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

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

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

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

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

Whether you work in the Itron headquarters in Liberty Lake, Washington, 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 Itron 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 Itron 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 Itron 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 Itron Employees & Executives
2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Your Itron Benefits and Career
3. Browse Related Articles

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

Answers to Employee Questions with Amy Drury, CFP®

Amy Drury is a financial advisor based in Spokane, Washington who specializes in offering financial planning services to Itron employees. Amy helps her clients get the most value from their Itron benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

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

Amy:

1.     Optimize the 401(k) Plan

• Maximize Employer Match: Itron offers a competitive match, so the first step is ensuring employees contribute at least enough to get the full match, otherwise, it’s leaving free money on the table. Itron matches up to 75% of the participant contributions up to 6% of the participant’s annual compensation.
• Investment Allocation: Review plan investment options, make sure asset allocation matches time horizon, risk tolerance, and other investments outside the plan.
• Catch-up Contributions: For those 50+, take advantage of the extra annual contribution limit to accelerate retirement savings.

2. Leverage the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) Wisely

• Discount Advantage: Itron’s ESPP allows employees to buy shares at a discount, often with a look-back provision which can be an immediate gain if used strategically.
• Diversification Balance: While ESPPs are valuable, I help clients manage concentration risk so too much wealth isn’t tied to the company stock.

3. Plan for RSU Tax Implications

• Tax Planning: Restricted stock units (RSUs) or bonuses can have significant tax implications. I help employees plan withholding, time sales to fit with tax strategy, and use proceeds toward retirement or debt payoff.

Q: For Itron 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?

Amy: Many Itron employees are skilled problem-solvers and have done a great job managing their own finances so far. The question isn’t whether you can do it yourself; it’s whether your time, expertise, and peace of mind could be better served by partnering with someone who works in this space every day.

Here are a few signs it may be time to consider working with a financial advisor:

• Your financial picture is getting more complex.

Stock awards, ESPP participation, bonuses, and a growing 401(k) balance can create new layers of tax and investment decisions. An advisor can help coordinate these benefits into a cohesive plan.

• You’re unsure if you’re on track for retirement.

Running projections with a professional can show whether your current savings rate, including your 401(k) match, HSA contributions, and ESPP purchases, will get you to your goals.

• You want to optimize tax strategies.

Advisors can help time stock sales, structure withdrawals, and use tax- advantaged accounts in a way that reduces taxes over your lifetime, not just in a single year.

• Life transitions are on the horizon.

Retirement, career changes, relocation, or family changes are all moments when a second set of eyes can prevent costly mistakes.

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

Amy: Some of the most common issues I see include:

• Balancing Stock Concentration Risk

Many employees participate in the ESPP and hold RSUs, which can lead to a large portion of their wealth being tied to Itron’s stock. I help them create a diversification strategy, so they benefit from the company’s success without taking on excessive risk.

• Coordinating Multiple Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Between the 401(k), HSA, ESPP and RSUs, there are overlapping opportunities and potential tax pitfalls. I help employees prioritize contributions and plan stock sales to minimize lifetime taxes.

• Retirement Timing & Readiness

High workloads and specialized roles sometimes delay retirement planning. I help employees model different retirement dates, factoring in Social Security, pensions (if applicable), portfolio income and how to replace their Itron paycheck.

• Integrating Benefits Into a Full Financial Plan

Instead of viewing each benefit separately, we tie them together with outside assets, insurance needs, and family goals so they work as a unified strategy.

In short, my role is to turn Itron’s strong compensation and benefits package into a personalized plan that balances growth, security, and flexibility so that employees can move confidently toward their goals.

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

Amy: Choosing the right financial advisor is a lot like choosing the right doctor — you want someone who understands your situation, communicates clearly, and has your best interests at heart. Here are some questions I recommend:

• “How do you get paid?”

Understand whether they charge a flat fee, a percentage of assets, or earn commissions.

• “What’s your experience with clients who have benefits like mine?”

You want someone familiar with 401(k) matches, ESPPs, and RSUs.

• “How will you help me integrate my Itron benefits into my overall plan?”

The right advisor should know how to make your benefits work together for retirement, taxes, and risk management.

• “How often will we meet and what support can I expect between meetings?”

Consistent communication is key to staying on track.

• “Can you give me examples of how you’ve helped clients like me?”

Real-life stories can help you see how they solve problems similar to yours.

Asking these questions helps you find an advisor who’s not just qualified, but also the right fit for your goals, personality, and financial life.

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

Amy: I worked with a client who had been an Itron employee for many years. He was receiving RSUs, and with his bonuses and stock grants, his income was increasing significantly each year. However, no one had ever sat down with him to go through tax planning. He didn’t understand why his tax bill was so high each year or how to plan for it in his budget. We helped him project his income and set up a withholding strategy so he no longer faced large, unexpected tax bills each April. He was very appreciative of the tax and cash flow planning we provided.

Get to Know Amy Drury, Financial Advisor for Itron Employees:

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

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