Client story
44, high income, high tax, stock options vesting.
Before · 84With a plan · 100+
5075100
$18.4k less tax in year oneThe three moves
- ✓Backdoor Roth every January
- ✓Options exercised over 3 years
- ✓Donor-advised fund for giving
“I was earning well and still felt behind. Now April is boring.”
A busy surgeon with a big income and a bigger tax bill.
Where she started
Options vesting, no plan for exercising them, and charitable giving done by card in December.
What we changed
- A backdoor Roth contribution every January
- Options exercised over three tax years instead of one
- Giving moved into a donor-advised fund, front-loaded in a high-income year
The result
$18,400 less tax in the first year and a retirement date she can plan around.