High-Income Earner Planning
Common Planning Gaps for High-Income Professionals
Most high-income professionals — doctors, attorneys, executives, consultants — have similar planning gaps. They show up not because anyone is lazy, but because no single advisor owns the full picture.
No one running the full tax picture
A 401(k) advisor advises on retirement. A financial planner advises on investments. A CPA files the return. Often no one is modeling how the three interact across the year.
Prefer to talk this through? Book a free consultation → or learn more about Financial Planning.
Under-withholding on equity comp
Statutory 22% withholding on RSUs and bonuses is below the actual marginal rate for most high earners. Without an estimated tax true-up, April is a surprise.
Wrong retirement plan for the income level
Self-employed high earners using a SEP when a Solo 401(k) plus DB would shelter twice as much. Or contributing to a backdoor Roth without considering the pro-rata rule and getting a surprise tax bill.
No estate plan beyond a basic will
Above $5M of net worth, lack of basic estate planning creates avoidable state estate tax exposure and probate complexity. Above $13M, federal estate tax becomes a real planning question.
Concentration in employer stock
RSUs vest, employees don't sell, the position grows. Over time it becomes the dominant single position in the portfolio. The risk usually exceeds the tax cost of diversifying.
No coordination between tax and financial advice
Investments rebalanced without considering capital gains. Retirement plans funded without considering Roth conversion windows. Charitable giving structured without optimizing the deduction.
Want to apply this to your situation?
Book a consultation with a Kuuni Partners advisor — Georgia-based, serving clients nationwide.
Related services
More in High-Income Earner Planning
High-Income Earner Planning
Retirement Plans for Self-Employed High Earners
Solo 401(k), SEP, or defined benefit — picking the right one for $250K+ income.
Read more →High-Income Earner Planning
Equity Compensation: ISO, NSO, RSU, and the Tax Traps
What to do at grant, vest, exercise, and sale — without falling into AMT.
Read more →High-Income Earner Planning
Roth Conversion Windows: Timing and Math
How to plan multi-year Roth conversions around income shifts.
Read more →