Do you work at L3Harris? Get the resources you need and expert insights from financial professionals who specialize in helping L3Harris employees make the most of their compensation package and benefits.
Whether you’re a new L3Harris employee or you’ve moved up the ranks into a management or executive leadership role over a multi-year career, it’s important to make smart money moves with your income and employee benefits. For example:
✅ Do you know the right moves to make to get the greatest value from the L3Harris benefits available to you?
✅If you’re thinking about leaving L3Harris for another job or planning to retire from the company in a few years, are you taking the right steps today to ensure you will receive all of the compensation and benefits that you’ve earned?
Get the Most Value from Your L3Harris Benefits and Compensation Package
Throughout the year, L3Harris provides its employees and executives with updates about their benefits ranging from health insurance and health savings plans to retirement plans like a 401(k), deferred compensation plans, and stock options. While the company offers many useful resources and access to knowledgeable staff who can assist with questions, you’ll also find financial professionals not affiliated with L3Harris who specialize in helping L3Harris employees make the most of their income and benefits.
Whether you work in the L3Harris headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, another office location around the country, or remotely from home, you may have questions about your compensation package and benefits better suited for a financial professional who can offer unbiased advice and guidance.
For example, sensitive topics like discussing the steps you should take before quitting your job at L3Harris to work elsewhere, protecting yourself in advance of a corporate layoff, or deciding when you should plan to retire are all conversations that may be more comfortable with a trusted financial advisor.
Should you hire a L3Harris specialist financial advisor or an advisor close to home?
You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving L3Harris employees.
Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live.
This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with L3Harris employees is a better fit to help with your unique needs.
💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with L3Harris employees to help them make smart decisions to get the most value from their compensation and benefits, reduce their money stress, and prepare for a comfortable retirement.
🙋♀️ Do you have questions not yet answered? Use the form below to submit questions anonymously and watch this article for updates with answers to your questions. You can also reach out to the financial advisors below to set up an introductory call or contact them with your questions by email.
💸 Smart Money Insights for L3Harris Employees & Executives
This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:
- Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for L3Harris Employees & Executives
- Get Answers to Your Questions About Your L3Harris Benefits and Career
- Browse Related Articles
Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for L3Harris Employees & Executives
Answers to Employee Questions with Brennan Decima, CFP®
Brennan Decima is a financial advisor based in St. Petersburg, Florida who specializes in offering financial planning services to L3Harris employees. Brennan helps his clients get the most value from their L3Harris benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.
Q: As a financial advisor with experience helping L3Harris employees save for their retirement, how do you help them make the most of their employee benefits?
Brennan: As a financial advisor with deep experience helping L3Harris employees prepare for retirement, my focus always starts with purpose. Helping clients align their financial decisions with what matters most in their lives. Employee benefits are more than just checkboxes during open enrollment, they’re powerful tools that can support a life of meaning, flexibility, and impact. I help L3harris employees look beyond the surface of things like 401(k) matching, RSUs, and excess retirement savings.
Together, we map those tools to their bigger picture: What do you want your retirement to look like? What legacy do you want to leave behind? How do we use every benefit available to give you freedom and peace of mind when it matters most? By understanding the unique benefit structure at L3harris, and combining that with tailored financial planning, I help employees make intentional choices, so their finances aren’t just well-managed, but also deeply aligned with the purpose they’ve defined for the next chapter of their life.
Q: When you first speak with a L3Harris employee, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?
Brennan: When I first speak with a L3Harris employee, I’m not just looking at numbers, I’m looking to understand what drives them.
I ask questions that help uncover their why:
What does an ideal retirement look like for you?
- What are you working toward beyond a paycheck; freedom, flexibility, legacy?
- How confident are you in the decisions you’ve made with your 401(k), RSUs, or excess retirement savings plan?
- Have you thought about how your benefits fit into the bigger picture? Like tax efficiency, healthcare in retirement, or supporting loved ones?
Every L3Harris employee has a unique story: some are climbing fast and want to optimize equity comp; others are within a few years of retirement and wondering if they’ve done enough. By starting with what matters most to them, I can tailor the financial strategy to reflect not just how they earn and save, but why it matters in the first place. This approach ensures we’re not just maximizing their benefits, we’re making those benefits meaningful.
Q: Is there a particular benefit available to L3Harris employees you feel isn’t as well utilized or understood by employees as it should be?
Brennan: The ERSP is a great way for highly compensated individuals to defer money above and beyond the annual 401k limits, and reduce their tax burden even more. For those that do participate, the election they make for distributions is irrevocable. This can really make an impact if they contribute for multiple years on their retirement tax efficiency. We help employees model out the tax benefits for their current contribution, as well as help them determine if lump sum or installments is more in line with their intentions down the road.
Q: Beyond L3Harris employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients?
Brennan: L3Harris compensates many employees with restricted stock and performance awards. We do a detailed review of their tax filing prior to their vesting, to get a good understanding of what their tax obligation is projected to be. We compare this with what the company withholds to see if there is an underpayment. We find that many employees have underpayment penalties and interest that could have been avoided with proper planning. Our goal is to educate employees on how the withholding works, and make sure there are no surprises.
Q: For L3Harris employees thinking about leaving the company to accept a job elsewhere, what actions do you recommend they take before resigning and shortly thereafter?
Brennan: For L3Harris employees considering a move to a new opportunity, it’s important to pause before submitting that resignation—because the decisions you make before and shortly after leaving can have a lasting impact on your long-term financial security.
Before resigning, I recommend:
Review your deferred compensation plan.
- The ERSP distribution elections are permanent after open enrollment. Since you can’t change the payout options when you leave, it is important to review what amount will be paid and when, to minimize a major tax bill surprise.
Understand your RSUs and stock options.
- What’s vested? What’s unvested? The timing of your departure can affect how much equity compensation you keep.
Max out your 401(k) and HSA if possible.
- If you’re on track to hit your annual limits, consider front-loading contributions while you’re still on payroll. After you leave, you won’t have the same employer match or access to the plan.
Check healthcare transition options.
- Review your COBRA options, and compare them with what your new employer offers. If you’ve hit your deductible or out-of-pocket max, switching plans mid-year might reset your progress.
Download your benefits and paycheck history.
- Once you leave, access to the L3Harris intranet goes away. Save your pay stubs, tax documents, equity grant details, and benefit plan descriptions.
Shortly after resigning:
Update your financial plan.
- A job change is a perfect time to revisit your financial goals, cash flow, and investment strategy, especially if you’re moving from a high-benefit employer like L3Harris to one with different comp structure.
Reassess your tax plan.
- A change in income or equity vesting could bump you into a higher tax bracket. Proactive tax planning now can help minimize the bite later.
Ultimately, it’s about transitioning intentionally. When we work with L3Harris employees, we help them avoid costly missteps and use the exit as an opportunity to align their next chapter with a greater sense of financial purpose.
Q: For L3Harris employees approaching retirement age, how do you recommend they prepare to make the transition from living off their salary to relying upon other sources of income?
Brennan: For L3Harris employees approaching retirement, one of the biggest mindset shifts is moving from a dependable salary to creating income from the assets and benefits they’ve spent decades building. It’s not just a financial transition, it’s a lifestyle and identity shift, too. Here’s how I help them prepare:
- Re-define purpose.
Many retirees don’t just want to stop working, they want to start living differently. Whether it’s travel, volunteering, consulting, or time with grandkids, we make sure their money supports their next chapter with clarity and intention.
2. Turn your benefits into a paycheck.
L3Harris offers a 401(k), ERSP, and equity compensation. We help clients create a coordinated withdrawal strategy that replaces their paycheck in a tax-efficient, sustainable way. It’s not just how much you withdraw, it’s when and from where.
3. Make a Retirement Income Map.
We build a month-by-month cash flow plan that outlines exactly where income will come from in the first 5–10 years: Social Security, investment accounts, deferred comp distributions, etc. This reduces anxiety and helps retirees confidently cover both essentials and the “fun stuff.”
4. Stress-test the plan.
Retirement is more than a Monte Carlo score, and you are more than a number. We take a look at how the cash flow and investment plan weathers black swan events like the tech bubble burst, 2008, and the pandemic.
5. Manage taxes like a professional.
The largest expense in retirement for most people is taxes. L3Harris employees often have large pre-tax balances in their 401(k) and ERSP. We evaluate Roth conversions, tax bracket management for income, and Medicare-related strategies so they keep more of what they’ve earned.
Q: For L3Harris employees who have managed their finances on their own to this point, what would you suggest they consider to help them decide if they should begin working with a financial advisor at this stage in their lives?
Brennan: For L3Harris employees who’ve successfully managed their finances on their own, approaching retirement is a natural inflection point to consider working with a financial advisor.
Why? Because the shift from building wealth to using it is complex, and the stakes are higher. You’re dealing with questions like:
- When should I start Social Security?
- How do I turn my savings and incentives into reliable income?
- What’s the best way to minimize taxes and avoid Medicare surprises?
At this stage, it’s less about picking investments and more about creating a strategy that supports your next chapter, confidently and purposefully. An advisor can help you avoid costly missteps and align your financial plan with the life you want in retirement.
Get to Know Brennan Decima, Financial Advisor for L3Harris Employees:
View Brennan’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit his website to learn more.
Q: What are some of the unique financial planning challenges you commonly see among your clients who are L3Harris employees and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?
Brennan:
- ERSP Traps
Many elect deferred comp without fully understanding the long-term tax consequences or distribution timing. We help them evaluate elections before separation and build a tax-smart strategy to avoid large lump-sum tax hits in retirement.
2. Coordinating Multiple Income Streams
Between 401(k)s, RSUs, and deferred comp, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We organize these sources into a cohesive income plan, balancing timing, taxes, and lifestyle needs.
3. Tax Timing and Roth Conversions
Many employees enter retirement in a lower tax bracket, but only temporarily. We identify “low-tax windows” to strategically convert to Roth IRAs, reducing future RMDs and Medicare surcharges.
4. Leaving Money on the Table
Some miss out on benefits like the after-tax 401(k) contribution strategy, in-service conversions, or underuse the HSA. We ensure every benefit is optimized to support long-term goals.
Our role is to simplify the complex, reduce tax friction, and help L3Harris professionals transition from career income to purposeful retirement on their terms.
Q: What questions do you recommend L3Harris employees ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?
Choosing a financial advisor is a big decision, especially for L3Harris employees navigating complex benefits and nearing retirement. Here are the key questions I recommend they ask to find the right fit:
- Do you have experience working with L3Harris employees?
The benefits like ERSP, 401k after-tax, and long term incentive plans require specialized knowledge. You want someone who’s already helped others make similar decisions.
- How do you build a retirement income plan?
Look for an advisor who reviews your tax forms and integrates your 401(k), deferred comp, and Social Security into a coordinated, tax-smart withdrawal strategy, not just an investment plan.
- How do you help minimize taxes in retirement?
A good advisor should bring proactive tax planning to the table, including Roth conversions, RMD planning, and Medicare-related tax strategies.
- Are you a fiduciary, and how are you compensated?
Make sure they’re legally obligated to act in your best interest, and that their fees are transparent and easy to understand. Ask for a conflict or interest and compensation disclosure if they work for a brokerage.
- What does your ongoing service look like?
Retirement isn’t a one-time event. Ask how often you’ll meet with them vs a team member, what they monitor, and how they help when life or the market changes.
Q: Is there anything that comes up frequently in your initial meeting with L3Harris employees that surprises you?
Brennan: One thing that constantly comes up with L3Harris employees is the ability to contribute to aftertax in the 401k. The benefit of after tax is that if a Roth In Plan conversion is elected, this allows you to put a substantial amount of money into a Roth each year and grow tax free instead of tax deferred. With proper planning, they can coordinate the 401k deferrals, the aftertax, and the ERSP to maximize their savings in a tax efficient way.
Q: For highly compensated L3Harris employees and executives, are there any special benefits you believe it’s important to take into consideration when preparing their financial plan?
Brennan: Key benefits to consider:
- Excess Retirement Savings Plan
This is one of the most powerful planning tools available—but also one of the most misunderstood. It allows executives to defer income and manage taxes across working and retirement years. But distribution elections are irrevocable after separation, so timing and coordination are critical.
- Equity Compensation (RSUs and Performance Awards)
Proper planning can reduce concentrated risk, control taxes, and align equity decisions with retirement or job change timelines. Many execs don’t realize how vesting, withholdings, and diversification play into their broader strategy.
3. After-Tax 401(k) Contributions and Mega Backdoor Roth
For those maxing out traditional limits, this is a powerful way to build tax-free retirement income, but often underutilized or misunderstood.
Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a client who worked at L3Harris when you realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?
Brennan: One of the most memorable clients I worked with was an L3Harris executive who had saved extensively and was sure he had thought of everything. He was about to retire comfortably after decades of service, with a great mix of ERSP, stock incentives, and a large 401k. But life threw a curveball: his aging mother in law suddenly needed full-time care. He became a caregiver, which meant facing unexpected financial pressures and more financial responsibility on his shoulders. His carefully crafted retirement budget suddenly shifted, and the strategies he planned around needed to be rethought quickly.
What stood out to me was how many unique complexities came into play:
- He needed significantly more liquidity sooner than expected to cover caregiving expenses.
- His guaranteed income was substantially lower than his new cash flow needs.
- The increased household expenses meant tax planning and cash flow management became critical to avoid depleting savings too fast.
- Volatility that had not bothered him in the past was now causing significant stress issues.
Together, we adjusted his plan to create a flexible income strategy that supported his care costs, while preserving his long-term financial security. Risk was adjusted to his new comfort level. We looked at tapping into different accounts strategically, revisited his tax plan, and explored how long his mother in-law could be supported before it started making an impact on his plans success.
Retirement is more than a Monte Carlo score and a model portfolio. It is about purpose and building a plan customized to you. Regardless of what your purpose in retirement is, we seek to understand you and how your investments serve that purpose intentionally.
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