Lucas Casarez, CFP®
Financial Planning for Tech Professionals & Career Changers | Fee-Only
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Serving Clients Nationwide
Financial Planning for Tech Professionals & Career Changers | Fee-Only
Areas of Focus
- Cash Flow
- Employee Benefits
- Equity Compensation Options
- Estate Planning
- Investment Management
- Retirement Planning
- Student Loan Advising
- Tax-Efficient Planning
About Lucas Casarez, CFP®
Hi, I'm Lucas Casarez. I am a Fee-only CFP® for tech employees with employer stock who value tax planning. I'm the Founder of Level Up Financial Planning, Power Up Tax Planning Services, and the Techie Personal Finance Bootcamp Podcast.My wife, Brittany, and I are originally from Round Lake, Illinois. In 2011 we moved to Northern Colorado and it quickly became home.
When I first started Level Up Financial Planning in 2017, we only had one tiny 6-month-old son, Avery. Since then our family grew and we had 3 daughters: Emma, Ellie, and Adley. The top activities we enjoy doing are hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park, visiting one of the many children's parks, and going to the local drive-in movie theatre.
I've always enjoyed crunching numbers and teaching others. Before discovering financial planning, I worked at a local community bank in Illinois while I was attending college. There I learned about 401(k)s and Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and I had a great inside look at people's finances and how they navigated them differently.
Following graduation, I worked for a top independent financial advisor in Northern Colorado where I served pre-retirees and retirees in building financial plans focused on retirement. Wanting to make a greater impact on my clients' financial lives, particularly helping folks earlier in their careers with education and guidance, I started Level Up Financial Planning.
Level Up Financial Planning specializes in helping tech professionals navigate their unique employer stock options and RSUs, tax planning, and gaining clarity on how their actions may impact their ability to reach all of their financial goals.
Professional Designations
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
Affiliations
-
CFP Board
- Fee Only Network
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
- XY Planning Network
- Fee Only Network
Primary Location
6309 Sienna Drive, Timnath, CO 80547, USA
Video
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
- Phone
Compensation Methods
- Fee Only
- Flat Fee
- Offers Advice-Only Services
- Percentage of Assets Managed
- Subscription
What to expect in the first meeting
When you book your complimentary strategy call, we'll start by getting to understand your situation — discussing your goals and biggest financial questions. Next, I'll share key insights and specific actions you can take to improve your financial situation. Finally, we'll determine if we're a good fit to work together — no sales, no pressure.Offers Investment Management
Yes
Offers Tax Preparation
Yes
About Level Up Financial Planning
Level Up Financial Planning is a fee-only financial planning firm founded in 2017 to bring real financial planning to early and mid-career tech professionals and growing families.Who We Serve
We work with tech professionals navigating the complexities of employer stock options, RSUs, and equity compensation, along with young families who want a real plan for living well today while building toward the future. We work with clients in Colorado and nationwide.
Our Services
Our services include financial planning, tax planning, and investment management, with a focus on cash flow, retirement planning, employee stock options and RSUs, estate planning, and insurance.
Transparent Pricing
We believe transparency is critical to building a trusted relationship, so we publish our pricing directly on our site. As a fee-only firm, we are never paid by an outside party to influence the service we provide or the recommendations we make. To make financial planning accessible, we offer three service levels so clients can choose the support that fits their needs, and every relationship starts with a complimentary strategy call to make sure we're a good fit — no sales, no pressure.
Investment advisory services are offered through Level Up Financial Planning, LLC, which is registered as an Investment Adviser with the State of Colorado and California.
Education
Colorado State University, Bachelor of Business Administration | College of Lake County, Associate of Arts (AA), Business, General
Volunteer Experience
Treasurer @ The Collab Lab 2023-2025 Presented workshops for The Collab Lab, Tech By Choice, and SHPE Junior Achievement Week for NoCo Schools Assistant Football Coach Children's field trips. 🤣
Hobbies and Interests
- Boxing
- Exercising
- Family
- Hiking
- Movies
- Outdoor Activities
- Sports
- Working Out
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- BIPOC
- Dual Income Family
- Engineers
- Families
- Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE)
- Gen X
- Gen Y / Millennials
- Gen Z
- Hispanic | Latino
- LGBTQ
- Mid-Career Professionals
- Newly Engaged / Newlywed
- Parents
- Single Women
- Startup Employees
- Technology Professionals
- Widow
- Young Families
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