a trust?

  • How can I ensure my assets go to my heirs efficiently?

  • What should I do to minimize estate taxes?

Big Decisions

  • How can I save for a big purchase, like a home or car?

  • What’s the best way to plan for early retirement or a sabbatical?

  • How do I balance multiple financial goals at the same time?

  • Am I ready to transition from a salaried job to freelancing or self-employment?

Behavioral and Emotional

  • How do I stop feeling anxious about money?

  • What wealth habits can I develop to improve my financial well-being?

  • Am I making good financial decisions, or should I change my approach?

Life Events

  • How should I financially prepare for getting married, buying a home, or having kids?

  • What financial steps should I take after a divorce or the death of a spouse?

  • How do I prepare financially for starting a business?

Stock Options & Equity Compensation

Understanding and Managing Stock Options

  • What types of stock options do I have (ISOs vs. NSOs), and what are the key differences?

  • What is the vesting schedule for my stock options, and how does it affect my financial planning?

  • When should I consider exercising my stock options?

  • How do company-specific events, like IPOs or acquisitions, impact my stock options?

  • What happens to my options if I leave my employer or the company goes public?

Tax Planning for Equity Compensation

  • How can I minimize taxes when exercising my stock options?

  • What are the tax implications of holding versus selling exercised shares?

    • Short-term vs. long-term capital gains

    • Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for ISOs

  • Should I exercise options early to take advantage of lower valuations?

  • What strategies can I use to plan around tax deadlines (e.g., year-end exercises)?

  • How do ESPPs (Employee Stock Purchase Plans) affect my overall tax picture?

Tax Planning for US Immigrants

Cross-Border Tax Planning

  • What are the tax implications of becoming a US tax resident?

  • What reporting requirements apply to my foreign accounts or assets (e.g., FBAR, FATCA)?

  • How do I transfer or restructure foreign income or assets to comply with US tax laws?

    • Timing considerations for asset transfers

    • Implications of US gift and estate tax laws

  • What tax treaties exist between the US and my country of origin, and how can I leverage them?

  • Should I liquidate or maintain foreign business holdings before immigrating?

  • How do US gift and estate taxes apply to foreign-owned assets?

Strategies for Domesticating Foreign Assets

  • What are the best ways to domesticate foreign assets while minimizing taxes?

  • What are the most tax-efficient ways to transfer ownership of foreign assets to the US?

  • What role do trusts or entities play in simplifying the domestication process?

  • How should I structure trusts or entities for cross-border wealth transfer?

  • How do I determine the tax basis for foreign assets brought into the US?

  • What are the implications of currency exchange and fluctuations when transferring wealth?

  • How do I handle unique asset types (e.g., foreign businesses, real estate, or intellectual property)?

Estate Planning for International Families

  • How can I structure my finances to maintain family wealth across borders?

  • How can I ensure a smooth transition of assets across borders?

  • What estate planning strategies are best for families with multinational ties?

  • How do I address potential double taxation in multiple jurisdictions?

  • What are the estate and gift tax rules for assets held abroad?

  • What is the best way to transfer wealth to future generations, both in the US and abroad?

  • How do I ensure continuity and management of foreign businesses after my immigration?

  • What role do dual citizenship or residency considerations play in long-term tax planning?

  • What role do US residency or citizenship play in my estate planning strategy?