Today we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Intel Minimum Pension Plan (MPP). We’ll cover: How the Intel pension plan works How your Intel pension benefit is calculated The steps you should take if you’re retiring from Intel But first, grab your free resources (no email required!) Free Resources: Pension: Lump Sum vs. Monthly Income [Excel download] Pension: Lump Sum vs. Monthly Income [Flowchart; pdf download] What Issues Should I Consider Before I Retire? [Checklist; pdf download] How Pensions Work The basic idea of a pension plan is fairly straightforward. A pens ..read more

During layoffs, Intel offers severance packages or voluntary separation packages (VSP) when cost reductions are a priority. Most recently, Intel announced layoffs impacting 11% of the workforce in the fall of 2022 with a plan to cut $3 billion in costs over the next year. If you’ve been offered a severance, layoff, or voluntary separation package at Intel, this guide will cover: The key components of the package The 4 steps you should take How to optimize the timing (if possible) Intel Severance Package: How it Works Severance (or layoff) packages at Intel have three main components: Income ..read more

In this post, we cover three ways you can reduce the risk you have in your deferred compensation plan (DCP) for those that have a substantial portion of their net worth tied up in deferred compensation. 409(a) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plans present a fantastic way to defer taxes and build net worth. But, after many years contributing to the program coupled with investment gains, these plans can become a substantial portion of your net worth. And because these plans are an unsecured liability of your employer they come with more risk than other forms of tax-deferred savings, like you ..read more

[Editor’s note: Information contained in this post is based off information for the 2021 DCP enrollment period. We will update the post as soon as Microsoft releases any updates for 2022.] In this article, we cover what you need to know about the Microsoft Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) for the upcoming enrollment period. We’ll outline how the program works, the risks of participating and the most common questions we hear about DCP elections. Plus we’ll provide free resources to help with your enrollment for 2022. Every November, the Microsoft deferred compensation plan opens for enrollment ..read more

[Editor’s note: Information contained in this post is based off information for the 2021 Intel SERPLUS enrollment period. We will update the post as soon as Intel releases any updates for 2022.] In this article, we cover everything you need to know about the Intel SERPLUS program for the upcoming enrollment period. We’ll outline how it works, the four most common questions we hear about SERPLUS elections and provide free resources to help with your enrollment for 2022. It’s no secret that Intel is at an inflection point. Faced with market share erosion, a big bet on manufacturing, and signifi ..read more

In this article, we cover how compensation at Microsoft works and how you can maximize your benefits. Whether you’re a long-time employee wondering if you’re taking advantage of all the financial opportunities available to you or a new hire just trying to figure out how it all works—we’ve got you covered. Like any major corporation, Microsoft offers a host of compensation programs and benefits to its employees. And while these benefits can be quite valuable, in most cases, they do require a fair amount of time, planning, and intentionality to take advantage of them and incorporate them into y ..read more

The Mega Backdoor Roth is a powerful new feature in many employer 401(k) plans that can turbocharge your savings. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about how the Mega Backdoor Roth works, why you should consider it, and some of the rules you need to know—including contribution limits for 2021. What is a Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) The Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) is a relatively new benefit that’s gaining popularity among tech companies, where high salaries typically limit how much you can contribute to a Roth account—or your ability to contribute at all. This fea ..read more

In this post, we’ll outline everything you need to know about diversifying a concentrated stock position. We’ll cover what is too concentrated, the benefits of portfolio diversification (and the drawbacks), plus provide some tips on managing taxes. In our conversations with Tech professionals, we’ve learned that most know they should diversify their portfolio. But they don’t know how to start. After an IPO or a long career of accumulating shares in their employer via equity compensation, they’ve ended up with a significant portion of their net in a single stock. This position, rightfully so ..read more

Article Summary & Key Points Employees of what was formerly Mentor Graphics, now Siemens, may find that they are eligible for Siemens’ Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) and wonder if they should defer their salary and/or bonus into the plan. In this article, we lay out 4-steps to consider as you evaluate this decision: Why Defer? The Benefits of Deferred Compensation The Risks of Deferred Compensation Plans Go/No Go: Individual Factors to Consider with Deferred Compensation Three Potential Strategies to Hedge Your Risk Siemens offers eligible employees a 409(a) Nonqualified Deferred Compe ..read more

Ideally, with each paycheck or bonus paid we would have all the cash flow we need to support regular cash-flow needs, achieve our larger financial objectives and optimize deferrals to tax-advantaged accounts and other tax savings opportunities. However, money is a resource, and like most resources it’s limited. We are forced to prioritize where we spend, the objectives we further, and the extent to which we utilize tax-saving opportunities. Because many employees prioritize maxing pre-tax contributions to their 401(k)s and HSAs (as I think they should in most cases), we are often asked what to ..read more