Topic
Tech Worker Money
Tech compensation is weird. Between base salary, RSUs, options, bonuses, and the alphabet soup of tax-advantaged accounts, most engineers are leaving significant money on the table without realizing it. These posts cover RSU vesting and whether to hold or sell immediately, the mega backdoor Roth (and whether your 401k plan supports it), the HSA triple-tax-advantage play, and 401k contribution math that actually makes sense. Written by someone in tech, not by a financial services marketing department.
23 articles in this topic.
Featured posts
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NQDC Plans: Worth the Employer Risk?
Non-qualified deferred compensation can cut your tax bill, but the balance is an unsecured IOU from your employer. Here is when an NQDC plan is worth the risk.
13 min read -
State Tax Residency When You Move
Moving from California or New York to Texas? Your old state may still tax you. Domicile, the 184-day test, the convenience rule and audits, with 2025 numbers.
13 min read -
Concentrated Stock: Sell or Exchange Fund?
Exchange funds defer tax on a concentrated stock position for 7 years but cost 1%+ a year and require $500k+ minimums. Here's when they actually beat selling.
11 min read -
Which Account to Drain First
Taxable, then traditional, then Roth is a fine default at 65 and a costly one at 45. The bracket-filling alternative, with the 2026 tax math worked out.
18 min read -
Donate Stock, Not Cash
If you give to charity and hold appreciated stock, writing a check is the worst option. Donating shares skips capital gains tax and still deducts full value.
14 min read -
The IPO Lockup Playbook
The lockup lifts, your double-trigger RSUs vest all at once, and the 22% flat withholding doesn't cover what you'll actually owe. Here's the IPO game plan.
11 min read
All Tech Worker Money articles
- NQDC Plans: Worth the Employer Risk?
- State Tax Residency When You Move
- Concentrated Stock: Sell or Exchange Fund?
- Which Account to Drain First
- Donate Stock, Not Cash
- The IPO Lockup Playbook
- QSBS: The $10M Tax Break
- RSU Taxes When You Move States
- HDHP vs PPO: Open Enrollment Math
- The Layoff Money Playbook
- The 83(b) Election: Your 30-Day Window
- ISO vs NSO: Options and the AMT Trap
- Financial Order of Operations
- Roth vs Traditional: Which One?
- Rolling Over Your Old 401k: A Checklist
- Backdoor Roth IRA: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Reading Your RSU Grant Without a Lawyer
- ESPP: Don't Leave Free Money on the Table
- 401k Math: What You're Actually Saving
- Stock Options vs RSUs: Which Is Better?
- Mega Backdoor Roth Explained
- The HSA Triple Tax Advantage
- RSU 101: Sell or Hold? The Math