Your TechnipFMC Benefits & Career: Financial Planning for Employees and Executives

Do you work at TechnipFMC? Get the resources you need and expert insights from financial professionals who specialize in helping TechnipFMC employees make the most of their compensation package and benefits.

Whether you’re a new TechnipFMC 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 TechnipFMC benefits available to you?

✅If you’re thinking about leaving TechnipFMC 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 TechnipFMC Benefits and Compensation Package

Throughout the year, TechnipFMC 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 TechnipFMC who specialize in helping TechnipFMC employees make the most of their income and benefits.

Whether you work in the TechnipFMC headquarters in Houston, Texas, 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 TechnipFMC 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.

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with TechnipFMC 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 TechnipFMC Employees & Executives

This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:

1. Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for TechnipFMC Employees & Executives
2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Your TechnipFMC Benefits and Career
3. Browse Related Articles

Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for TechnipFMC Employees & Executives

Answers to Employee Questions with Dr. Preston D. Cherry, CFP®

Dr. Preston D. Cherry is a financial advisor based in Houston, Texas, who specializes in offering financial planning services to TechnipFMC employees. Preston helps his clients get the most value from their TechnipFMC benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

Q: As a financial advisor with experience helping TechnipFMC employees save for their retirement, how do you help them make the most of their employee benefits?

Preston: TechnipFMC employees often have compensation structures that extend well beyond salary into bonuses, equity awards, retirement plans, and, in some cases, global mobility considerations. The opportunity can be significant — but so can the complexity. Making the most of employee benefits is not about maximizing one account in isolation. It’s about understanding how each benefit interacts with taxes, portfolio risk, and long-term retirement income.

When working with TechnipFMC professionals, I focus on integrating:

• 401(k) contribution strategy and employer match optimization
• Employer stock inside the retirement plan and potential concentration risk
• Equity vesting schedules and their tax implications
• Bonus timing and marginal tax bracket management
• Deferred compensation coordination
• Retirement income modeling during peak earning years

For example, maximizing a 401(k) may be appropriate — but if a large portion of net worth is already tied to TechnipFMC equity, diversification strategy becomes equally important. Similarly, a strong bonus year may create opportunities for tax planning that are missed without coordination.

TechnipFMC retirement planning works best when benefits decisions are connected to broader financial objectives, such as retirement durability and lifestyle flexibility. The goal is not simply to accumulate assets, but to structure them intentionally so peak earning years strengthen — rather than complicate — long-term outcomes.

We never want benefit decisions made in a vacuum. Each election, vesting event, or rollover decision should be evaluated within the context of the full financial picture.

Q: When you first speak with a TechnipFMC 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?

Preston: One of the most important steps in TechnipFMC financial planning is moving beyond the compensation summary and understanding how income actually behaves over time. On paper, compensation can look straightforward. In practice, performance incentives, equity vesting, and sector cycles introduce variability that materially affects tax planning, diversification strategy, and retirement timing. My first priority is understanding how compensation actually works, not just in theory.

I typically explore questions such as:

• What percentage of your total compensation comes from bonuses or equity awards?
• How long do you realistically expect to remain with TechnipFMC?
• What portion of your net worth is tied to company stock?
• Have you reviewed your vesting schedule recently, especially in relation to potential career transitions?
• What does financial independence or lifestyle flexibility mean to you personally?

For many TechnipFMC executives, peak earning years coincide with increased equity accumulation and growing concentration risk. At the same time, retirement modeling is often postponed because income is high. TechnipFMC executive financial planning requires evaluating career trajectory, sector cycles, equity exposure, and long-term income design together — rather than simply maximizing retirement contributions in isolation. The objective is clarity. Once compensation structure, risk exposure, and long-term goals are understood holistically, strategic decisions become significantly more intentional.

Q: Is there a particular benefit available to TechnipFMC employees you feel isn’t as well utilized or understood by employees as it should be?

Preston: One of the most commonly misunderstood areas in TechnipFMC financial planning is how employer stock inside a 401(k) plan is handled at retirement or separation from service. If TechnipFMC stock is held within the retirement plan, employees may have a one-time opportunity to use a tax strategy called Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA). When structured properly, NUA allows the appreciation on employer stock to be taxed at long-term capital gains rates rather than ordinary income rates. For long-tenured employees with meaningful appreciation, the tax difference can be significant. However, NUA must be executed carefully and is generally available only at specific triggering events, such as separation from service or retirement. Once a rollover is completed incorrectly, the opportunity is typically lost. Retirement transitions are not administrative steps — they are strategic tax events.

Another frequently underestimated area is equity concentration and deferred compensation coordination. TechnipFMC’s equity compensation can create both opportunities and risks. Employees may not fully evaluate:

• The tax impact of vesting events
• The concentration risk of holding employer stock
• How resignation timing affects unvested awards
• How bonus spikes influence marginal tax brackets

In addition, nonqualified deferred compensation elections can materially affect retirement tax exposure if distribution timing overlaps with Social Security, required minimum distributions, or other income sources. The common theme is integration. Equity strategy, tax timing, deferred compensation, and retirement income design should be evaluated together — not in isolation.

Q: Beyond TechnipFMC employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients?

Preston: Beyond retirement plan contributions, TechnipFMC financial planning often requires evaluating how non-retirement benefits fit into a long-term wealth strategy.

For example:

• Equity compensation and performance awards
• Nonqualified deferred compensation elections
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
• Insurance coverage decisions
• Education reimbursement benefits
• Executive-level supplemental retirement plans (if applicable)

Health Savings Accounts are often underutilized. When funded strategically and invested rather than spent annually, HSAs can serve as a tax-efficient secondary retirement vehicle. Deferred compensation plans also deserve careful modeling. While they provide valuable tax deferral during peak earning years, distribution timing can materially impact retirement tax brackets if not coordinated with Social Security, required minimum distributions, and other income streams. The key is alignment. Benefits should not be elected simply because they are available. They should support long-term retirement durability and current lifestyle flexibility.

Q: For TechnipFMC employees thinking about leaving the company to accept a job elsewhere, what actions do you recommend they take before resigning and shortly thereafter?

Preston: Career transitions are financial inflection points. Before resigning, employees should evaluate:

• Unvested equity and forfeiture schedules
• Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) opportunities within the 401(k)
• Deferred compensation payout triggers
• Healthcare benefit comparisons
• Retirement account rollover implications
• Tax consequences of bonus timing

TechnipFMC retirement financial planning often reveals that resignation timing can materially impact after-tax outcomes. A few months’ difference can affect vesting eligibility, tax exposure, and liquidity. Transitions should be modeled before submitting paperwork. Strategic planning preserves leverage. Career transitions should be structured strategically, not reactively.

Q: For TechnipFMC 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?

Preston: Transitioning from salary-based income to portfolio-based income requires both financial and psychological preparation. TechnipFMC retirement planning should evaluate:

• Withdrawal sequencing strategy
• Employer stock concentration reduction
• Social Security timing
• Tax bracket coordination
• Healthcare planning prior to Medicare
• Cash flow smoothing in early retirement years

Many professionals spend decades accumulating wealth but only months thinking about distribution strategy. Retirement income design is not automatic. The objective is confidence. Knowing your income plan is structured to withstand volatility, taxes, and longevity risk. The question evolves from “How much have I saved?” to “How do I convert this into reliable, tax-aware income for decades?”

Q: For TechnipFMC 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?

Preston: Many successful professionals manage their finances independently during their accumulation years. The question changes during peak earning years and during transition planning. TechnipFMC executive financial planning often introduces:

• Equity concentration complexity
• Deferred compensation decisions
• Emotional bias toward holding company shares
• Tax modeling across multiple income streams
• Retirement income sequencing
• NUA evaluation

The decision to work with a financial advisor is not about capability — it is about coordination. Employees may ask themselves:

• Do I have time to model tax scenarios across retirement phases?
• Am I comfortable managing concentrated equity risk objectively?
• Would my spouse or family feel confident navigating this alone?

For many executives, the value lies in integration and objective oversight — not just investment selection. TechnipFMC executive financial planning addresses these through an integrated strategy rather than isolated investment decisions.

Q: What are some of the unique financial planning challenges you commonly see among your clients who are TechnipFMC employees and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?

Preston: TechnipFMC financial planning often reveals several recurring themes:

• Overconcentration in employer stock
• Income variability tied to bonuses
• Delayed retirement income modeling
• Underestimating tax impact in peak earning years
• Emotional attachment to company equity

Energy-sector professionals are often highly skilled technically, but may underestimate portfolio concentration risk. We address these challenges through integrated modeling that connects equity, tax, retirement income, and lifestyle planning into one cohesive strategy.

Q: What questions do you recommend TechnipFMC employees ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?

Preston: Before hiring a TechnipFMC financial advisor, clarity around compensation structure and independence is critical. Employees should consider asking:

• Are you a fiduciary?
• Are you independent?
• How are you compensated?
• Do you charge a flat fee or a percentage of assets?
• How do you integrate equity compensation with retirement income planning?

Percentage-based advisory models increase fees as portfolio values grow. While common, this structure may lead to fee escalation tied primarily to asset size. Flat-fee fiduciary advisors charge a defined planning fee rather than a percentage of assets. This structure can reduce conflicts tied to asset gathering and allow recommendations to focus on tax efficiency, retirement durability, and life transitions. Independence also matters. Independent advisors are not employed by banks, brokerage firms, or insurance companies, which can reduce product-driven incentives. Alignment, transparency, and integration should guide the selection process.

Q: Is there anything that comes up frequently in your initial meeting with TechnipFMC employees that surprises you?

Preston: One common observation is how often long-tenured employees underestimate concentration risk. Many professionals are deeply loyal to the company and comfortable holding significant equity exposure. While loyalty is admirable, portfolio risk should be evaluated objectively. Peak earning years can quietly increase employer exposure beyond intended levels. Clarity often brings relief. Once concentration is measured within the context of retirement income goals, decisions become more disciplined.

Q: For highly compensated TechnipFMC employees and executives, are there any special benefits you believe it’s important to take into consideration when preparing their financial plan?

Preston: Highly compensated employees often have access to:

• Nonqualified deferred compensation plans
• Supplemental retirement programs
• Enhanced equity awards
• Executive-level bonus structures

These benefits can create powerful tax deferral opportunities in high-income years. However, they also introduce distribution complexity in retirement. TechnipFMC executive financial planning should model:

• Distribution timing
• Tax bracket management
• Coordination with Social Security and RMDs
• Liquidity needs before and after retirement

The opportunity is significant, but only when structured intentionally.

Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a client who worked at TechnipFMC when you realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?

Preston: One of the most meaningful moments in executive planning occurs when a long-tenured professional realizes that retirement is not just possible — it is sustainable. Often, anxiety stems from uncertainty rather than insufficiency. Once equity exposure is diversified, the tax strategy is clarified, and income sequencing is modeled, confidence replaces hesitation. TechnipFMC professionals frequently have strong financial foundations. The transformation comes from integration.

Q: Is TechnipFMC financial planning different for Houston executives?

Preston: TechnipFMC financial planning in Houston often reflects long-tenured energy careers, sector cyclicality, and concentrated employer equity exposure. Professionals in Downtown Houston, The Woodlands, and the Houston energy corridor may benefit from planning that understands energy market volatility and executive compensation structures tied to performance cycles.

Get to Know Dr. Preston D. Cherry, Financial Advisor for TechnipFMC Employees:

View Preston’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit his website to learn more.

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