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.

Should you hire a TechnipFMC specialist financial advisor or an advisor close to home?

You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving TechnipFMC employees.

Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live.

This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with TechnipFMC employees is a better fit to help with your unique needs.

💡 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.

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.

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.

For TechnipFMC employees who want a broader overview of financial planning considerations specific to oil and gas professionals, we’ve compiled resources on our Oil & Gas Financial Planning page.

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.

Are you a financial advisor who specializes in working with employees at TechnipFMC or another large company?

✅ Join Wealthtender and get featured as a specialist financial advisor based on your knowledge and experience working with employees at TechnipFMC, Technip Energies or another large company. (Subject to availability and terms.)
Sign up today and join financial advisors attracting their ideal clients on Wealthtender
✅ Or request more information by email:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Your TechnipFMC Benefits or Career?




Are you ready to enjoy life more with less money stress?

Sign up to receive weekly insights from Wealthtender with useful money tips and fresh ideas to help you achieve your financial goals.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About the Author
Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender profile picture

Brian Thorp

Founder and CEO, Wealthtender

Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

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

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

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

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

Whether you work in the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, 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 Nike 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.

Should you hire a Nike specialist financial advisor or an advisor close to home?

You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving Nike employees.

Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live.

This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with Nike employees is a better fit to help with your unique needs.

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with Nike 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 Nike 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 Nike Employees & Executives
  2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Your Nike Benefits and Career
  3. Browse Related Articles

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

Answers to Employee Questions withTodd Brundage, CFP®, ChFC, GFP Fellow

Todd Brundage is a financial advisor based in Portland, Oregon who specializes in offering financial planning services to Nike employees. Todd helps his clients get the most value from their Nike benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

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

Todd: We work closely with Nike employees — including those deployed abroad and international citizens working at PHK — to help them fully understand and strategically utilize their benefits within the context of their broader financial goals.

We begin by evaluating the full spectrum of available benefits, including insurance coverage, retirement plan options, contribution strategies, employer matching opportunities, and other tax-advantaged programs. Our goal is to ensure each client is selecting and optimizing the benefits most appropriate for their individual circumstances.

From there, we integrate equity compensation, deferred compensation plans, and profit-sharing benefits into a comprehensive wealth management strategy. These components are never managed in isolation; they are coordinated alongside investment management, tax planning, and long-term retirement objectives to create a cohesive plan.

For clients with international mobility, we bring the experience necessary to structure and prepare assets for potential global relocation, including cross-border considerations. As a fee-only fiduciary firm that custodies client assets, we are able in most cases to manage the client’s entire balance sheet — including investment accounts, equity compensation, deferred compensation plans, and pensions — ensuring alignment and oversight across all assets.

Because benefit elections and compensation structures evolve over time, this is an ongoing and collaborative process. We meet with clients regularly to adjust strategies as their careers, income, and life goals change, ensuring their benefits continue to work efficiently as part of a disciplined, long-term wealth plan.

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

Todd: For Nike employees considering a transition to another employer, preparation before resignation is critical. We have advised many Nike employees through successful exits and understand both the financial and structural nuances involved.

Before resigning, we review the employee’s full compensation package — including equity vesting schedules, deferred compensation, retirement benefits, severance provisions, and any applicable non-compete or restrictive covenants. Because we maintain detailed compensation data and agreement structures for our clients, we are able to identify potential risks, forfeiture issues, or leverage points in advance of a departure. Where appropriate, we help clients evaluate and negotiate severance terms to the extent the company is open to discussion.

We also analyze how benefits are structured upon separation to ensure there are no unintended consequences — such as accelerated taxation, forfeited equity, pension miscalculations, or health coverage gaps. If something appears inconsistent or unclear, we assist the client in addressing it proactively.

When evaluating a new offer, we help the employee assess the full economic picture — not just base salary, but equity structure, vesting terms, tax implications, benefits, and long-term upside potential. We also evaluate how existing non-compete or restrictive agreements may impact the new opportunity and coordinate with legal counsel where necessary. From there, we guide clients on how to negotiate the components that matter most to them — whether that is upfront compensation, equity grants, severance protections, relocation assistance, or flexibility.

For international transitions, the complexity increases significantly. We help clients think through tax residency changes, foreign exchange considerations, immigration and legal coordination, cross-border banking, and asset structuring to reduce friction and avoid costly surprises. Thoughtful planning before the move can materially improve both financial outcomes and peace of mind.

Ultimately, career transitions are inflection points. With careful planning before resignation and disciplined follow-through afterward, employees can protect accumulated wealth, avoid preventable mistakes, and position themselves strongly for the next phase of their career.

Q: For Nike 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?

Todd: For Nike employees approaching retirement, the transition from earning a salary to relying on accumulated assets is both a financial and psychological shift. Preparation should begin several years before retirement to ensure the change is structured, tax-efficient, and sustainable.

One of the first priorities is reassessing risk exposure. During the accumulation phase, portfolios are typically designed for growth. As retirement approaches, we evaluate how much downside risk the client can afford while still generating the income needed to support their lifestyle. This often includes gradually reducing concentration risk — particularly in company stock — and repositioning the portfolio to balance growth, income generation, and capital preservation.

A central part of the planning process is converting benefits into a reliable “paycheck.” This includes structuring distributions from 401(k) plans, deferred compensation programs, pensions, and equity compensation in a coordinated manner. We design a withdrawal strategy that prioritizes tax efficiency and sequence-of-returns risk management so that clients can draw income in a disciplined way rather than reacting to market volatility.

We utilize a guardrail-based distribution system to guide annual or monthly spending. This approach adjusts withdrawal levels based on portfolio performance, helping clients clearly see how their retirement is tracking relative to long-term sustainability. Clients appreciate this framework because it creates both flexibility and clarity — spending can increase in strong markets and adjust modestly during downturns, improving the probability of long-term success.

Tax strategy becomes even more important during this phase. We evaluate opportunities for Roth conversions in lower-income years, assess whether Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) strategies are appropriate for company stock held in retirement plans, and carefully coordinate the timing of deferred compensation and equity distributions. We understand the separation rules and plan mechanics, we can help avoid unnecessary taxation or forfeiture.

Healthcare planning is another key component. We guide clients through Medicare decisions, bridge coverage if retiring before age 65, and the optimal use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as long-term tax-advantaged assets.

Finally, retirement success is not solely financial. We also discuss research around fulfillment, purpose, and social engagement in retirement. The data is clear that maintaining structure, relationships, and meaningful activity significantly improves long-term happiness and health outcomes for both men and women. Financial independence creates opportunity — but intentional planning helps ensure it translates into a rewarding next chapter.

In short, the goal is to move from asset accumulation to sustainable income generation in a thoughtful, tax-aware, and risk-adjusted way — giving clients confidence that their retirement is both financially secure and personally fulfilling.

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

Todd: For highly compensated Nike employees and executives, tax strategy is often one of the most important components of a comprehensive financial plan. For many executives, taxes represent the single largest expense in their personal cash flow. As a result, proactive tax optimization is not simply helpful — it is essential.

We begin by developing a clear understanding of the executive’s full compensation and cash flow picture, including salary, bonus structures, equity awards, deferred compensation, and other incentive programs. From there, we evaluate which benefit elections and compensation strategies create opportunities for tax efficiency, what risks accompany those decisions, and how the timing of income recognition or capital gains realization can be optimized. Thoughtful deferral of income or gains into strategically selected tax years can materially improve after-tax outcomes.

For international executives, the complexity increases significantly. Determining tax residency, understanding which jurisdictions have taxing authority, and identifying which assets may trigger taxation or penalties across borders is critical. Proper structuring can help minimize double taxation, preserve treaty benefits, and ensure full compliance while maintaining flexibility.

In addition to tax strategy, concentration risk is a significant and often underappreciated issue for Nike executives. Over time, various equity compensation programs — including RSUs, performance shares, and stock options — can create substantial exposure to a single company’s stock. While this can be a powerful wealth-building tool, it can also introduce material risk if not properly monitored. We regularly evaluate how concentrated a client’s balance sheet has become, assess whether that exposure aligns with their risk tolerance and long-term objectives, and determine whether diversification strategies are warranted. Left unmanaged, excessive concentration can jeopardize long-term goals if the stock underperforms at a critical time.

Finally, executives should evaluate tax and liquidity planning opportunities tied to career transitions, equity vesting cycles, or geographic moves. Planning around entry, exit, and relocation events — particularly when significant equity compensation is involved — can meaningfully enhance long-term wealth accumulation while managing downside risk.

For highly compensated executives, benefits planning, tax strategy, and risk management are inseparable. A disciplined, forward-looking approach can significantly reduce lifetime tax drag, mitigate concentration risk, and strengthen the probability of achieving long-term financial objectives.

Get to Know Todd Brundage, Financial Advisor for Nike Employees:

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

Are you a financial advisor who specializes in working with employees at Nike or another large company?

✅ Join Wealthtender and get featured as a specialist financial advisor based on your knowledge and experience working with employees at Nike or another large company. (Subject to availability and terms.)
Sign up today and join financial advisors attracting their ideal clients on Wealthtender
✅ Or request more information by email:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Your Nike Benefits or Career?




Are you ready to enjoy life more with less money stress?

Sign up to receive weekly insights from Wealthtender with useful money tips and fresh ideas to help you achieve your financial goals.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About the Author
Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender profile picture

Brian Thorp

Founder and CEO, Wealthtender

Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long to read the New York Times bestseller Million Dollar Weekend. I’m familiar with its author Noah Kagan, founder of major tech brand AppSumo and heavily involved in the launch of image sharing tool Imgur. I’ve read his blog, and listened to him on podcasts, and he gives good business advice, but I guess I let the title put me off. I don’t like crazy claims in book titles and we all know you can’t make a million bucks in a weekend.

Maybe I should have checked the subtitle before writing it off though. The book’s full title is Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours, which is a (slightly) more realistic aim. You’re not making a million this weekend, you’re coming up with and validating an idea that potentially will. Here’s what resonated with me.

The Fear of Starting and the (Bigger) Fear of Asking

Most of us fear starting something new, and if there’s a bigger fear than starting to sell something it’s the fear of asking for that first sale. It’s why we set up websites, storefronts or sales focused social channels and then don’t immediately start aggressively promoting them, running ads to them, or asking people to buy.

It’s not, of course, the asking that we’re scared of. It’s the answer. We’re scared it will be a no, and it mostly will be. Most sales professionals aim for a very low success rate when cold calling, sometimes a low as 1% — which means you potentially get to hear no 99 times before you get a yes. Good salespeople learn to simply see it as every no getting them a little closer to a yes. Kagan explains that it was his father who taught him:

“Love rejections! Collect them like treasure! Set rejection goals. I shoot for a hundred rejections each week, because if you work that hard to get so many noes, in them you will find a few yeses, too.”

Overcoming the fear of rejection is key to success, in almost anything. As a freelance writer I know this better than most.

Focus on What People Will Actually Buy

We all know we have to solve a real-world problem when we set up a business, and Kagan focuses on how to do that. He advises you address the problems you face yourself and those your potential customers face, but he also suggests a couple of other ways of finding something that will sell.

One tactic is to find something that takes a popular product you love and makes it even better. If you’re thinking about physical products this could be accessories or something that enhances the experience of using it, and it could be something very simple. Someone told me recently the best ‘gadget’ in her kitchen isn’t the dishwasher that makes washing up for a family of five a no-effort endeavor, but the sliding sign a friend bought her that goes on the front of it and lets everyone know whether the dishes are currently ‘dirty’ (yes you can put more in) or ‘clean’ (time to unload if you happen to be passing).

Online entrepreneurs succeed all the time with something that makes an existing product even better. One example is the YouTube channel that focuses on online tutorials to help you get the most out of a product you already own. Think how to level up in a video game, how to create the perfect make-up look, or how to convert your old work van into a cozy camper.

Validate Your Idea

Kagan suggests you do this by getting at least three sales in 48 hours, before you actually launch the business. That’s three actual pre-sales, from people who pay the money up front, not people who say they’ll probably buy if you make it. It sounds hard but in the online world it’s really not.

You run a webinar promoting a course you haven’t made yet and offer a pre-sale price. You post an excerpt of a book you’re writing on your blog and ask for pre-sales from your subscribers. You use an online platform like Kickstarter to see if people will invest cold hard cash in your idea, before the product is made.

I’m going to admit, 48 hours seems like too short a timeline to me. My instinct would be to give it longer, but who am I to contradict Kagan, who apparently sold over 200 subscriptions to Imgur in two days. That alone makes just three sales in 48 hours sound more doable.

If you’re looking to start a million-dollar business (or any profitable business) right now, Million Dollar Weekend is worth a read. Statistically, it’s unlikely you’ll make a million, but if you read carefully and apply thoroughly you’ll get a great sense of whether you’re on the right track to a viable business idea.

About the Author

Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine. Learn More About Karen

How a 1031 Exchange Powered Their Move from Landlord to Retiree, Providing More Income and Less Stress

Sometimes it’s hard to quantify the work that I do for clients—measuring outcomes from financial planning can be a tricky thing. Sure, I can track income tax savings or investment portfolio growth, but it can be challenging to measure the change in my clients’ overall quality of life through my financial planning services. To best illustrate the true impact of my services on the lives of my clients, I have decided to share the story of one of my clients as they transitioned to retirement and how we adapted their original plans to position them optimally for retirement.

I have changed a few details to protect the privacy of my clients, who are referenced below. To simplify the discussion, let’s refer to them as the Smiths.

Setting the Stage

The Smiths have been married for many years, working together to build a successful small business and, through savvy investment, had developed an extensive rental property portfolio.

As they approached 65 and turned their focus to retirement, we continued to work on analyzing and updating their financial plan. As business owners, they had effectively managed their tax burden, but also had not accumulated large payouts from Social Security or pensions. Their vision was always that their rental property portfolio would provide retirement security, but the issue was that they had lost motivation to continue managing the rental properties as landlords.

They wanted to retire truly, rather than deal with tenants and maintenance issues. The Smiths had accumulated approximately $1.8MM in Real Estate Assets (16 units), along with $750,000 in Brokerage account investments and another $ 400,000 in IRA accounts. The Smiths needed approximately $9,000 per month to live on in retirement, and Social Security would provide about $3,500 in monthly income (which for one spouse would be delayed until 70). The Smiths were earning about $65K net from their Real Estate after all of their expenses on the rentals were paid. After taking the time to thoroughly understand the Smiths’ unique circumstances and weigh their options, I was able to recommend an effective course of action that would achieve all of their retirement goals. EntryPoint’s solution—the 1031 Exchange Strategy—was designed to help the Smiths truly transition to retirement without landlord responsibilities, obtain at least $65,000 in annual income, and avoid creating a tax situation through the sale of their real estate assets.

The 1031 Exchange Strategy

By utilizing the 1031 Real Estate Exchange strategy, EntryPoint helped the Smiths execute each aspect of their planning situation. A 1031 Exchange allows investors to transition their Real Estate Investments to new holdings without incurring a tax liability. Investors must meet specific guidelines dictated by the IRS to complete the transaction without triggering income tax. In this case, the Smiths had a very low remaining cost basis (about $200K). The rest had been depreciated, meaning that if the Smiths did not complete the exchange correctly, they would have been subject to taxation on $1.6MM either from depreciation recapture or capital gains.

A Closer Look at Taxes

If the Smiths had sold their Real Estate holdings without completing an exchange, their $1.6MM in gains could have triggered almost $400,000 in personal taxes. And the Smiths would have been mostly reinvesting in the Stock Market, where cash yields are around 3%, not nearly high enough to meet their goals. Additionally, considerations would also reveal that the income would be earned on a much lower principal amount than the value of their Real Estate Portfolio. The choice to complete the exchange became easier when considering that the new Real Estate Investments would pay roughly 6% in distributions based on the entire principal, and the Smiths would keep the assets invested without paying taxes.

Reinvestment of the Exchange Proceeds

Through a 1031 Exchange, investors have two main choices: reinvest in personally managed real estate or choose passive real estate investments. Professional operators manage these passive real estate investments in high-quality real estate holdings in some of the best real estate markets in the United States. These passive investments are often institutional-quality properties in high-demand markets, providing diversification, higher-quality tenants, and eliminating landlord headaches. Many times, investors choosing these passive real estate investments will be moving from local real estate environments to upgrade their investment strategy through better opportunities. In this case, the Smiths opted for a passive approach. And as a result of their new portfolio, they state that “We are receiving more income while doing nothing. We wish we had done it sooner.”

Through the reinvestment of their real estate portfolio, the Smiths transitioned from single-family real estate to an infrastructure development fund and medical center in South Carolina, a land bank and retail shopping center in Texas, and a natural gas mineral rights property in Texas. They have achieved greater diversification through better investment holdings, along with increased cash flow, and can now entrust the management of their properties, allowing them to live their best retirement lifestyle. Of course, none of this would have happened if they had not first reached out to me to discuss their options.

If you would like to know more about my Retirement Planning Process and how I help high-net-worth individuals solve complex problems to achieve their best retirement situation. Reach out today to set up a personalized strategy session with me to uncover your next steps. I have helped corporate executives, business owners, and real estate investors, such as the Smiths, transition to retirement. Please get in touch, and I will help you navigate the complexities of your unique circumstances to find an effective solution that achieves your goals.

This article was originally published here and is republished on Wealthtender with permission.

About the Author

Headshot of Chris Ward, CFP®
Chris Ward, CFP® We help individuals achieve more success in their Life and Financial matters.

Chris Ward, CFP® | EntryPoint Wealth Management

I’ve said no to a lot recently.

The things I’ve turned down include:

  • New investment opportunities
  • New freelance clients
  • A bank account that paid me to open it

I’ve said yes to a few things too.

But only if I can also answer yes to these three questions.

Will This Move Me Closer to My Goals?

I have big goals for the next few years. I want to expand my business, grow my wealth, and simplify my life. And that’s exactly why I say no to a lot of things, because not everything serves those goals. I’m particularly wary of certain things.

Investments that promise big potential but come with very high risks just aren’t for me right now. They might be right for you, of course, depending on your age, life stage, net worth, and appetite for risk. This is why it’s important to have specific goals and see if the opportunities that arise for you support those goals.

New clients are only worth it for me if they are both high paying and offering work that really fires me up. I already have a handful of excellent, reliable clients, alongside a lot of other non-work responsibilities. It’s important that I say no to anything that’s going to make my work life harder, especially if the rates and terms being offered aren’t great.

A new account that offers a bonus just for opening it sounds great, but opening and managing new accounts makes life more complicated at a time when I’m trying to simplify it.

Are the Opportunity Costs Worth It?

There are always opportunity costs when it comes to both money and time. Time spent on a new client is time you could use to pitch other, better-paying, more aligned clients. Money in an investment account could be better invested elsewhere. Even the time used to open a new account could be better used, to either make more money or do something more worthwhile to you personally.

Time is, in many ways, our most important resource alongside money of course. So don’t waste time, and don’t tie up money in ways that make it hard to take advantage of better opportunities that might present themselves.

Will I Do the Opportunity Justice?

Even a great new high-paying client may not be worth taking on if you just don’t have the time or energy right now to do the opportunity justice. As a freelancer, saying no to anything can feel like professional suicide. The feast and famine nature of the work means turning down a lucrative opportunity is always hard. And if it’s a great gig but not that well-paid? The fact that your freelance portfolio is your primary way of impressing future clients means you always want to add to it so you can better showcase your skills.

Taking on any opportunity that you can’t put your all into, however, can do more harm than good. A job not-particularly-well-done doesn’t enhance your reputation. You’re better off waiting until you can give the opportunity the time and attention it deserves, or trusting that another opportunity will come if you miss this one.

Learning to say no to what doesn’t serve you financially is a skill in itself. It’s not always investments and clients. Sometimes it’s an expensive trip or just an extravagant night out. Sometimes it’s a personal commitment that will cost you time and money.

The key to knowing when to say no is often just about having really clear goals. That lets you answer the first question above easily, and can sometimes make the other two irrelevant. So set very clear, specific financial goals, and weight every new opportunity with those in mind.

About the Author

Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine. Learn More About Karen

How we spend dictates how much we can save and invest. It all starts with putting a few rules in place. Here are mine.

Big Purchases Are Never Made on Impulse

I never buy anything over $1,000 without deep research. Whether it’s a car, a vacation, a major household appliance or a new investment product. If it’s four figures or more there’s going to be a lot of research carried out and comparisons made before I hit the buy button.

Anything over $100 has a different rule. I wait 24 hours before buying. This avoids impulse spending on smaller but still significant purchases. This mindset becomes second nature over time. One day you’ll notice you’re using it for much smaller purchases too.

Big Expenses Are Kept to a Minimum

The common advice to stop buying coffee shop lattes when you need to save money is problematic for a simple reason. Coffee doesn’t cost that much, not compared to major expenses like housing or childcare. If you can find ways to rearrange your life to halve your housing or childcare costs, you’ll save significantly more than if you halve your coffee costs.

Throughout my life I’ve kept housing costs to less than 20% of my income, often much less. Strategies for this have varied. I’ve lived with family, roommates, and strangers. I’ve worked in return for housing while living abroad. I’ve lived in non-conventional housing. I’ve lived in Spain (where housing costs at the time were a fraction of those in my home country).

Are all these strategies practical for most people? Not really. But it’s worth thinking about what might work for you, even if it’s something drastic like relocation. If you start with your biggest expense, which for most of us is housing, and intentionally look at ways to reduce it to the lowest possible figure, it can make a huge difference over time.

I Don’t Buy Things I Don’t Need

This seems obvious, but most of us aren’t even close to following this rule. Look at your last ten purchases. How many were true needs? When it comes to basic things like clothes I don’t buy anything until I’ve checked my closet to see if I own something very similar. I almost always do.

My biggest tip here is to do a big declutter and actually organise your possessions. It may seem counter intuitive, but when you have less, you’re more aware of what you actually own. You don’t end up buying another version of something that you actually already have stuck in a closet, kitchen cupboard, or junk draw.

I Think of Spending in Terms of Life Energy

This is a concept covered in the book Your Money or Your Life by Joseph R. Dominguez and Vicki Robin. The authors urge readers to see money itself as life energy, given that most of us exchange precious reserves of energy – and hours of time – for the dollars in our paychecks.

How much time and energy does it take for you to earn $500? Thinking like this puts big purchases in a whole new light. Is that new item really worth 10 hours of your time and energy? Or 20, or 100?

This actually works both ways. Some things ‘cost’ several hours and only bring you one hour of low-level enjoyment. They’re probably not worth it. Some things only ‘cost’ an hour of your life but will bring you a lot of joy, sometimes for years to come. They’re the true high-value purchases.

I Design My Environment

My environment isn’t set up for spending. I don’t save payment details for next time when I check out online. I unsubscribe from marketing emails. I don’t scroll endlessly on social sites that are always trying to sell you something, directly or indirectly. I enjoy most of my leisure time in non-retail environments (up a mountain or on a secluded beach when I can).

Your environment has a big impact on your behaviour. Make sure it’s not screaming at you to indulge in unnecessary spending.

I Focus on Creating Much More Than Consuming

I’m a professional writer, a (very) amateur photographer, and a creative in general. I’d make something than buy something. My daily activities are much more focused on creating than consuming.

We’ve become a society where consumption is — for many of us — built into our daily lives in multiple ways. Creating isn’t. We have to seek it out. But when we do, we tend to save money and feel more fulfilled. Creative hobbies are worth cultivating.

These rules help me because they’re specific and strategic. If you’ve set yourself a vague rule like ‘spend less money’ it’s hard to implement because there’s no actual strategy there. Consider these instead.

About the Author

Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine. Learn More About Karen

A wealth advisor who specializes in serving construction business owners and individual contractors can help you spend more time building your business with less money stress.

As a construction business owner, you must overcome unique financial planning obstacles in order to achieve near and long-term success. From supplier shortages and missed delivery timetables to weather events that can literally freeze business operations, there’s no shortage of factors that can severely strain your balance sheet.

A wealth advisor who understands these challenges intimately can become a valuable partner committed to helping you succeed.

You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial professionals well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a wealth advisor who specializes in working with construction business owners.

Fortunately, many financial professionals can work with you virtually, so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live. This means you can choose to hire a specialist who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with construction business owners is a better fit to help with your unique financial planning needs.

Financial Planning for Construction Business Owners

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial professionals who work with construction business owners to help them make smart decisions to enjoy life more today while preparing for a comfortable retirement in the future.

🙋‍♀️ Do you have questions not answered below? Use the form on this page to submit your questions, and we’ll update this article with answers from the financial professionals and educators in the Wealthtender community. You can also contact the financial professionals featured in this article directly to set up an introductory call or ask your questions by email.

Find a Financial Advisor Who Specializes in Financial Planning for Construction Business Owners

📍 Click on a pin in the map view below for a preview of financial advisors who specialize in financial planning for construction business owners.

📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.

Showing

💸 Smart Money Insights for Construction Business Owners

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

  1. Q&A with Financial Professionals Specializing in Serving Construction Business Owners
  2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Financial Planning for Construction Business Owners
  3. Browse Related Articles

Q&A: Financial Professionals Specializing in Serving Construction Business Owners

Answers to Construction Business Owner Questions with Jason Berube

Q: What is a common financial planning challenge unique to construction business owners that you frequently encounter when working with your clients? How do you work with them to overcome this challenge?

Jason: One of the most common financial planning challenges my clients face is overpaying in taxes. Because they aren’t working yet with one dedicated person to manage their financial world, they’re often receiving disjointed, reactive advice from various individuals (like tax preparers, accountants, or insurance brokers). With no one to facilitate these conversations and take a proactive approach to planning, clients often end up giving away more of their money to taxes than they need to.

When construction business owners come to me, I make it a priority to evaluate their current tax strategy and identify opportunities to make it more efficient. I look for proactive ways to help them increase their wealth without having to alter their lifestyle.

Q: For construction business owners who are unsure whether or not they should hire a financial professional at the current stage of their business, what guidance can you provide to help them make a more informed and educated decision?

Jason: Construction business owners at any stage of business, whether they’re just getting off the ground or preparing to retire, experience unique financial challenges. No matter where they are in the life cycle of their business, they are managing a balancing act between their personal and business finances.

I take an all-encompassing approach by serving as my clients’ personal CFO. Using my own experience in business and construction, I help them tackle their biggest challenges from cash flow, tax planning, and estate planning to strategically investing back into their business and preparing a robust transition plan.

The more net worth a business owner accumulates, the more complex their financial landscape becomes. Building a healthy foundation now is essential to preserving that wealth over time and making purposeful decisions that align with a client’s long-term goals.

Q: How do the services you offer construction business owners distinguish your services from other financial professionals?

Jason: A huge reason why I work with the people I do is that they often amass a significant amount of wealth, but struggle to navigate the complexities of it. They might be juggling a bunch of disjointed advisors from accountants to estate planning attorneys or even real estate agents. But the problem is, nobody’s there to take the reigns and facilitate clear communication between all parties.

So with that in mind, the services I offer distinguish me from other advisors in two ways. First, I step in and serve as my client’s personal Chief Financial Officer, or CFO. And second, I implement a tax strategy designed to help them increase wealth without sacrificing their lifestyle.

Through my approach to all-encompassing planning, I’m able to help my clients work proactively to grow and preserve their wealth without having to manage the relationships between their full team of financial professionals on their own.

Get to Know Jason Berube, Wealth Coach for Construction Business Owners:

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

Q: When you first speak with a construction business owner, 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: Anytime I meet with a new construction business owner or contractor, I have them fill out my Discovery Questionnaire. This is a comprehensive document that helps me better understand the fundamentals of their business, such as when it was founded, total revenue, number of employees, and other key data points.

I also include questions about their business’s entity structure, expenses, retirement plan, insurance coverage, history with tax compliance, and other areas of potential concern.

Armed with this information, I’m better prepared to analyze my client’s current financial situation and develop solutions to address their unique needs and goals.

Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a construction business owner client when you first realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?

Jason: I proudly come from a long line of business owners, and more specifically, construction company business owners. Many of my family members worked hard from the ground up to build successful, family-owned businesses, which I know from experience is no easy feat.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been able to identify a few areas of specific concern for construction business owner clients.

First and foremost, these business owners need a succession plan that dictates what happens to the business when the owner passes away, becomes unable to work, or retires. They also need an asset protection strategy that keeps their expensive equipment, land, and property protected from legal claims, theft, or damage.

I’ve also seen a need in this particular industry for cash flow management, especially considering how cyclical the nature of business is. With projects often lasting months (even years) and payment often withheld til the end, cash flow can be a big challenge for these business owners. And with cash flow comes tax planning, an area in which I’ve seen too many business owners overpay, simply because no one’s ever been in their corner to help them minimize their tax obligation.

🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Financial Planning for Construction Business Owners?

About the Author
Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender profile picture

Brian Thorp

Founder and CEO, Wealthtender

Brian and his wife live in Texas, enjoying the diversity of Houston and the vibrancy of Austin.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

A dynamic asset allocation investment strategy employed by financial advisors attempts to reduce risks by adjusting portfolio holdings based on timely factors.

When the stock market declines by 1%, 5%, or 20%, should you be concerned if your investment portfolio earmarked for your retirement falls by an equal amount?

The answer will depend upon your investment objectives and tolerance for risk. Unfortunately, for many people who thought their portfolios were diversified and protected from suffering declines just as severe as major stock market pullbacks, the 2008 Financial Crisis and the 2020 COVID Crash proved otherwise.

While no investment strategy with exposure to asset classes like stocks and bonds is immune to losses when prices fall, a dynamic asset allocation approach attempts to reduce the severity of declines in investment portfolios when markets pull back while still achieving the long-term performance returns needed to meet investment objectives.

Suffice it to say that constructing and monitoring dynamic asset allocation portfolios requires considerable education, confidence, and fortitude. If you’re interested in the potential benefits of investing with a dynamic asset allocation approach, you may want to hire a financial advisor who specializes in this area.

You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who specializes in building and managing dynamic asset allocation portfolios for their clients.

Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live. This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience managing portfolios using a dynamic asset allocation approach is a better fit to help with your unique financial planning needs.

Financial Advisors Who Specialize in Dynamic Asset Allocation

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who specialize in building portfolios using dynamic asset allocation to help their clients achieve their investment goals with the potential for reduced losses when markets decline.

🙋‍♀️ Do you have questions not answered below? Use the form on this page to submit your questions, and we’ll update this article with answers from the financial professionals and educators in the Wealthtender community. You can also contact the financial advisors featured in this article directly to set up an introductory call or ask your questions by email.

Find a Financial Advisor Who Specializes in Dynamic Asset Allocation

📍 Click on a pin in the map view below for a preview of financial advisors who specialize in dynamic asset allocation.

📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.

Showing

📊 Get to Know Financial Advisors Who Specialize in Dynamic Asset Allocation

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

  1. Q&A with Financial Advisors Specializing in Dynamic Asset Allocation
  2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Dynamic Asset Allocation
  3. Browse Related Articles

Q&A: Financial Advisors Specializing in Dynamic Asset Allocation

Get to Know:

↗️ Todd Stankiewicz (Harrison, New York) | ↗️ Zack Swad (Santa Rosa, California)

Answers to Investing Questions with Todd Stankiewicz, CFP®, ChFC®, CMT®, ABFP®, EA

We asked Harrison, New York-based financial advisor Todd Stankiewicz who specializes in managing dynamic asset allocation portfolios for his clients, to help us learn more about the potential benefits of this approach to portfolio construction.

Q: How does your approach to dynamic asset allocation differ from a traditional buy-and-hold strategy?

Todd: Buy-and-hold sounds disciplined until you are sitting across from a client who just watched half their portfolio disappear. I have been through it. In 2008, the S&P 500 dropped roughly 57% from peak to trough. In early 2020, markets fell over 30% in a matter of weeks. In 2022, both stocks and bonds declined together, leaving traditional “balanced” portfolios with nowhere to hide. That was not merely a drawdown; it was a correlation breakdown. The foundational assumption behind the classic 60/40 portfolio, that bonds provide ballast when stocks fall, failed for the first time in decades. Investors who believed they were balanced had no refuge, facing a fundamentally different kind of risk than a pure equity selloff. 

The emotional and financial damage from those drawdowns is real, and for many people it takes years to recover, if they recover at all.

My approach is built around responding to what the market is actually doing, not hoping it will bounce back on schedule. As a Chartered Market Technician, I use price trends, momentum signals, and technical indicators as an early warning system. When the weight of the evidence shifts, we shift. The goal is not to predict the future or time every move perfectly. It is to recognize deteriorating conditions early enough to reduce exposure before a routine pullback turns into a devastating loss. A static portfolio forces you to sit and absorb the full impact. A dynamic approach gives you the ability to act.

Q: Who is the ideal client for a dynamic asset allocation strategy?

Todd: The clients who benefit most from this approach are people who do not have the luxury of waiting it out. At the top of that list is the business owner. Their company is often their largest asset, and it is completely illiquid. The investment portfolio sitting alongside that business is their financial lifeline. If markets drop 40% and they need to make payroll, fund operations, or protect their family’s lifestyle, they cannot afford to wait three to five years for a recovery. Their liquid wealth has to stay intact and accessible.

I also work with pre-retirees in that critical window between 50 and 70 who have spent decades building wealth and are approaching the finish line. A deep drawdown at that stage can delay retirement by years. And for clients already in retirement who are taking regular distributions, the math gets even more unforgiving. Selling into a declining market locks in losses permanently. 

That is sequence-of-returns risk, and it is the single biggest threat to a retiree’s long-term financial security. 

The threat is not limited to a stock market crash. As 2022 showed, an environment where supposedly safe bond allocations fail at exactly the wrong time can be just as damaging. Dynamic allocation is built to potentially detect not only drawdowns, but also shifts in correlation, when the old defensive playbook stops working. The common thread across all of these clients is straightforward: they need their portfolio to work for them right now, not just eventually.

Q: Does dynamic asset allocation cost more, and how do you think about the value it provides?

Todd: I think the cost question gets framed backwards most of the time. People fixate on the advisory fee, but the real cost in investing is the loss you cannot recover from. If your portfolio drops 50%, you need a 100% gain just to get back to even. That is not a typo. A 100% gain. Depending on where we are in the market cycle, that recovery can take years. After the Dot Com Bubble Burst it took over 10 years for the S&P 500 Index and to reach previous highs. For someone who needs that capital for their business, their retirement, or their family, those years matter enormously.

At SYKON Capital, we operate on a fee-only model. We do not earn commissions or receive compensation for product sales. Standard regulatory trading costs, such as SEC fees, may apply as they do with any brokerage account, but there are no advisor incentives tied to how often we trade or what we recommend. The fee is transparent, and it is aligned with one outcome: growing and protecting your wealth. 

The value of dynamic allocation is not just the potential to sidestep the worst of a downturn. It is also the confidence it gives clients to stay invested and engaged with their plan instead of panic-selling at the bottom, which is where the most permanent damage happens. In our experience, that combination of downside awareness and emotional stability is worth far more than the fee.

Q: What role does liquidity play in how you construct dynamic portfolios for your clients?

Todd: At SYKON Capital, liquidity is king. It is the foundation of everything we build. We seek to hold positions in instruments that have traditionally been liquid and trade on public exchanges: stocks, ETFs, and funds that can be bought or sold on any trading day under normal market conditions. We do not generally use alternatives, private placements, or any vehicle with a lock-up period. The reason is simple: if you cannot move, you cannot adapt. And the entire point of dynamic allocation is the ability to adapt when conditions change.

This matters especially for business owners. Their company is already illiquid. It cannot be sold overnight if they need capital. Their investment portfolio should not add another layer of illiquidity on top of that. When a business owner needs to pull funds for an unexpected expense or an opportunity, the portfolio should be ready. The same applies to retirees taking income distributions. If part of your portfolio is locked up in a fund with a multi-year redemption schedule, you lose the flexibility that makes dynamic management effective. We aim to keep our clients in a position where they can act quickly, whether the goal is to reduce risk during a downturn or to access capital when life demands it.


Q: Does dynamic asset allocation mean you are always playing defense?

Todd: That is probably the biggest misconception about this approach, and it is worth clearing up. Dynamic asset allocation is not a strategy built around hiding in cash and waiting for the storm to pass. It is built around following the evidence. And when the evidence says markets are trending higher, the goal is to be fully invested and participating in that upside.

Think about the bull runs following 2009, 2020, and the AI-driven surge of 2023 and 2024. Investors who sat on the sidelines waiting for the next crash missed some of the most powerful rallies in market history. One of the biggest risks in investing is not just being down in a bear market. It is being out of the market during a bull market. 

Dynamic allocation, done well, keeps you invested when conditions support it and reduces exposure when they do not.

As a Chartered Market Technician, I use technical signals to read market momentum and trend strength, not just deterioration. When price action and breadth are confirming a healthy uptrend, that is a signal to stay engaged, not to retreat. The daily noise, the recession headlines, the geopolitical fears, the predictions about where the market is headed next week, none of that drives portfolio decisions. The data does. That discipline is what allows clients to tune out the noise and stay invested in strong markets with conviction, rather than second-guessing every move higher.

Dynamic allocation is not about avoiding markets. It is about trying to be in the right position for the environment in front of you.

Get to Know Todd Stankiewicz, Financial Advisor and Dynamic Asset Allocation Specialist:

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


Answers to Investing Questions with Zack Swad, CFP®, CWS®, BFA™, AWMA®, AAMS®

We asked Santa Rosa, California-based financial advisor Zack Swad who specializes in managing dynamic asset allocation portfolios for his clients, to help us learn more about the potential benefits of this approach to portfolio construction.

Q: When meeting with new clients, how do you describe what dynamic asset allocation is?

Zack: A dynamic asset allocation is an alternative to a strategic allocation, which is typically based on “Modern Portfolio Theory” (MPT). Unlike a strategic allocation, which has a mostly-fixed percentage in each asset class (stocks, bonds, etc.), a dynamic allocation considers certain factors to determine which investments make the most sense at a given time.

Pretend you (and your investment portfolio) are in an airplane, and you have a pilot (the portfolio manager) flying the plane. The pilot can see through the windshield, and he also has an indicator dashboard. The indicator dashboard begins to blink and sends a signal to the pilot, informing him that if he keeps flying in the same direction and at the same speed, he will run into a storm in twenty minutes. What does the pilot do? Of course, he will try to avoid the storm. He will change course, or he may need to slow down or lower the plane.

A dynamic asset allocation works similarly. It attempts to avoid catastrophic losses by actively managing the risk in a portfolio. At the same time, because a dynamic allocation typically does a better job of avoiding large losses, it doesn’t need to return as much when the markets are up. As you can see in the “Ugly Math” chart below, the less a portfolio declines, the less return it needs to get back to even and start making new profits.

The "Ugly Math" - Return needed to breakeven after decline.

For example, if you have $1,000,000 and lost 10%, you would have $900,000. To get back to even, you would need to make $100,000 or an 11% return. On the other hand, if you have $1,000,000 and experience a 50% loss (similar to what was seen for “buy-and-hold” stock investors during the 2008 financial crisis), you would then have $500,000. To get back to even, you would need to make $500,000 or double your investment (i.e., 100% return), which can take many years and is tough to bear psychologically.

Different managers use different factors and indicators to determine how to make allocation changes, so it’s important to learn more about their specific processes. You can read more about our process in the “What is an adaptive asset allocation” part of our FAQs section on our website. I’m also happy to provide research papers that I’ve used to inform our investment philosophy and process. Simply email info@swadwealth.com for more information.

Q: How did you first learn about dynamic asset allocation, and what led you to specialize in managing dynamic asset allocation portfolios for your clients?

Zack: I first learned about dynamic asset allocation while I worked as an advisor at Charles Schwab. Charles Schwab had a strategy called “Windhaven” that utilized this approach. Also, one of their partner RIA firms that I worked with had been successful for decades by using an active risk management approach. This inspired me to do more research on the topic, so I began reading countless books and research papers. I found that there were certain factors and indicators that have worked consistently throughout history, providing superior returns with less risk.

Furthermore, as someone who specializes in retirement planning, many of my clients cannot afford a major loss in their portfolio, which could significantly delay their retirement or force them back to work if they are already retired. I believe a dynamic allocation approach does a better job of mitigating that risk for them compared to a strategic allocation.

Get to Know Zack Swad, Financial Advisor and Dynamic Asset Allocation Specialist:

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

Q: Are there particular market environments where you feel dynamic asset allocation is especially valuable to investors?

Zack: I believe a dynamic allocation is best in any market environment; however, it is especially valuable when interest rates or inflation are rising. Traditional portfolios typically have a fixed percentage of their assets in bonds. Unfortunately, bond performance can be hampered by rising rates and inflation. A dynamic allocation allows an investor to move into areas that may be better suited for the current environment instead of holding all asset classes at all times.

Investors need to be careful when considering making a change to a dynamic allocation during bear markets. It’s important to talk to a financial advisor to see if it is “too late” to reduce the risk in your portfolio and determine if there are any tax considerations.

Q: How does the cost of a dynamic asset allocation portfolio compare with a strategic asset allocation? 

Zack: Commissions can be higher with a dynamic asset allocation because there is the potential for more trading. Also, because a dynamic asset allocation requires more research and attention, some advisors may charge more for this investment approach. Lastly, because there is more trading or “turnover,” the strategy can incur more taxes if held in a taxable account. With that being said, based on research, I believe the tax drag of our strategies is outweighed by the risk management and return potential.

Q: How do you work with clients to determine whether their investments will be managed with a dynamic or strategic asset allocation?

Zack: When I first started in the industry over 11 years ago, I believed there was only one way to do things. However, after working with hundreds of real people, I found it wasn’t that simple. People are complex, and companies like Dalbar have proven over and over again that investing and savings behavior is the number one factor on an investor’s portfolio return. 

Because of this, I educate and ask my clients questions to help determine their investment philosophy. Then, I will align their portfolio to that philosophy, which I believe will give them the best chance of success. The key to investing is sticking with a well-thought-out strategy, one that you will stick with in good times and bad times. Where most people go wrong is they want to change their strategy or allocation style at the wrong time.

Q: For people interested in learning more about dynamic or adaptive asset allocation, are there online resources you recommend people consider?

Zack: For those interested in learning more about dynamic, tactical, and adaptive asset allocation styles, I recommend checking out the extensive work, research, and white papers produced by Mebane Faber. Meb is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Cambria Investment Management and the author of multiple books on investing.

I would also look into the work done by Gary Antonnaci and his book “Dual Momentum Investing: An Innovative Strategy for Higher Returns with Lower Risk.” Gary has over 40 years of experience as an investment professional, received his MBA from Harvard, and his research on momentum investing was the first place winner in 2013 and the second place winner in 2012 of the Founders Award for Advances in Active Investment Management given annually by the National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM). 

Are you a financial advisor who specializes in dynamic asset allocation?

✅ Join Wealthtender and get featured as a specialist financial advisor based on your knowledge and experience. (Subject to availability and terms.)
Sign up today and join financial advisors attracting their ideal clients on Wealthtender
✅ Or request more information by email:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Resources to Help You Choose a Financial Advisor

Top Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor

How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?

🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Dynamic Asset Allocation?

About the Author
Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender profile picture

Brian Thorp

Founder and CEO, Wealthtender

Brian and his wife live in Texas, enjoying the diversity of Houston and the vibrancy of Austin.

With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

There’s nothing like a crisp morning, a hot cup of coffee, and a great read. Visualizing what your life in retirement will look like is another relaxing activity—perhaps during a stressful workday!

Combining the two activities can go a long way toward planning for your retirement. There are many publications, podcasts, and videos out there these days to help us figure out our retirement journey. And there are so many topics, aren’t there?

Investments, taxes, Social Security & Medicare, estate planning, and insurance are just some areas on the minds of retirement savers and the financial advisors serving as guides to help their clients enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Here are several popular retirement planning books to help you make smarter financial choices when preparing for your golden years, including books written by financial professionals in the Wealthtender community.

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Retirement Planning (Larimore)

“The Bogleheads” are investors who adhere to the simple yet profound wisdom of John C. Bogle, founder of Vanguard Group. Some of the key tenets of retirement planning, per the Bogleheads, are to keep investment costs low, simplify your financial life, know which account types to maximize first, and insure against the inevitable setbacks along your journey. This book is a great read for beginners looking for a no-nonsense take on how to get started preparing for your life after work.

WEALTHTENDER PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASE

A man with light brown hair wearing a blue suit jacket and a light blue dress shirt smiles in front of a plain blue background.

The Summit and Beyond : Your Map to the Retirement You Deserve (Decima)

Brennan Decima, Decima Wealth Consulting

Retirement is a major milestone and a testament to years of preparation and discipline.  After the big day, many people are wondering what to do next.   I wrote Beyond the Summit to give readers a clear map to not only finding fulfillment in retirement but also the tools they need to fund it financially.

After helping thousands of clients transition into retirement, the ones that consistently thrive share similar patterns and demonstrate the same habits.  In this book, I share the stories and lessons learned from clients enjoying their adventure the most. Beyond the Summit is your map to give you confidence on your retirement journey. (View on Amazon)


Brennan Decima: Website | Wealthtender Profile

A colorful illustration of a climber scaling a geometric mountain under a bright sun, with a river, pine trees, and vibrant sky. Text reads: "The Summit and Beyond: Your Map to the Retirement You Deserve - Brennan Decima.

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing (Bogle)

You can learn about retirement straight from the horse’s mouth, too. Bogle wrote several editions of this classic read before his passing in 2019. Dubbed an investing “Bible” by some, Jack’s words offer everyday folks the keys to getting the most out of investment dollars. The “buy and hold” approach is a time-tested method for building long-term wealth, according to the author.

WEALTHTENDER PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASE

Guy Davis CFA

Navigating the Street: A Better Approach to Investing (Davis)

Guy Davis, GCI Investors

“I wrote and published a book on this topic, Navigating the Street: A Better Approach to Investing, and 100% believe every private investor should read it. I’ve been an institutional investor for many, many years, and have seen firsthand so many misleading practices, products, and marketing to individuals.

The investment industry does a terrible job of being open with investors, being fair with them, and providing real solutions. I wrote the book to show investors behind the curtain, and help them understand what’s really happening, and help them understand the products they’re being sold constantly.

People just can’t sift through what’s right and what’s helpful for them when they think about managing their assets. This shouldn’t be the case.”

The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb (Slott)

Diving deeper into the nuances of retirement planning, we can look to one of the world’s foremost experts, Ed Slott, on a complex topic for retail investors and professional advisors alike: tax planning. Understanding the tax code can be a tricky proposition. It seems lawmakers are constantly changing things around. Slott is regarded as among the most knowledgeable financial professionals on the topic of IRAs. This book can help you take control of your financial portfolio, avoid unnecessary taxes, and mitigate risks. You might know Ed from his many appearances on public television and financial networks. He is a frequent contributor to many popular investment publications, as well.

More Than Money (Castelli, Due, Schulte)

The book “More Than Money” emphasizes that money is not the sole key to a fulfilling life. Instead, it shows us how we can use money as a tool to achieve our goals, support our vision, and enhance our enjoyment, as well as prepare for life’s tough challenges.

The authors of this book are true professionals and experts in their financial fields and provide some invaluable insights into financial planning. They have also gone beyond sharing financial advice by donating all the book’s net proceeds to two non-profit organizations dedicated to helping people gain access to financial planning resources.

Learn More: A Book Review of ‘More Than Money’: Real Life Financial Planning Stories and a Guide to Prosperity

WEALTHTENDER PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASE

Professional man in a gray suit smiling confidently against a white background.

Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps (Keil)

Jeremy Keil, Keil Financial Partners

“I wrote Retire Today after seeing how often retirement advice focuses almost entirely on saving and investing, but not on what happens when work ends. In my experience, the real complexity begins when you need to coordinate retirement income, taxes, Social Security, and investments into one cohesive plan.

In this book, I outline a five-step Retirement Master Plan designed to help you think through your retirement income, asset withdrawal, tax strategies, Social Security timing, investment allocation, and legacy decisions. Rather than presenting isolated tactics, I explain how these decisions interact and why you need to coordinate your retirement planning decisions.

Retire Today is written for those within five years of retirement who want structure around important financial decisions. My goal is to present retirement income planning, tax strategy, and long-term planning concepts in straightforward language so readers can approach retirement with greater clarity and confidence.” (View on Amazon)


Jeremy Keil: Website | Wealthtender Profile

Book cover with the title: "Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps" by Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®. The text is in bold orange and black on a white background.

Retirement Planning Guidebook (Pfau)

Wade Pfau is one of the preeminent retirement researchers. As a Professor of Retirement Income, holding a Ph.D. and the CFA Charter, Pfau’s insights into complex areas such as annuities, investments, and insurance are sought by even the savviest financial advisors. In this book, Pfau explains in plain English how people can understand their personal retirement income style. The author then dives into how to strategize Social Security benefits. The alphabet soup that is Medicare is outlined, along with how best to approach finding health coverage in retirement.

Happy Money: The New Science of Smarter Spending (Dunn)

Retirement planning isn’t all about the numbers. An often-overlooked aspect of preparing for the drawdown phase is knowing what kinds of spending habits make you happy. It’s a sad situation when someone saves and saves throughout their working years, but then never figures out what expenditures bring joy. After all, retirement is said to be “funded contentment,” says Brian Portnoy, author of The Geometry of Wealth. Elizabeth Dunn and Dr. Michael Norton, who penned Happy Money, go through the science of spending to optimize pleasure. (View on Amazon)

WEALTHTENDER PROFESSIONAL SHOWCASE

A professional man in a suit with a purple tie smiling confidently against a grey background.

18 to 80: A Simple and Practical Guide to Money and Retirement for All Ages (Lyons)

Darryl Lyons, Pax Financial Group

“I wrote the book 18 to 80 in an effort to fill in the gap that exists in the retirement book space.

In this book, a person can simply open a chapter, find their age, and identify what financial area needs to be addressed in their lives. Because many retirees have kids and parents, they often jump to their kid’s age for financial advice and their parents’ age for financial thoughts.” (View on Amazon)

Darryl Lyons: Website | Wealthtender Profile

A simple and practical guide to money and retirement for all ages" - a book cover with a financial theme, featuring bold typography and a numerical design element signifying various life stages.

The Psychology of Money (Housel)

Among the most prolific and captivating financial writers of our time is unquestionably Morgan Housel. In this 2020 work, he powerfully uses stories to demonstrate tried and true methods of earning, saving, and investing money. You might be surprised at how easy it is to build a solid portfolio through the decades. As the title suggests, human psychology plays a pivotal role in how we behave financially. Equipped with the knowledge Housel provides, you can better understand what true wealth means to you.

Can I Retire? (Piper)

Rounding out our list is a classic by Mike Piper. Without using technical jargon, readers will understand how to use annuities to minimize what might be the biggest fear of retirees: outliving their money. This book also helps retirement savers know how much they will need to fund their future needs. A key question is also addressed: Should you save in a Roth or Traditional IRA? Finally, asset allocation strategies and tax tips can aid even the most seasoned investor. Piper’s CPA background comes through, and your eyes will not be glazed over!

These titles are just a few of so many resources advisors and individual investors can use to learn about both the basics of retirement saving and advanced financial planning strategies. In a world with growing complexity when it comes to investing and planning, it is imperative to stay abreast of the latest rules and trends. At the same time, however, there are classic reads that stand the test of time.

WEALTHTENDER FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL PICKS

We asked financial professionals in the Wealthtender community to share their favorite books about retirement planning. Here’s what they said.

Headshot of Stephanie McCullough
Stephanie McCullough Dedicated to women on their own who want a true partner in $$ decision-making.

“One of the most practical retirement books I know is written by Emily Guy Birken. All her stuff is great, but The Five Years Before You Retire is especially on-point. Emily guides readers through all the key decisions they need to be thinking about at this crucial financial phase of life, with the important context and educational material to help make informed choices. It’s comprehensive and approachable!”

Show more

Stephanie McCullough | Sofia Financial


Find Your Next Financial Advisor on Wealthtender

Beyond picking up a great retirement planning book, hiring a financial advisor can be a smart way to make the transition from your career into your golden years.

📍 Click on a pin in the map view below for a preview of financial advisors who can help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. Or choose the grid view to search our directory of financial advisors with additional filtering options.

📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.

Showing

Are you ready to enjoy life more with less money stress?

Sign up to receive weekly insights from Wealthtender with useful money tips and fresh ideas to help you achieve your financial goals.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Mike Zaccardi CFA

About the Author

Mike Zaccardi, CFA®

Mike is a freelance writer for financial advisors and investment firms. He’s a CFA® charterholder and Chartered Market Technician®, and has passed the coursework for the Certified Financial Planner program. 

Learn More About Mike