Hello friends, As a financial planner, I’ve had dozens of conversations with mid-career tech professionals across the San Francisco Bay Area. On paper, most of them are doing great: strong incomes, solid careers, and stable finances. But the same questions keeps coming up: “Am I actually on track?” “Am I missing anything?” In the SF Bay Area, this is especially tricky. High compensation doesn’t always translate into real financial progress—between taxes, housing costs, lifestyle inflation,...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, Living in an expensive place like the San Francisco Bay Area can feel… a bit unfair at times. You work hard, you earn well, and somehow the money still disappears faster than a parking spot at the Whole Foods in Noe Valley. Between high taxes and a high cost of living, it’s easy to wonder: “How is it possible to make this much and still feel squeezed?” If you’ve ever felt stuck on the earn-spend hamster wheel and are asking yourself how to finally get ahead, now is the perfect...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, What happens when you don’t have children—or close family—to advocate for you as you age? Or who can you call on when you have aging parents but don’t live near them? That’s the question we’re tackling in this month’s podcast episode. Whether you’re single, child-free, taking care of a parent, or simply navigating complex or distant family dynamics, this episode is for you. We're joined by Mia Owsley, founder of Mia’s Fiduciary Services, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Mia...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, After a summer of travel, we’ve been reflecting on just how much our money mindset shows up when we’re away from home. Travel can be joyful, eye-opening, and deeply restorative. But it can also bring up financial stress—especially when costs start to pile up or when we’re trying to stick to a plan while still saying yes to the unexpected. At Modern Family Finance, we believe that financial planning isn’t about cutting back on what brings you joy. It’s about aligning your money...
9 months ago • 3 min read
Hi friends, This Pride Month, we’re diving into one of the most essential—and often most overlooked—parts of building a secure financial future: estate planning. For LGBTQ+ families, singles, and unmarried couples, the stakes have always been high. And in a time when some of our hard-won rights and protections feel increasingly vulnerable, thoughtful, proactive planning is more important than ever. That’s why I was so glad to welcome Jaime Santos to the podcast this month. Jaime is a seasoned...
10 months ago • 1 min read
Hi friends, Let’s talk about what’s really in the air right now: anxiety. Between the drama on tarriffs and the market swings that followed, it’s normal to feel unsettled—like things are shifting fast and we don’t have much control. That’s a deeply human response. When the world feels unpredictable, it’s natural to want to do something to protect what matters most. Here’s the good news: there are things you can do. While we can’t control the headlines, we can take meaningful action in our own...
12 months ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, Tax season is here, and high-income earners face unique challenges that require careful planning. As you prepare to file, here are some key questions to ask yourself to ensure you’re optimizing your tax situation: Are You Using the Right Cost Basis? – Using default 1099-B information from a broker can lead to incorrect cost basis reporting, especially for RSUs or ESPP shares. Have you checked if your reported basis accounts for taxes already paid? Ensuring accuracy can prevent...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, Happy holidays! This time last year, we were in the Philippines celebrating the season with extended family. Speaking of global living - in our latest episode of the Modern Family Finance podcast, we dive into the topic of international living. Having lived in Europe and Asia for years at a time myself, I’m a huge advocate for living abroad. Not only does it offer an adventure that can reshape your perspective, it also can fast-track your financial independence (because let’s be...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi friends, As we approach the end of the year, I like to help make sure people feel confident about their finances. I created our 2024 End Of Year Financial Planning Checklist for High Income Earners in the Bay Area. Please let me know if you find it useful and if you have any planning needs that I can help with. What’s on my mind: What the election results could mean for your taxes: With Republicans in control, the future of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) has shifted from “Will it expire in...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read