May Franco May Franco

Selling a Business: Tax Implications to Understand Before You Sign

Understanding selling a business tax implications before you sign a letter of intent may be one of the most valuable steps an owner can take. The headline sale price is only part of the story. What you actually keep depends on how the deal is structured, how the price is allocated, when you are paid, and where you live.

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May Franco May Franco

What to Expect From Wealth Management in Orange County

Wealth management in Orange County often looks different than it does in other places. Many local families have a large share of their net worth in real estate. Many residents own businesses, work at fast-growing companies with equity compensation, or are preparing for retirement in one of the higher-cost regions of the country. California's tax environment adds another layer.

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May Franco May Franco

How Restricted Stock Units Are Taxed: A Simple Guide for Executives

Restricted stock units tax rules can surprise even experienced professionals. RSUs are a common form of equity compensation, especially at larger and public companies. They can become a meaningful part of your pay. But because the tax happens at vesting, not when you sell, many people end up with an unexpected bill in April or confusion about what they actually owe.

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May Franco May Franco

Concentrated Stock Position: How to Think About Risk When One Stock Dominates

A concentrated stock position is when a single company's stock makes up a large share of your net worth. It often happens for good reasons. You may have received shares through years of equity compensation, founded or invested early in a company, or simply held a stock that grew far faster than everything else. The result can be significant wealth, along with significant single stock risk.

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May Franco May Franco

How to Choose a Financial Advisor in Orange County: Questions to Ask

Choosing a financial advisor in Orange County can feel overwhelming. From Irvine to Newport Beach to South County, there are many firms and many titles, and it is not always clear how they differ. The right relationship may help you make better decisions for years. The wrong fit can leave you confused about fees, services, or who is really looking out for you.

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May Franco May Franco

Wealth Management for Executives: Planning Around Equity Compensation

Wealth management for executives often comes down to one challenge: your compensation is complex, and much of it is tied to the company you work for. Salary and bonus may be only part of the picture. Stock options, restricted stock units, employee stock purchase plans, and deferred compensation can make up a large share of your pay, each with its own rules, deadlines, and tax treatment.

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May Franco May Franco

Financial Planning for Divorce: Steps to Take Before, During, and After

Financial planning for divorce is about making clear, informed decisions during one of the most emotional transitions a person can face. When a marriage ends, so does a shared financial life. Accounts, homes, retirement savings, debts, and even future income all need to be sorted out, often while you are also managing family, work, and stress.

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May Franco May Franco

Multigenerational Wealth Planning: How Families Prepare the Next Generation

Multigenerational wealth planning is about more than deciding who inherits what. It is about helping the next generation be ready to receive, manage, and build on what a family has created. Many families put careful thought into wills and trusts but spend far less time preparing the people who will one day be responsible for the wealth.


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May Franco May Franco

What Is Asset Location and Why Does It Matter for Taxes?

Asset location is the strategy of deciding which investments to hold in which type of account, based on how each investment is taxed. If you have money spread across a brokerage account, a 401(k) or traditional IRA, and a Roth IRA, you already have the raw ingredients. The question is whether each investment is sitting in the account where it makes the most sense from a tax point of view.

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May Franco May Franco

529 Plan vs. UTMA: How to Choose an Education Savings Account

The 529 plan vs UTMA decision is one many parents and grandparents face when they start saving for a child. Both accounts let you set money aside for a young person's future. But they differ in who controls the money, how it is taxed, what it can be used for, and how it may affect financial aid.

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May Franco May Franco

Exit Planning for Business Owners: Questions to Ask Before You Sell

Exit planning for business owners is the process of preparing yourself, your company, and your family for the day you step away. Whether that day is two years or ten years from now, the decisions you make before a sale can shape how much you keep, who takes over, and what your life looks like afterward.

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May Franco May Franco

Tax-Efficient Investing: How Taxes Can Shape Your Long-Term Portfolio

Tax efficient investing is the practice of making investment decisions with taxes in mind, so that more of your portfolio's growth stays with you over time. Most people focus on what they own and how it performs. Fewer think about how much of that growth is lost to taxes each year, even though taxes can be one of the largest ongoing costs of investing.

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May Franco May Franco

Solo 401(k) vs. SEP IRA: Which Retirement Plan Fits a Self-Employed Business Owner?

If you work for yourself, the solo 401k vs SEP IRA question is one of the first retirement decisions you will face. Without an employer plan, it is up to you to choose how you save, how much you can put away, and how the account fits with the rest of your finances. Both plans can offer meaningful tax advantages. They just work differently.

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