Secfi

???????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????? Retirement accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and Roth IRAs offer tax advantages that help your money grow, but what if you want to retire before 59.5? Early withdrawals usually come with a 10% penalty, but there are ways to access your funds penalty-free if you plan ahead. ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ??????????: 1?? The Rule of 55 (for 401(k) and 403(b) plans): If you leave your job at age 55 or later, you can withdraw from your 401(k) without penalty (though you’ll still owe income tax). 2?? Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP): Also called 72(t) distributions, this strategy lets you take equal payments from your retirement accounts penalty-free. But once you start, you must continue withdrawals for at least five years or until 59.5, whichever is longer. If you modify the payments early, you’ll face penalties. 3?? Roth IRA Contributions (Not Earnings): You can withdraw your Roth IRA contributions (but not earnings) at any time without penalty or taxes. However, withdrawing earnings before 59.5 may trigger taxes and penalties. 4?? The Roth Conversion Ladder: By converting traditional IRA/401(k) funds into a Roth IRA, you can withdraw the converted amounts penalty-free after 5 years. This allows you to gradually access funds while keeping tax benefits. ?? Key takeaway Planning for early retirement means understanding which accounts to contribute to now and how to access your funds later. Each strategy has rules and tax implications, so it’s important to consider what works best for your situation. Are you planning to retire early? Have you considered using one of these strategies? Drop your thoughts in the comments. ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????. ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ??????????????????.

???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????'?? ???? ???? ??????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? 529 plans are a popular way to save for education, offering after-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses. But what happens if your child decides to skip college? The concern is valid: non-education withdrawals incur a 10% penalty. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a 529 plan isn’t worth it. In fact, recent changes have made them more flexible than ever. ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?? ?????? ????????: ?? More time = more tax-free growth – The younger your child is, the more powerful compound growth becomes. ?? State tax benefits – Many states offer tax incentives for 529 contributions (rules vary, so check your state’s policy). ?? New rollover options – Unused 529 funds can now be transferred to a Roth IRA (up to a $35K lifetime limit per beneficiary). ?? Flexibility for families – You can change the beneficiary to another child or even pass the funds to future generations. ?? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? Since overfunding could limit flexibility, some families choose to partially fund a 529 (e.g., 50–75% of expected costs) while saving the rest in a taxable investment account for more flexibility. ?? ???????????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ????????? Are you currently saving in one? Considering one for your child? Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments.?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????. ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ??????????????????.

???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? (???? ?????? ??????'?? ???????? ?????? ????????)????? Exercising stock options can come with a significant upfront cost, and not everyone has the cash on hand to cover it. The good news? There are alternative ways to fund an exercise without using your own savings. ??? ?? ??. ????????-????-?????????? (???????????????? ????????????????) How it works: You exercise your options and sell a portion of your shares immediately (via a ???????????? ?????????? or ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????) to cover the cost. ? Pros: No upfront cash needed. Often facilitated by a broker or administrator. ? Cons: You give up some potential upside by selling shares early, and you may owe taxes at the time of sale. ?? ??. ?????????????????????? ???????? How it works: You take out a loan (e.g., a margin loan, HELOC) to cover the cost of exercising your stock options. ? Pros: No need to liquidate other investments or use personal cash. ? Cons: Loans come with interest and must be repaid, even if your company doesn’t exit. ?? ??. ??????-???????????????? ?????????????????? How it works: A lender covers your exercise costs in exchange for a portion of future proceeds, using your stock as collateral. ? Pros: No upfront cash required, and if your company doesn’t exit, you owe nothing. No personal assets at risk. ? Cons: May involve fees and interest, which could reduce your net proceeds in a successful exit. ?? Choosing the right option depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. Check out Secfi's liquidity options here: https://lnkd.in/eAPmV7_R

???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ??????????? If you own private company stock, you’ve probably noticed that there’s no single answer to this question. 409A valuations, funding round prices, secondary market transactions—each one tells a different story. So, which one actually matters? Well…it depends. In this week’s newsletter, Vieje Piauwasdy dives into how different valuations come into play during events like exercising, selling in a tender offer, or preparing for an IPO—and how our new ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? feature, powered by Caplight, can help you compare them all in one place. ?? Read the full breakdown below:

?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????? If you receive commissions or bonuses, you might have noticed that the taxes withheld don’t always match your paycheck’s tax rate. That’s because there’s a difference between taxes withheld and taxes owed—and understanding that difference can help you avoid surprises come tax season. ? ?????????? ????????????????: The amount of taxes that are withheld by your employer, which may not necessarily cover all of the taxes that you owe.? ? ?????????? ????????: The actual amount of taxes that you owe based on your personal income tax bracket.?? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????? ? The IRS considers them “supplemental income,” which is subject to a default 22% federal withholding rate. ? If your tax bracket is higher than 22%, your employer’s withholding may not cover what you actually owe—meaning you could owe more at tax time. ? If your tax bracket is lower than 22%, you may have had too much withheld and could get a refund when filing. ?? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????-?????????????????????? If your employer isn’t withholding enough, you could face an unexpected tax bill—or even penalties. To avoid this, you can: ? Make estimated tax payments throughout the year ? Adjust your withholdings to better match your total income ? Work with a tax professional to run a tax projection and plan ahead Do you receive commissions or bonuses as part of your compensation? How do you plan for the taxes owed? ?? Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments.?? Disclaimer: This is meant to be general tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your particular circumstance.??????

??????????????????????: ?????????????? ???????????? ????????????????. A clearer picture of your equity. Understanding what your private stock is worth isn’t always easy. Unlike public stocks, private companies can have multiple valuations—each telling a different story. That’s why we’ve partnered with Caplight to bring Private Market Insights to the Secfi platform. Now, instead of relying on a single number, you’ll see multiple valuation data points side by side, helping you make more informed equity decisions. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????: ??? Compare different valuation methods – See how different pricing models shape your stock’s worth. ?? Better insights, smarter decisions – Understand how your stock is perceived by different market participants. ?? More transparency, more control – Have the data you need to plan your next move—whether that’s holding, exercising, or selling. With Secfi Private Market Insights, you now have access to the same valuation insights used by top investors and investment banks. ?????? ???? ??????????: https://lnkd.in/eYC27yZn

?? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????? Thinking about a new job? Worried about layoffs? Deciding to take a break? If you have stock options, leaving your company means making a big financial decision—fast. Most companies give you just ???? ???????? to exercise your options after leaving. If you don’t act, your unexercised options expire, and you lose them forever. ????, ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????? ?? Key questions to ask: ? How much will it cost to exercise my options? (Including taxes ??) ? Do I have enough cash to afford it? ? What happens if I do nothing? ? What financing options do I have to avoid tying up my savings? ?? Need liquidity to exercise? Non-recourse financing can help you exercise your stock options without risking your personal cash. Leaving your job doesn’t have to mean leaving money on the table. Have questions? Drop them in the comments—we’d love to help! ??

???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????????? (?????? ??????????????) ??????????? With incentive stock options (ISOs), taxes can come into play at both exercise and sale—but not always. It depends on your income, timing, and whether the alternative minimum tax (AMT) applies. Here’s a breakdown: ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????????????: → No ordinary income tax—unlike non-qualified stock options (NSOs), ISOs aren’t taxed as income when exercised. → AMT may apply—the spread between your exercise price and the fair market value (FMV) at exercise is considered for AMT purposes, potentially triggering a tax bill even if you don’t sell. ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????: → Qualifying disposition (held 1 year after exercise & 2 years after grant): Gains are taxed at long-term capital gains rates, typically lower than ordinary income tax. → Disqualifying disposition (sold before meeting the holding period): You’ll ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? on the spread at exercise + ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? on any additional appreciation. ?? ?????? ????????????????: While you don’t pay ordinary income tax at exercise, AMT can be a factor. It's a good idea to consult with a tax advisor who can help you navigate the specifics of ISOs, especially to assess whether you’ll be subject to AMT and how to plan for it. Do you have ISOs that you are considering exercising or selling? Have you recently exercised or sold ISOs? Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments.?? Disclaimer: This is meant to be general tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your particular circumstance.????? #StockOptions #EquityCompensation #TaxPlanning #IncentiveStockOptions #WealthManagement

RSU withholding rate...22% or 37%?? The default withholding rate for RSUs is 22% on the Federal level. However, some companies will allow you to adjust the withholding rate to be higher based on your personal tax situation. As a safeguard, some individuals will elect to have 37% withholding on RSUs (currently the highest Federal tax rate) to avoid any tax penalties or the need to make estimated payments. But deciding between 22% or 37% withholding on your RSUs is a decision that should be based on your personal situation.? ?? Reasons you might withhold 22% → You're willing to gamble more on the stock's upside, despite the higher risk of loss.? → You're comfortable with concentrated exposure to your company's stock.? → You have a healthy cash reserve to pay potential tax bills.?? → You’re in a federal marginal tax bracket lower than 22%.??? ?? Reasons you might withhold 37% → You are looking to minimize risk by quickly diversifying out of the stock. → You want to avoid potential future pain if the stock price decreases.? → You don’t have a healthy cash reserve to pay potential tax bills.? → You’re in a federal marginal tax bracket above 22%.? ?? Something to keep in mind: If you continue working at your company, you may continue receiving RSUs as part of your overall annual compensation. That said, if you elect a higher withholding rate (or even sell all of your RSUs as they vest), you will still have the opportunity to financially benefit from your company's stock price increasing as subsequent RSUs vest.?? Does your company allow you to choose your RSU withholding rate? What withholding rate did you choose? Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments. Disclaimer: This is meant to be general tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your particular circumstance.

Not all investment metrics are as straightforward as they seem. Some are just marketing spin, and others can be outright misleading. From price return vs. total return to benchmark tricks and hidden tax implications, here are a few common industry “gotchas” to watch for. Read the full breakdown below, and be sure to subscribe to get insights like these in your inbox! ?? : https://lnkd.in/dQGHsSnv