Kris Barney, CFA

Wealth Management For Tech Professionals | Equity Compensation Expert

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30-40 Wealth Kris Barney, CFA
Cornelius, NC

Serving Clients Nationwide

Wealth Management For Tech Professionals | Equity Compensation Expert

7 Certified Advisor Reviews™
5 out of 5 Stars
Jump to Reviews

Areas of Focus

  • Alternative Investments
  • Equity Compensation Options
  • Exit Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Taxes

About Kris Barney, CFA

Hi, I'm Kris Barney — founder and lead financial advisor at 30/40 Wealth.

After nearly a decade in Silicon Valley, I launched 30/40 Wealth in 2020 to help tech professionals navigate the complexities of stock compensation, tax strategies, investments, and financial planning. Like many in tech, I’m a bit of a geek — but my passion is using that energy to simplify financial decisions for busy, high-achieving professionals.

If you’re in tech, have stock comp, and juggle a demanding personal and professional life, let’s connect to see if I might be the right financial partner for you.

Professional Designations

  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Affiliations

  • CFA Institute
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
  • XY Planning Network

Primary Location

Cornelius, NC 28031

Video

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • One-time Financial Plan
  • Percentage of Assets Managed

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a free introductory call. We'll get to know each other, I'll answer your questions, and we can see if it might be a strong mutual fit. I look forward to speaking with you!

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About 30-40 Wealth

At 30/40 Wealth, we help tech professionals make smart decisions with their stock options and RSUs and plan for their financial future.

We've advised clients on more than $500 million of equity-comp. You name it; we've helped clients navigate it dozens of times:
• Company Liquidity Event Plans (IPO, Tender, Acquisition)
• ISO/NSO Option Exercise Analyses
• Stock Comp Tax Optimization Plans
• Job Change Negotiation Strategies
• And so much more


WHAT WE DO

Holistic Financial Planning. As a tech professional with equity comp, you have unique financial planning needs. Your holistic financial plan covers the key aspects of your financial life, incorporating your equity comp into everything we analyze (tax strategy, investment portfolio, retirement plan, and more)!

Stock Comp Advice & Strategy . Whether your company is seed-stage or publicly traded, we help you understand the key decision(s) you need to make, analyze each path, and decide upon a plan that fits your goals.

Investment Management. You have significant wealth at an early age, lots of value in stock options/RSUs, and potentially angel, real estate, or PE/VC investments. That's unique, and you need an investment portfolio custom-built to flex around those elements. We got you!

Education

Miami University, BS, Finance

Hobbies and Interests

  • Animals
  • Exercising
  • Family
  • Football
  • Pickleball
  • Soccer

Who We Serve

  • Corporate Executives
  • Crypto Investors
  • Data Scientists
  • Dual Income Family
  • Engineers
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Gen X
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • Sales Professionals
  • Technology Professionals

To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn a nominal monthly fee from financial advisors and firms in exchange for marketing services (including being featured on this profile page), subject to terms of use. This compensation creates a natural conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Wealthtender is not a client of these advisors or firms. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

Write a Review


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Fantastic service

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 5, 2025
Kris is an exceptional financial advisor. Kris is sharp, detail oriented, highly responsive, and great at the 'day to day' work, and also brings a 'white glove' and creative approach to our relationship that makes him stand out. We began working together when Kris helped my wife and I develop an option exercise / sale strategy and we've continued with a broad range financial planning / advising activities. Kris has helped us create a portfolio with exposure to asset classes I wouldn't have found / thought of on my own, built one-off forecasts to better plan our children's education savings / spending, helped my wife and I think through the retirement implications of e.g., investing in home projects, brought creative tax strategies to our attention that we've deployed.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jun 5, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Chris O'Riordan
Chris O'Riordan

You will only regret not working with Kris -- knowledgable, exceptional advice...truly great

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 5, 2025
I’ve been working with Kris for nearly four years, and he’s been an outstanding advisor throughout. He’s incredibly well-researched, deeply knowledgeable about both traditional and alternative investment options, and — most importantly — he always contextualizes advice based on your actual life goals. That’s something I never got from big-company advisors. Kris also has exceptional expertise in startup equity and tax implications — a rare and valuable skill set. He’s highly organized, leverages great tech for efficient and transparent meetings, and makes every interaction feel thoughtful and clear. If you’re on the fence, just talk to him. 10/10.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Jun 5, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Erica
Erica

Kris is the angel on your shoulder that everyone needs to have

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 28, 2025
Kris is great at working with the client, knowing their needs and goals, and crafting specific action items and ways to go about it. He is not pushy, but pushes back on all the things he should. Most people don't know what they don't know, and Kris is great at point that out and giving advice accordingly. He also helps prioritize goals, and make them understandable and digestible with easy to follow plans and helps to hold you accountable for it! He is the best balance against falling behind, and is proactive. He's a great coach, sounding board, and advisor on all things financial!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 28, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for John N
John N

Kris changed our perspective!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 22, 2025
Kris helped us make a few big life decisions including moving back to the city we love as well as helping us with the financial security to pursue the job I really wanted
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 22, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Ben Szerlip
Ben Szerlip

Could not recommend 30/40 more!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 14, 2025
You will be hard pressed to find a better mixture of wealth management, career / industry advice, and family planning in an advisor. This is 30/40 and Kris' bread and butter. My wife and I have been w/ Kris since he started and it has been one of the best decisions we have made. I have referred multiple of my friends and family and will continue to do so. Thanks for everything, Kris!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 14, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Michael Dulfer
Michael Dulfer

Confidence and Peace of Mind

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 12, 2025
Kris has helped give us confidence and peace of mind that our financial future is on the right track and that we're making the best financial decisions for our specific goals and future quality of life. His deep wealth of knowledge in how all the pieces fit together means we aren't guessing at the best path forward but are making sound decisions from a range of options.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 12, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Crissy McConnell
Crissy McConnell

Kris Is an Invaluable Partner

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
May 6, 2025
Kris goes above and beyond in every way. He works proactively on my behalf, always anticipating needs and guiding me through complex decisions. From career transitions to major life milestones, he’s been a steady, trusted partner - and I truly don’t know what I’d do without him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of May 6, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Carlo Candela
Carlo Candela