Big Questions Around A Career Transition

The Challenge

An East Bay client, Diane, asked our advice regarding her opportunity to leave a position she had held for many years with a successful public technology company to take another position in the Valley. Diane admitted that this new opportunity was a dream job but was concerned that walking away from her employer could have negative financial ramifications, particularly in the near term as she would be forfeiting unvested equity incentives. As a family with one income and a history of utilizing restricted stock sales to help fund living expenses, a gap in compensation left her and her husband uneasy.

The Goal

Determine whether the career move was feasible or even advisable, and find a way to make the change with the least disruption to her family.

The Solution

Opportunities for career change abound in the dynamic Bay Area economy, so Diane’s situation is a common occurrence. We leveraged Summitry’s financial planning software to illustrate the interim period under several scenarios. We gave her a basis for negotiating an improved compensation and benefits package in the new position, and demonstrated that with disciplined investment management by Summitry’s investment team, her family could let their savings support them through her first year of employment, until her new company’s shares would begin to vest and lift her overall compensation. Diane is delighted with her new career, which offers more financial upside and greater job satisfaction.