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Tax Basics

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Financial Planning Guide

Social Security: When To Claim, How To Help Maximize, and Common Mistakes To Avoid

A comprehensive guide to Social Security claiming strategies, including when to start benefits, six ways to help maximize your monthly payment, and seven common mistakes to avoid.

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Tax Planning Podcast

Episode 530 – Year-End Financial Planning Checklist

John Walker and Jason O’Meara discuss key year-end planning steps: maxing retirement contributions, taking RMDs, managing inherited IRAs, and Roth conversions before Dec. 31.

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Tax Planning Article

Planning a California Residency Change Before Your Liquidity Event

Changing California residency before a liquidity event requires careful planning. Learn the two-year timeline, safe harbor rules, and strategies to help reduce your tax exposure.

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Women & Wealth Article

Financial Planning for Women Business Owners: Beyond the Business

Women business owners may face distinct financial planning challenges. Learn how to coordinate investments, tax, estate, and insurance strategies that go beyond the business.

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What Clients Ask Guide

How To Choose a Wealth Management Firm at $1M-$10M: The Complete Guide

Learn how to choose a wealth management firm: Discover the questions to ask, fee structures, fiduciary standards, and integrated solutions that can help protect and grow your wealth.

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Retirement Article

What Are QLACs and Who Should Consider One?

Here is how qualified longevity annuity contracts (QLACs) work, the current rules, and when one might make sense for your retirement income plan.

Work & Business Guide

The Tech Founder Preliquidity Planning Timeline: A Five-Year Playbook

A five-year preliquidity planning road map for tech founders covering QSBS stacking, trust structures, state residency, 10b5-1 plans, and diversification.

Retirement Article

Retirement Tax Planning: Your Lowest-Tax Window May Be Open

Retired but not yet taking RMDs? You may be in your lowest-tax window. Learn how Roth conversions and smart withdrawal sequencing can cut lifetime taxes.

Retirement Article

What To Handle Before Dec. 31 and What Can Wait

A year-end financial checklist sorted by whether you’re employed, retired, or taking required minimum distributions (RMDs). Plus the items that don’t have December deadlines.

Retirement Article

Roth Conversion Strategy for Low-Income Years

A Roth conversion strategy during low-income years may help you shift pretax savings to tax-free growth. Learn how to coordinate conversions with IRMAA, ACA, and Social Security.

Financial Planning Article

What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor?

A fiduciary financial advisor is legally bound to act in your best interest. Learn what fiduciary duty means, how to verify status, and why fee-based matters.

Tax Planning Article

Before You Sell Your Home, Consider This Tax Strategy

Converting your home to a short-term rental before you sell can pair a cost segregation study with the Section 121 exclusion. Here’s how it works.

Retirement Guide

Retirement Tax Planning: A Year-Round Guide to Help Keep More of What You’ve Built

A comprehensive retirement tax planning guide covering Roth conversions, RMDs, IRMAA, Social Security taxation, QCDs, and tax-loss harvesting strategies for retirees.

FAQs
Work & Business FAQ

Is it better to exercise stock options before or after leaving a company?

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Work & Business FAQ

What’s the difference between ISOs and NSOs when leaving a job?

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Work & Business FAQ

How do I check my equity grant documents before leaving my job?

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Work & Business FAQ

Where can I find help planning my equity comp during a job change?

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Work & Business FAQ

Do I need to exercise my ISOs within 90 days of leaving?

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Work & Business FAQ

Should I exercise my stock options before leaving my job?

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Work & Business FAQ

How does the ISO post-termination exercise period operate?

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Work & Business FAQ

What happens to stock options when I leave my job?

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Further Learning

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Financial Planning Article

What To Do With the Money You’re Not Going To Spend

When your retirement projections show you have more than enough, the question shifts from saving to spending. Explore strategies for surplus wealth.

Market Commentary On-Demand Webinar

Q4 Market Outlook: The Fed, Deficits, Energy, Valuations, and More

Mercer Advisors CIO Don Calcagni and Partner Kara Duckworth break down inflation, the Fed, deficits, AI valuations, and housing in this Q4 market outlook webinar.

Market Commentary Article

AI and Your Portfolio

The rise of artificial intelligence is impacting the financial markets and the economy in 5 key ways.

Multi-generational Family on the Beach
Estate Planning Guide

Dynasty Trusts and Multigenerational Wealth Transfer: A Post-OBBBA Guide

The OBBBA made the $15 million estate tax exemption “permanent.” This guide explores how dynasty trusts, combined with generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax planning and coordinated trust strategies, can help protect and transfer wealth across multiple generations.

About Mercer Advisors

We exist so you don’t have to worry about money. For more than 40 years, we’ve taken the sophisticated, time-tested approach that many ultra-high net worth individuals use to help manage their financial lives and made it accessible to more families.

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Tax Planning & Preparation
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