
Life is good working in tech right now. Your profession is in demand, you’re earning big money with plenty of perks; your career is in great shape. But what about your finances?
What you do with your wealth as it begins growing is crucial; you need to make hay while the sun shines. But finding time in your fast-paced profession to become a finance whiz is another thing. That’s where ActOn Wealth’s Melbourne financial advisors can make a difference. We understand the complexity of your finances and provide the forward-thinking expertise you need to get ahead and stay in the lead, just like you’re doing with your career.
Sector Volatility
Even the mighty can fall, and the technology industry is no exception. What looks impervious one day might topple the next. Layoffs and company restructures are part of the landscape. Being able to ride the wave of volatility is crucial.
Maximising Equity Compensation
Rewards packages can look very attractive in the tech world, particularly if you’re at the top of the ladder or you’re being headhunted by an ambitious startup. But big packages can present sizeable tax implications, and incorporating equity into a broader financial plan is key.
High Cost of Living
Whilst remote work is increasingly common, many technology professionals need to remain close to their IT hubs. High-income earning environments nurture high-cost living, so balancing long-term savings with daily expenses can become precarious.
Costly Professional Development
Staying at the top of your game can be challenging when the game constantly evolves. Investing in ongoing career development can come at a cost, yet it’s crucial if you’re to remain ahead of the pack.
Student Loan Debt
Whilst you may be earning big money now, your computer science or engineering degree likely came with a hefty price tag that you’ll be paying off for years.
Big money may be coming in, but it’s likely also going out. Establishing and maintaining a pain-free cashflow and budget forms the bedrock of most solid financial plans. You’ll be surprised how easy—and addictive—it is to adopt and commit to.
Equity compensation is common in your industry and can be in the form of Employee Share Ownership Plans, Share Purchase Plans, and Option-based ESS. If part of your package includes stock options, you must know the inherent vesting schedules, rules, and tax implications. Our financial advisors have outstanding knowledge and skills in this area and can build your equity compensation into an overall growth-focused financial plan.
We’re also fully qualified mortgage brokers who can offer strategic property advice and help you find the best sustainable loans for your situation. Investing some of your high income into property can help offset your tax and create long-term wealth creation.
Paying off significant student loans or high credit card spending can be advantageous. Doing so can reduce financial anxiety, encourage greater career mobility, and enable you to take more aggressive or ambitious career risks. If it’s right for your overall financial growth, we can help you prioritise and achieve this without taking significant austerity measures.
The Australian Taxation Office treats equity differently depending on how and when shares are received. Capital Gains Tax applies to shares whose value has increased since acquisition. When you make transactions can dramatically affect your tax burden. The stock market's fast-changing pace and fluctuation can also add to variable outcomes. Getting the right advice from our tax accountant specialists can, therefore, make a huge difference to the final figure you owe or receive.
Maximising your superannuation with tax-effective voluntary payments, leveraging salary-sacrificing strategies, creating multiple and diversified tax-effective revenue-earning streams and taking advantage of all potential government subsidies form part of comprehensive retirement planning. You’ve worked hard—we want to ensure you make the most of that long after you’ve clocked off.
ActOn Wealth’s financial planning service is anything but a traditional firm. Like you, we’re forward-thinking, progressive and IT-curious. We understand the technology sector’s unique climate and what professionals working in this industry must do to minimise tax liabilities and maximise wealth. We embrace innovation and intelligent financial planning software, analytics, and apps that help make our clients’ financial lives easy to grasp and seamless to implement and monitor.
The tech sector is unique, as are your personal situation and finances. Our experienced financial planners work with you to develop a tailored plan for sustainable and long-term growth. Find out how during a no-cost, no-obligation initial meeting.
Start building your long-term financial security and success today.
An intense career cycling might mean you could be in a position to retire earlier than the standard mid-60s. Indeed, it is not unheard of for some tech professionals to retire in their 40s. However, planning starts now. Speak to ActOn Wealth financial advisors about how to plan for an early retirement.
Working in the tech industry can result in contracts or short-term projects. Whilst they can be lucrative, they don’t always guarantee an ongoing, stable income stream. This is why budget planning and cashflow are essential to good financial planning. An effective strategy will consider the income earning peaks and troughs and also ideally establish an emergency fund to see you through any particularly challenging work ‘droughts’. Speak to ActOn Wealth financial advisers about tailored advice for your situation.
Leveraging a high income depends on variables and should be approached case by case. However, broadly speaking, maximising equity compensation, investment diversification, strategic tax planning, and focusing on superannuation are some of the best ways to leverage a generous income.