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

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

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

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

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

Whether you work in the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, 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 Google 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 Google 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.

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

In this section, you’ll learn how you can make the most of your Google employee benefits and gain valuable tips from financial advisors who specialize in working with Google employees and executives.

Get to Know:

↗️ Rebecca Conner (Austin, Texas) | ↗️ Cristina Guglielmetti (Brooklyn, New York)
↗️ Jason Gilbert (Great Neck, New York) | ↗️ Marcel Miu (Austin, Texas)

Answers to Employee Questions with Rebecca Conner, CPA, CFP®

Based in Austin, Texas, where Google has over 1,500 employees, Rebecca Conner regularly guides tech professionals on a path to early retirement or a work-optional lifestyle. As the founder of SeedSafe Financial, Rebecca specializes in serving Google employees and executives who want to grow their wealth and free up their time to feel in control of their lives.

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

Rebecca: Each Googler has different values and passions, so we work with them to build a fulfilling life and incorporate employee benefits into that equation.

Googlers have an amazing 401(k) plan and match. If they are planning to be in the workforce for a while, leaning into the good match on contributions and after-tax 401(k) may be an amazing benefit to make retirement age look all the better financially.

There is also a medical plan option (the high deductible health plan or “HDHP”) that allows a Googler to open an HSA and receive an employer contribution as an additional boost. Relatively healthy Googlers can win big in saving for future medical emergencies through this structure.

It’s not just about retirement and future medical expenses, though. Google also offers wonderful benefits for growing families through a dependent care FSA, life insurance, and disability insurance.

Q: When you first speak with a Google 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?

Rebecca: What is your most fulfilling life? How long do you hope to stay with Google? What will your next adventure look like? What would you like to do for your family? How well do you feel you understand your stock compensation? Do you have an idea of what taxes you will owe with your total compensation package? What is the biggest thing we can do to help you?

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

Rebecca: Googlers have a choice in custodian (between 2 major banks) for their Google RSUs (or GSUs as Googlers like to call them), and this could be helpful when preparing to purchase a home, need a line of credit against their investments, etc. Not many companies offer a choice and so understanding what your mid-term needs are and how that custodian can help you further those goals may make a huge difference.

Get to Know Rebecca Conner, Financial Advisor for Google Employees:

View Rebecca’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit her website to learn more.

Q: Beyond Google employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients (e.g., stock, education savings, health savings)?

Rebecca: Stock compensation is always a fun topic for us :). Each year, total compensation is updated to give Googlers an idea of what the next few years may look like. This allows us to use higher earning years to fund particular goals vs. an ‘if you just invest X each year’ approach. We work together to make sure enough is on the side for paying taxes and then see how we can take steps today with stock compensation to make a huge impact later.

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

Rebecca: Googlers should consider stock cliffs when compensation will dramatically change due to a grant dropping off, any first-year bonus that may need to be repaid, and whether they are prepared with enough emergency savings if making a move to a smaller tech company.

Many of our larger tech clients dream of getting to the point where they have the flexibility to follow their passion and take a position in a startup at a lower salary. For these individuals, we recommend understanding the differences between GSUs and stock options.

Another consideration is health insurance. Health insurance will end at month-end of your employment. Knowing you have another job starting in a few weeks vs. a few days may leave you open to a medical emergency if coverage is not continuous. Make sure you know your policies here as well.

Finally, 401(k) employee contributions and HSA contributions are a sum game across employers. If you contribute the maximum to the Google 401(k) and then move to a new employer, you will need to wait until the next year to start contributing to the new 401(k). Unfortunately, many tech companies do not track this across employers and so you will need to track this yourself.

📗 Instant eBook Download: How to Build Wealth at Google

Q: For Google 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?

Rebecca: Great question! Many of our tech professional clients look to make work optional around age 50 to age 55. This means a time of needing taxable investments and medical coverage. We work with our clients to understand COBRA and health exchange options years in advance, so we have a good year of emergency savings ready for the first big moment of this next phase in life.

Then, it’s really about seeing how you can lean into your values and passions while keeping the finances in mind. Some of our clients go on to create their own startups or decide on writing a book, woodworking, etc. ‘Retiring’ isn’t about sitting around :). These different adventures may require other capital amounts (aka lots of cash) to get going, so we make sure we understand what will be going out the door for this as well.

Next, we review the current risk allocations of investments and decide how to dial it down for long-term success.

If the employee was contributing to the deferred compensation plan, then terminating their employment may trigger monthly payments to help soften the blow of no official paycheck. If they were not contributing to this, we will help them structure their own automatic transfer to their checking account on a monthly basis to help them see how they are doing spending-wise compared to what we planned for.

Checking in on how this feels and how things are going is always important. So many emotions will come up in the first year or two out of traditional work, so making finances streamlined and clear is key.

Answers to Employee Questions with Cristina Guglielmetti, CFP®

Cristina Guglielmetti is a financial advisor based in Brooklyn, New York, who specializes in offering financial planning services to Google employees. Cristina helps her clients get the most value from their Google benefits and compensation packages so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

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

Cristina: Understanding their 401k features (including Roth, after-tax plus Roth conversion, and how to get the best match).

Q: When you first speak with a Google 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?

Cristina: Do they intend to stay long-term? To date, how have they handled their equity compensation? Do they already have short- and/or longer-term goals they want to discuss, or do they want to explore more open-ended possibilities?

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

Cristina: After-tax plus in-service conversion (aka mega backdoor Roth).

Q: Beyond Google employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients (e.g., stock, education savings, health savings)?

Cristina: Equity compensation with monthly vesting that needs to be managed/included in the plan.

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

Cristina: Value the unvested stock they’re leaving behind to negotiate with in discussions with their new employer.

Q: For Google 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?

Cristina: If prior to Medicare age, consider how best to maintain health insurance coverage (this could be paying for COBRA if resigning mid-year). Understand what your expenses will be, and have a 2-3 year cash cushion to cover those net of any expected income. Analyze stock holdings (both company stock and other investments) to make use of low-income years to take gains; also do the same with pre-tax balances to determine if Roth conversions are advisable.

Q: For Google 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?

Cristina: An advisor can help with short-term decision-making (i.e. major purchase, career shifts) and also with bigger-picture thinking (i.e. creating a framework so you can see the direction all your hard work is taking you, and make sure your money behaviors are aligning with your life goals). A client is often already doing all the right things and the value of the planning process is to put things in a broader framework to allow for proactive/intentional decisions to be made.

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

Cristina: A good, high-paying job in tech can feel a bit like golden handcuffs sometimes! It can be hard to fathom walking away. But, if you want to prepare for an exit or a shift to a different industry, we can create a pathway to ease the transition. In a role with equity compensation, a challenge can be to define how much to rely on that compensation in the plan. It’s variable and can be hard to quantify, but can be significant. So, having a firm structure based on a client’s comfort with the exposure and how it’s treated in the plan is important.

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

Cristina: An advisor should be able to describe their particular planning process, what their compensation structure is, and how the engagement will work. Also, they should be able to describe their investment and planning philosophy and that should align with the client’s.

Get to Know Cristina Guglielmetti, Financial Advisor for Google Employees:

View Cristina’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit her website to learn more.

Answers to Employee Questions with Jason Gilbert, CPA/PFS, CFF

Jason Gilbert is a financial advisor based in Great Neck, New York who specializes in offering financial planning services to Google employees. Jason helps his clients get the most value from their Google benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

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

Jason: We are uniquely positioned to manage Google 401(k) assets directly within the Google plan as an outside fiduciary advisor. This allows us to provide tailored investment management while optimizing their broader financial strategy, including stock options, to ensure they are fully maximizing their benefits. We also help mitigate risks like overexposure to Google stock, creating a well-diversified portfolio that aligns with their long-term goals.

Q: When you first speak with a Google 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?

Jason: I typically ask about their overall financial picture, including their compensation structure, any vested stock options, and their long-term financial goals. Understanding how they balance their stock holdings with other investments is key to developing a personalized strategy.

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

Jason: One underutilized benefit is the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Many Google employees don’t fully understand how to strategically participate in this program to optimize their stock compensation while minimizing risk.

Q: Beyond Google employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients (e.g., stock, education savings, health savings)?

Jason: In addition to retirement benefits, we often discuss Google’s health savings accounts (HSAs) and education savings plans. These can be powerful tools to reduce taxable income and plan for future medical expenses or children’s education.

Get to Know Jason Gilbert, Financial Advisor for Google Employees:

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

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

Jason: Before resigning, I recommend reviewing any unvested stock options, understanding the timing for exercising those options, and planning for any changes in benefits like health coverage. It’s also important to have a plan for rolling over their 401(k) into an IRA or another retirement account.

Q: For Google 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?

Jason: I advise Google employees to carefully map out their income streams, including 401(k) withdrawals, pensions, and stock options. We also discuss tax-efficient strategies for drawing down their assets while ensuring their portfolio is structured to provide stable income in retirement.

Q: For Google 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?

Jason: I suggest they assess whether they have the time and expertise to navigate the complexities of managing stock compensation, tax strategies, and retirement planning. A financial advisor can offer a comprehensive approach to ensure all aspects of their financial life are aligned with their goals.

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

Jason: A common challenge is managing the concentration of Google stock in their portfolios. We help clients mitigate this risk by creating a diversified investment strategy while still leveraging the growth potential of their stock compensation.

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

Jason: Google employees should ask advisors about their experience with stock options and equity compensation, whether they act as fiduciaries, and how they help manage overconcentration in employer stock.

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

Jason: It often surprises me how many Google employees are unsure of how much they rely on company stock for their net worth. They may not realize the risks associated with holding too much stock in one company.

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

Jason: For highly compensated employees, it’s crucial to consider deferred compensation plans and tax strategies for stock options. Structuring a plan that defers income can significantly reduce their tax burden.

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

Jason: I recall working with a long-time Google employee who had amassed significant stock compensation but hadn’t diversified their portfolio. By carefully rebalancing their investments, we were able to secure their financial future without over-reliance on a single asset – even though we love Google (as long term shareholders ourselves).

Q: How can a financial advisor help Google employees maximize the impact of charitable giving through stock donations?

Jason: Advisors can guide clients on how to donate appreciated stock, which can reduce capital gains taxes and provide a greater benefit to charities.

Answers to Employee Questions with Marcel Miu, CFA, CFP®

Marcel Miu is a financial advisor based in Austin, Texas, who specializes in offering financial planning services to Google employees. Marcel helps his clients get the most value from their Google benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

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

Marcel: We focus on optimizing the use of Google’s 401(k) with its 50% match, guiding clients on the timing and amount to contribute for maximum benefit​​. If you contribute the maximum amount, Google adds an additional $11,500 (For 2024), fully vested from day one!

The Mega Backdoor Roth IRA is a key strategy we often recommend to allow tax-free growth. This move can add an extra $34,500 (For 2024) annually to your ROTH, growing tax-free for life. This can turbocharge you to financial freedom.

We assist with maximizing the value of your Google Stock Units (GSUs) by planning the right time to hold or sell. With a variety of strategies, we have solutions for all situations someone is looking to solve (e.g., tax minimization, charity, goals funding, etc.).

We help clients maximize some of the lesser-known financial hacks for long-term tax and debt management: fully leveraging health and flexible savings accounts (HSA/FSA), and student loan repayment contributions from Google​.

We ensure clients in their family-building phases take advantage of the generous benefits from Google. This includes fertility assistance, adoption and surrogacy assistance, and parental leave. See our guide, Google Employee Benefits – Maximizing the Best Kept Secrets, for a deeper dive!

Q: When you first speak with a Google 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?

Marcel: When first speaking with a Google employee, I like to ask a series of thoughtful questions to gain an understanding of their unique circumstances and how I can best assist them in achieving their goals. Here’s a brief glimpse into my approach:

• Goals and Vision:
  • What does your most fulfilling life look like, both personally and professionally?
  • What short-term and long-term financial goals are you aiming to achieve?
• Career Trajectory and Satisfaction:
  • How long have you been with Google, and how do you envision your future with the company?
  • Are you enjoying your current role, or are you considering new opportunities within or outside Google?
• Compensation Structure:
  • Can you tell me about your compensation package, including salary and stock-based compensation?
  • How comfortable are you with understanding your equity compensation and its potential impact on your overall financial picture?
• Investment Strategy:
  • How do you currently balance your Google stock holdings with other investments?

Eventually, throughout the engagement, we’ll touch on many other areas such as tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning, and more.

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

Marcel:

• Before You Leave:
  • Assess Your Stock: Review unvested equity and use it to negotiate your new offer.
  • Maximize Current Benefits: Use remaining PTO, schedule medical appointments, and claim reimbursements.
• After Resigning:
  • Health Coverage: Plan for insurance transition, consider COBRA if needed.
  • Retirement Accounts: Manage 401(k) and HSA contributions across employers.
  • Financial Cushion: Ensure adequate emergency savings, especially if joining a smaller company.
• Key Considerations:
  • Review non-compete agreements and intellectual property clauses.
  • Align your move with long-term career goals and growth opportunities.

Q: For Google 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?

Marcel: Transitioning from a Google salary to retirement income requires careful planning:

• Lifestyle Considerations
  • Factor in how you want to spend your retirement. Whether it’s travel, hobbies, or starting a business, ensure your financial plan supports these aspirations.
• Comprehensive Income Strategy
  • Map out all potential income sources, including 401(k), stock compensation, and possible part-time work. Creating a plan that’s reasonably close to your current take-home pay could help ensure a smooth financial transition.
• Healthcare Coverage
  • If retiring before Medicare eligibility, research alternatives like COBRA or marketplace plans. Budget for these expenses well in advance to avoid surprises.
• Tax-Efficient Withdrawals
  • Leverage potentially lower-income years for tax-advantaged moves, such as Roth conversions or strategic capital gains realization. This can help optimize your tax situation in retirement.
• Investment Rebalancing
  • Adjust your portfolio to align with retirement goals, focusing on stability and income generation while maintaining some growth potential.

Pro Tip: Build a cash reserve to cover 2-3 years of expenses. This buffer can provide peace of mind and flexibility as you adjust to your new financial reality.

Regular reviews with a financial advisor can help you navigate this transition successfully, ensuring your plan stays on track with both your financial needs and personal goals.

Get to Know Marcel Miu, Financial Advisor for Google Employees:

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

Q: For Google 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?

Marcel: For Google employees who have managed their finances independently, considering professional financial advice can be a pivotal decision:

As your wealth grows, so does the complexity of managing equity compensation, tax strategies, and investment diversification.

Do you have the time, knowledge, and confidence to navigate the intricacies of your finances? An advisor can offer a broader financial framework, aligning your wealth with your life goals and providing insights for both short-term decisions and long-term planning. They can help create a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses immediate concerns but also sets you on a path for future financial success.

Ultimately, working with a financial advisor can provide peace of mind and a clearer financial direction.

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

Marcel: For highly compensated Google employees and executives, there are several key financial considerations to keep in mind when preparing a comprehensive financial plan:

• Deferred Compensation (NQDC)
  • Managing these benefits is crucial, offering opportunities for tax deferral and income smoothing during high-earning years.
  • Many people overlook the powerful benefit that tax deferrals offer, especially when you’re a top tax bracket payer, such as many of those at Google. We’ve often found this can equate to many 100’s of thousands of dollars in forgone benefits if not properly handled.
• Tax Planning
  • As compensation increases, so does the importance of sophisticated tax strategies.
  • Consider working with financial and tax professionals who specialize in high-income strategies and equity compensation.
• Holistic Financial Approach
  • Beyond just managing stock-based compensation, it’s important to integrate these benefits into a broader financial plan.
  • This includes balancing immediate financial needs with long-term wealth accumulation and diversification strategies.

For more financial insights, read Unlocking Your Full Range of Benefits.

Quick Facts & Resources for Google Employees

Google Quick Facts & Resources	Details / Useful Links
Google Corporate Headquarters Address	1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 (📍 Google Maps)
Overview of Google Benefits	Careers.Google.com/Benefits
How much do Google employees Make?	View Google Salary Research on Glassdoor
Where can I learn more about careers at Google?	Visit Careers.Google.com
How many people work for Google?	Google has over 156,000 employees worldwide (Source: Statista)
What is the ticker symbol for Google stock?	Google’s ticker symbols are GOOG and GOOGL, and today, represent equity ownership in Google’s parent company, Alphabet. GOOG shares have no voting rights, while GOOGL shares do.

🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Your Google Benefits or Career?

Reader Questions Answered

Q: Does Google have a deferred comp plan? If so, who is eligible to participate, and do you have any opinions on the value of the plan to Google employees? – Dan B.

Rebecca Conner, CPA, CFP® (January 20, 2023): Yes, Google does offer the ability to defer part of bonus compensation on a pre-tax basis.  Depending on your level of bonus compensation and your goals, this could be a great value.

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