Ad Astra Financial Planning

For the past 3 years, answering the question: “Are you a CFP®?” has been a little awkward.

→ "Nearly"
→ "Almost"
→ “I passed the exam, but I’m still working on the experience hours…”

My official title was "Candidate for CFP® certification" which somehow sounded worse than not mentioning it at all.

Well… not anymore.

I’m officially a CFP® professional!

I’m excited to just say “yes” and move on 🙌

Grateful for everyone who trusted me along the way - and excited to keep doing the work, now with the letters behind my name.

Backpacks and lunchboxes aren’t the only things that need prepping in August; your financial plan does too.

Summer spending can throw our usual patterns out of whack between travel, BBQs, kids’ camps, spontaneous adventures. Then, just as we settle back into “normal,” the holidays (and their spending sprees) are right around the corner. 🎄

For those with irregular income like RSUs and bonuses or irregular expenses (or both!), it becomes increasingly difficult to just “wing it” month-to-month. You need a plan that:

• Supports your life right now
• Protects future you
• Keeps the tax man happy

A good financial plan helps you enjoy the highs without fearing the lows and makes sure that your August, December, and April all work together.

It starts by getting clear on what you're actually spending. It's common for folk to underestimate their true spending by 20-60%, especially when you factor in all those pesky "one-off" expenses that pop up throughout the year, year after year.

Getting that clarity is the first step toward smoothing out the bumps so the big months don’t derail your bigger plans.

Clarity turns uncertainty into confidence. And once you see the real numbers, you can stop reacting to surprises and start shaping the year you actually want.

I recently created a free, two-hour video course "Maximize Your Equity and Benefits in Tech" for Taro, synthesizing years of my own experience in tech and as a professional financial planner for folk with equity compensation, and I'll be hosting a live presentation and Q&A on Thursday at 2 PM Pacific.

While I created the course with early-career tech employees in mind, the principles discussed in it remain as foundational for navigating more complicated terrain. Whether you’re facing your very first RSU vest or juggling AMT and concentrated exposure to your employer stock, bring your questions and let’s dig in together.

Check out the course at the link below and register for the event via the link in the comments.

Tech Finance Guide: Maximize Your Equity And Benefits - Taro Course If you're a tech professional with stock options, RSUs, or an ESPP, this course is your roadmap to making smarter, more confident financial decisions