helping tech professionals in their 20s and 30s navigate equity comp, taxes, and building real wealth | CFP® | tweets are not advice
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Almost everyone making $250,000+ in tech has the basics down
401k maxed, index funds, no credit card debt
But after that it gets less consistent
Here are the 5 most common mistakes I see (and how to fix them): 🧵
“How do I lower my taxes as a high earning W2 employee?”
Good news: it’s not too late for this year
Here’s the 5 things you can still do before December 31: 🧵
5. Give to charity (the tax efficient way)
Don't itemize (and take the standard deduction)? That's okay
New for 2026, you can deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts (or $2,000 if married)
Do itemize? Give appreciated stock instead of cash
- no capital gains tax on the growth
- you still get to deduct the full value
Quick Summary:
1. 401k: bump it for the last few paychecks
2. HSA: run it through payroll (skip the FICA 7.65% tax)
3. State or property tax: pay before December 31 if you itemize
4. 529: fund it before December 31 for the state deduction
5. Charity: $1,000 cash deduction allowed even with the standard deduction or give appreciated stock if you itemize
Find this helpful? Follow @clbradfish for more like this everyday!
The IRS just released the 2027 tax brackets
Dont worry... I'll save you the time from looking
Here’s the 7 things that changed (and what it means for your paycheck): 🧵
7. AMT exemption
AMT = alternative minimum tax
- Single: $93,000 (phase out starts at $515,950)
- Married: $144,700 (phase out starts at $1,031,900)
Most people never hit AMT
The exception: exercising ISOs and holding the shares
Quick Summary:
1. Tax brackets: up about 3.2%
2. Standard deduction: $33,200 married / $16,600 single
3. Child tax credit: $2,300 per kid
4. Health FSA: $3,500 ($700 carryover)
5. Commuter benefit: $350 a month
6. Gift exclusion: $20,000 per person
7. AMT exemption: $93,000 single / $144,700 married
Still waiting on the 2027 401k limits (I'll post those when the IRS does)
Find this helpful? Follow @clbradfish for more like this everyday!
It’s open enrollment week
It’s easy to just choose the same options as last year
But don’t be that person
Your benefits are about 30% of your total compensation
Here’s the 6 most important Employee Benefit Decisions: 🧵
6. Your beneficiaries
The box nobody opens
It overrides your will, so updating the will doesn't fix it
For a lot of people it still says a parent from their first job out of school
Takes 10 minutes: 401k, HSA, life insurance, and your IRA while you're in there
Summary:
1. Health plan: run the premium and HSA money against the deductible
2. HSA: elect it, then invest it
3. Dependent care FSA: now $7,500
4. Disability: 60% of base leaves a gap
5. Life insurance: it ends when you leave
6. Beneficiaries: overrides your will
Every one of these is a default someone else picked for you
Find this helpful? Follow @clbradfish for more like this everyday!