Tony has spent over 20 years working his tail off, excelling in each role he takes. Naturally, new employers come calling, offering the next challenge, which Tony is always excited to take on. Sarah has been raising the kids full time, and they are succeeding at a high level. With the kids in high school, Sarah is also thinking about what her next chapter will be.

Sarah and Tony want to cover all college expenses for the kids, no matter where they go. They currently attend the most expensive private high school in the area. So while income is high, expenses will also be high for the next handful of years.

In his most recent role, Tony has been well-compensated, but 0ver-worked and hasn’t been able to spend as much time with family as he would like. He knows that time with the kids in the house is limited, and wants to build a better balance, but not at the cost of not covering college or working forever.

After updating his plan, we determined that while Tony couldn’t comfortably retire today and keep the living expenses the same, he could afford to take a significant pay cut now, and still be on track to retire by his mid 50’s.

Additionally, we created retirement tax strategies that will help Sarah and Tony pay hardly any taxes during their retirement years. This shaves off a few years of needing to work, making the lifestyle decision easier to make.

We also helped Tony create a strategy in dealing with his RSU’s, ESPP, and stock options. While he is willing to take on some risks with portions of his wealth, he’s no longer reacting to stock moves, or shooting from the hip. He has a clearly defined strategy.

While Sarah and Tony don’t yet have to worry about estate tax concerns, they want to leave a lasting legacy to their kids and future grandkids. We implemented strategies to accomplish this goal, and held them accountable in completing their estate planning.

Outcome: now, Tony’s decision is not if he can reach his financial goals, but what type of life he wants to live during the next handful of years and how he can be there for his kids more.