Corporate Executives | Granite Harbor Advisors

How Can We Help?

We are here to help every step of the way:

As a corporate executive, your life is full of high-stakes decisions and complex financial situations. From minimizing taxes in your peak earning years to managing intricate compensation and severance packages as you transition to retirement, you need a wealth management partner who understands your unique needs and can help you achieve your financial goals.

At Granite Harbor, we recognize that your time is valuable. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a personalized strategy that addresses your individual goals and concerns, including proactively partnering with CPAs and attorneys as needed, freeing up your time to focus on what matters most to you.

Empowering Corporate Executives from Early Career to Retirement & Beyond

We are here to help every step of the way:

Early Career:

Addressing high income/stock compensation risks and traditional financial planning for a young family.

Retirement Planning:

Strategizing deferred compensation, modeling retirement cash flow, and diversifying stock holdings.

Retirement Transition:

Rolling over 401(k)s, diversifying investments, and transitioning wealth for income and legacy goals.

Proactive Financial Planning & Wealth Management Services

We provide a wide range of knowledgeable support unique to your needs as a corporate executive, including:

Corporate Benefits Planning:

Understanding & negotiating complex compensation packages.

Risk Management & Insurance:

Helping safeguard your wealth and ensuring lasting financial security by addressing potential risks.

Severance Package Negotiation:

Ensuring executives receive the best possible severance agreement.

Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer:

Addressing concerns regarding the transfer of wealth to create your lasting legacy—from philanthropic goals to business succession planning.

Equity Compensation Management:

Managing equity compensation decisions & navigating how they work within a diversified investment portfolio.

Asset Allocation:

Investing with purpose through evidence-based portfolios, including access to desirable alternative assets for wealth creation, like private equity.

Cash Flow & Savings:

Allocating resources efficiently, ensuring liquidity for immediate needs while maximizing investment potential.

Retirement Planning:

Maximizing tax-advantaged savings & determining the most tax-efficient way to transition your retirement savings into income.

Tax Planning:

Minimizing tax liabilities and maximizing wealth accumulation through partnering with tax professionals, leveraging tax-advantaged assets, and employing tax-favored investment strategies.

Tax & Legal Coordination:

Proactively working with tax and legal professionals on an ongoing basis to achieve and maintain alignment for optimized wealth.

Resources for Corporate Executives

Hand picked resources to help Corporate Executives

7 minutes read

Understanding Your Retirement Benefits: Things to consider as a BP Executive Preparing to Retire

How do I make the most of my BP retirement benefits? As one of the most lucrative positions in the oil and gas industry, BP executives enjoy exceptional employee benefits. However, navigating these offerings can be overwhelming, even for high-level executives. From cash compensation and severance packages to stock options and bonuses, the array of benefits can be daunting to navigate—especially anticipating…

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5 minutes read

Stock Compensation Strategies: How to Balance Risk and Achieve Tax Efficiency

Many corporate executives receive stock as part of their total compensation package. This not only helps align personal goals and company objectives while rewarding top talent with appreciable assets, but many executives enjoy tying their finances, in part, to their employer. They believe in their company and in their own ability to help that company grow. But as total compensation becomes skewed toward…

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6 minutes read

Managing Your 401(k) After Job Transition: Key Considerations & Advanced Tax Strategies

What to do with Your 401(k) after Leaving a Job: Key Considerations & Advanced Tax Strategies When navigating a job transition, whether entering retirement or an unexpected layoff, one crucial aspect that requires careful consideration is what to do with your 401(k) plan. Making informed choices is of utmost importance to safeguard your financial future. By taking stock of your existing plan and…

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4 minutes read

Rolling over your 401(K)? Consider Net Unrealized Appreciation first

At Granite Harbor Advisors, we believe in helping our clients better understand all of their options so they can make the best decision for their families. To that end, here is a more detailed look at what net unrealized appreciation is and how you can use it to advance your financial goals. What is net unrealized appreciation (NUA)? Net unrealized appreciation is simply the difference in value between…

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3 minutes read

Navigating a Job Transition

Mostly gone are the days where someone spends their entire career working for one company. Talented executives have become “free agents” and can transition between companies as needed. When planned, these job transitions can be an exciting time. Sometimes factors beyond our control force us to endure an unplanned job transition. This can add stress, usually at the worst possible time, as a variety…

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5 minutes read

Maximizing Tax-Advantaged Wealth: Creating Strategic Partnerships Between CPAs & Wealth Advisors

One of the most significant threats to the long-term success of wealth accumulation, particularly for high-net-worth individuals, is the burden of taxes. The question to all finance professionals, from CPAs to wealth advisors, is simple: What steps can we take now to proactively help maximize wealth and minimize tax burdens in the future? Often, these strategies require the partnership of a CPA and…

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Navigating Early Retirement & Severance

Are you considering early retirement? Did you just receive a severance? Many would love to be able to retire early, but just not sure if they can. There are some unique challenges that only early retirees will face. Join us as Managing Partner, Tim Smith walks us through how to navigate many of those challenges, and some specific planning strategies you could consider when planning for your own retirement or severance planning. Learn how to handle your pension, 401(k), deferred compensation, stock compensation, and more to mitigate taxes and maximize wealth during retirement.

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FAQ

You have questions, we have answers...

A: Corporate executives face a unique set of financial challenges, including complex compensation packages, high income levels, and often the desire to plan for a multigenerational legacy. They also need to be mindful of the tax implications of their financial decisions, particularly when their plan consists of company stock. This requires additional considerations, such as reviewing for concentration risk, determining how much stock to keep, and how and when to sell and transfer these holdings. If an executive has highly appreciated holdings, they should examine the option of Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) before making any transfers. With this approach, they may be eligible to pay long-term capital gains rates rather than ordinary income tax rates, which could result in hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in tax savings.

A specialized financial advisor can help executives navigate these challenges and develop a financial plan that aligns with their unique needs and goals.

A: A financial advisor can help corporate executives navigate the top financial challenges they face, such as tax planning, equity compensation, retirement planning, and asset transition. This can save executives time and stress and help them achieve their financial goals more efficiently.

A: A financial advisor can significantly assist in severance package negotiation by:

Analyzing the existing offer: Identifying potential areas for improvement and negotiation points.
Benchmarking against industry standards: Ensuring the offer is fair and competitive.
Advising on tax implications: Minimizing tax liabilities on the severance package.
Providing emotional support and guidance: Navigating a difficult and stressful situation.

A: Over-concentration in company stock can be risky, so it's essential to diversify your portfolio by:

Rebalancing your portfolio regularly: Adjusting your asset allocation to maintain your target risk tolerance and diversifying into other asset classes that compliment your company stock holdings.

Utilizing options strategies: Implementing covered calls or other options strategies to hedge your stock holdings.

Consulting with a financial advisor: Seeking professional fiduciary guidance to develop an appropriate diversification plan for how much company stock to own, and how to divest when needed.

A: When selecting a financial advisor, executives should prioritize:

Experience: The firm should have experience working with corporate executives and understand the unique challenges they face.
Services: The firm should offer a comprehensive range of services to meet your needs, including support for corporate benefits planning, severance package negotiation, equity compensation management, cash flow and savings, tax planning, risk management and insurances, estate planning and wealth transfer, asset allocation and retirement planning.
Partnerships: The firm should proactively collaborate with CPAs and attorneys to navigate the advanced tax and legal complexities of planning for corporate executives.
Fees: The firm's fees should be transparent and competitive.
Reputation: The firm should have a good reputation and be well-respected in the industry.
Personal rapport and communication style: You should feel comfortable and confident with the team’s approach and communication style.

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