Wealth Made Simple

Wealth Made Simple

A 5-minute newsletter for busy tech professionals with deep dives on equity comp, investing, and financial planning using visuals, videos, and humor.

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Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
What Is a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plan and How Does It Work?

What Is a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plan and How Does It Work?

NQDC plans let you defer more income, grow it pre-tax, and shift payouts into lower-tax years. Here’s how they compare to investing post-tax.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
What Is Sequence of Returns Risk in Early Retirement and How Do You Manage It?

What Is Sequence of Returns Risk in Early Retirement and How Do You Manage It?

Retiring in your 40s or 50s means decades without Social Security. Here’s why market timing risk is so dangerous and how to protect against it.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
How the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) Eliminates Tax Drag on Retirement Savings

How the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) Eliminates Tax Drag on Retirement Savings

Tax drag quietly erodes returns year after year. A Mega Backdoor Roth lets you shelter more money and keep millions compounding tax-free.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP

Archive

Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
A couple I know made a $400k home decision. It cost them $1.6 million.

A couple I know made a $400k home decision. It cost them $1.6 million.

Most people think it's a lifestyle choice. They don't realize it's a multi-million dollar wealth decision that can delay retirement by years. Here's the math they miss.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
InvestingInvesting
Is it smarter to invest a bonus all at once or spread it out?

Is it smarter to invest a bonus all at once or spread it out?

Solid proof that lump sum investing often wins, but dollar-cost averaging can save you from the one mistake that ruins portfolios. Here’s how to decide.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
How the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) Eliminates Tax Drag on Retirement Savings

How the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) Eliminates Tax Drag on Retirement Savings

Tax drag quietly erodes returns year after year. A Mega Backdoor Roth lets you shelter more money and keep millions compounding tax-free.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Equity CompensationEquity Compensation
Do Stock Options Qualify for QSBS? How Timing and the $75M Asset Cap Affect Your Taxes

Do Stock Options Qualify for QSBS? How Timing and the $75M Asset Cap Affect Your Taxes

QSBS benefits don’t start until you exercise. Wait too long and you can lose tax-free gains worth hundreds of thousands. Here’s how to plan ahead.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
What Happens to Stock Options When You Leave a Company? ISOs, NSOs, and Taxes Explained

What Happens to Stock Options When You Leave a Company? ISOs, NSOs, and Taxes Explained

Most employees have just 90 days to act. Without a plan, you could lose your options or face a massive tax bill. Here’s how to prepare.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
What Is Sequence of Returns Risk in Early Retirement and How Do You Manage It?

What Is Sequence of Returns Risk in Early Retirement and How Do You Manage It?

Retiring in your 40s or 50s means decades without Social Security. Here’s why market timing risk is so dangerous and how to protect against it.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
What Is a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plan and How Does It Work?

What Is a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) Plan and How Does It Work?

NQDC plans let you defer more income, grow it pre-tax, and shift payouts into lower-tax years. Here’s how they compare to investing post-tax.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
InvestingInvesting
+1+1
What Should You Do With a Concentrated Stock Position?

What Should You Do With a Concentrated Stock Position?

Holding too much company stock creates risk, tax traps, and tough choices. Here’s how to match your priorities to the right strategy.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Equity CompensationEquity Compensation
What Happens to Your Stock Options and RSUs in an Acquisition?

What Happens to Your Stock Options and RSUs in an Acquisition?

Equity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Cash, stock swaps, AMT, and vesting rules all shape your payout. Here’s how to decode the fine print.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning
Should You Rent or Sell Your Home With a 3 Percent Mortgage?

Should You Rent or Sell Your Home With a 3 Percent Mortgage?

A low mortgage rate feels like a win, but rental math, tax rules, and hidden costs tell a different story. Here’s what to weigh before deciding.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
InvestingInvesting
+1+1
Should You Hold or Sell ESPP Shares? Taxes, Risks, and a Smarter Selling Strategy

Should You Hold or Sell ESPP Shares? Taxes, Risks, and a Smarter Selling Strategy

Many employees hold ESPP stock too long chasing tax breaks, only to watch gains vanish. Here’s how to create a better plan.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Equity CompensationEquity Compensation
How Are ISOs and NSOs Taxed? Understanding Stock Options and the AMT Trap

How Are ISOs and NSOs Taxed? Understanding Stock Options and the AMT Trap

Exercising stock options can create surprise tax bills. Here’s the difference between ISOs, NSOs, and how AMT fits in.

Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP
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