7 Things to Look for in a Financial Advisor If You Work in Tech

Kimberly Green | 2026-04-14

7 Things to Look for in a Financial Advisor If You Work in Tech You've crushed your FAANG interview. You signed the offer letter. Now you're about to get an equity grant that could change your life—or destroy it, if you don't know what you're doing with RSUs, ISOs, and the thousand ways a tech salary differs from a regular paycheck. Most financial advisors don't get it. They think a stock is a stock. They've never heard of a mega backdoor Roth. They have no idea what happens when 60% of your net worth is locked up in your company's shares. Finding an advisor who specializes in tech wealth isn't just nice-to-have. It's the difference between building generational wealth and making six-figure mistakes. 1. They Understand RSUs, ISOs, NSOs—and Your Tax Bill When Vesting Hits If your advisor doesn't immediately talk about RSU vesting schedules, tax withholding, and the brutal surprise of ordinary income on vest dates, walk. Here's what separates specialists from generalists: your advisor should explain that RSUs vest as regular income, ISOs may qualify for long-term capital gains treatment if you hold them, and NSOs trigger short-term gains. They should know the difference between a 83(b) election and letting it expire. They should be able to model your tax liability before it hits your bank account. This is not theoretical. A tech employee in California vesting $200K in RSUs can owe $80K+ in federal, state, and FICA taxes on the vesting date alone. If your advisor doesn't build this into your tax plan, you're flying blind. Advisors like Malcolm Ethridge at Capital Area Planning Group specialize in exactly this—mapping RSU tax impact and building a proactive tax strategy before you see the bill. 2. Ask If They've Worked With People at Your Company or Level Generic advice is worthless. Your situation is specific: you're at Series C and vesting $60K per year? Different problem than a Google L5 with $400K in annual equity. Different problem than a founder with a secondary sale coming up. a vetted questions are surgical: "Have you worked with engineers at my company?" "Have you managed wealth for people at my level?" If they hedge, that's a red flag. If they say yes, ask specifics. What was the biggest tax surprise they helped someone navigate? What's the most common mistake they see? A specialist in tech wealth will have stories. Real ones. They'll have seen every permutation of founder liquidity, secondary sales, and IPO lock-up expirations. 3. Fiduciary Duty Matters More Than You Think Not all advisors are fiduciaries. Some are only required to recommend...