What can I expect during my first meeting with you?

During our first meeting, we’ll have a relaxed and open conversation about your financial situation, goals, and any concerns you might have. I’ll explain how I work, what you can expect from the process, and answer any questions you have. This meeting is all about understanding your needs and seeing if we’re a good fit to work together. It’s a no-pressure environment, focused on your financial well-being.

How do you tailor your financial advice to my specific needs?

I take the time to understand your unique financial situation, goals, and values. Based on this understanding, I create a personalized financial plan that includes specific recommendations tailored to your needs. In this plan, I’ll explain what each recommendation is, why it’s in your best interest, and how it can help you get ahead financially. My goal is to ensure you have a clear path toward achieving your life goals with confidence.

What is the cost of your financial planning services, and what does it include?

The cost of my financial planning services varies depending on the complexity of your needs, but I provide a clear breakdown of fees upfront. Typically, the service includes an initial consultation, a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your goals, and the implementation of the plan. I also offer ongoing support to ensure your plan stays on track as your life changes. The specific costs and services will be outlined in detail before we begin, so there are no surprises.

How do you help me save on taxes and grow my wealth?

I analyze your financial situation to identify opportunities for tax savings and wealth growth. By optimizing your investments, structuring your income efficiently, and leveraging tax-effective strategies, I help you reduce your tax burden and maximize your returns. My goal is to ensure that your money works harder for you, helping you grow your wealth over time while minimizing unnecessary costs.

What types of clients do you work with?

I work with a diverse range of clients, including professionals, families, and retirees who are serious about achieving their financial goals. Whether you’re looking to grow your wealth, plan for retirement, or manage your super, I tailor my services to meet your unique needs. My clients value personalized advice and a clear, actionable plan to help them navigate their financial journey with confidence.

How do you ensure my financial plan aligns with my long-term goals?

I start by understanding your long-term goals through detailed conversations and fact-finding. From there, I design a financial plan that’s specifically aligned with those goals, whether it’s superannuation planning, investment management, or retirement planning. I also regularly review and adjust your plan to ensure it stays on track as your circumstances and goals evolve. My focus is on creating a plan that not only meets your current needs but also adapts to your future aspirations.

What is your approach to managing investment risk?

I take a balanced approach to managing investment risk by first understanding your risk tolerance through a detailed assessment. Based on this, I recommend a diversified portfolio that aligns with your comfort level and financial goals. I provide examples of both high-growth and low-growth investments, explaining their potential risks and returns over the short and long term. My goal is to help you make informed decisions that balance risk with the potential for growth, ensuring your investments are aligned with your long-term objectives.

How often will we review my financial plan?

We will review your financial plan at least once a year to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and any changes in your circumstances. However, if there are significant life changes or market shifts, we can schedule additional reviews as needed. Regular reviews help us make necessary adjustments to keep your plan on track, so you can feel confident that your financial future is well-managed.

What makes My Wealth Choice different from other financial planning services?

At My Wealth Choice, I focus on providing personalized, unbiased advice that’s tailored to your unique needs and goals. Unlike some advisers who may push products for commission, I’m completely free from bias and do not take commissions, ensuring that my recommendations are solely in your best interest. I work closely with you to develop a plan that truly reflects your financial aspirations, and I prioritize building a relationship based on trust and transparency, so you always feel confident in the decisions we make together.

How do you stay up-to-date with changes in the financial landscape?

Staying up-to-date is a team effort at My Wealth Choice. I’m supported by a large, multi-experienced team from various aspects of financial planning, who all contribute to ensuring we are on top of the latest market trends, regulatory changes, and best practices. We regularly attend industry seminars, complete ongoing professional education, and collaborate to share insights. This collective expertise allows us to provide you with the most current and well-rounded advice, keeping your financial plan effective and aligned with your goals.

Will you receive any commissions from the products you recommend?

No, I do not receive any commissions from the products I recommend. My advice is completely unbiased, and my only focus is on what’s best for you and your financial goals. This approach ensures that the recommendations I make are solely in your best interest, without any influence from product providers. My commitment is to transparency and trust, so you can feel confident in the advice you receive.

How does My Wealth Choice handle my personal information and privacy?

At My Wealth Choice, your privacy is a top priority. We handle your personal information with the utmost care, using strict confidentiality protocols and advanced security measures to protect your data. We comply with all relevant privacy laws, and only share your information with third parties when necessary and with your consent. For full details on how we protect your privacy, please refer to our Privacy Policy available on our website.

What happens if my financial situation changes after we’ve created a plan?

If your financial situation changes, we can revisit and adjust your financial plan to ensure it still aligns with your goals and circumstances. Life is dynamic, and your financial plan needs to be flexible enough to adapt to any significant changes, whether it’s a new job, a major purchase, or changes in your financial priorities. I’m here to support you through these changes and ensure your plan continues to work for you.

Do you offer ongoing support after the financial plan is implemented?

Yes, I offer ongoing support to ensure your financial plan stays on track even after it’s implemented. We’ll regularly review your plan together, making adjustments as needed to keep up with any changes in your life or the financial landscape. My goal is to provide continuous guidance, so you can feel confident that your financial future is well-managed and aligned with your goals.

How do I get started with My Wealth Choice?

Getting started is simple! Just reach out to me via the contact form on my website or book your Financial Clarity Meeting to schedule an initial consultation. During this meeting, we’ll discuss your financial goals, current situation, and how I can help you. This first step is all about getting to know each other and determining if we’re a good fit to work together. From there, we’ll move forward with creating a personalized financial plan tailored to your needs.

What if I don't have time for a financial plan?

If you don’t have time for a financial plan, that’s exactly why you should hire me. You might be crushing it at work, making good money, and even managing a couple of investment properties, but I can help you take it to the next level. While you focus on your career and family, I’ll handle the complex financial details, ensuring that your wealth continues to grow and your financial goals are met. My goal is to free up your schedule by taking care of the research, planning, and implementation. This way, your finances are well-managed, and you can continue doing what you do best without worrying about the details.

What value can I expect from financial planning if I’m unsure about its benefits?

Financial planning provides you with a clear roadmap to achieve your financial goals, offering peace of mind and a sense of control over your future. It helps you make informed decisions about saving, investing, and managing your money more effectively. By working together, I can help you optimize your finances, reduce unnecessary costs, and position yourself for long-term success. Even if you’re unsure about the benefits, the clarity and confidence you gain from a well-crafted plan can be invaluable. Many clients find that the insights and strategies we develop together are worth far more than the initial investment.

Financial Planning for Tech Employees – Why RSUs Change Everything

Mo Shouman
2 days ago
4 min read

By Mo, Founder and Principal Adviser – My Wealth Choice, Sydney

Retirement planning for comfortable future

Introduction

Over the past decade, Australia’s technology sector has exploded and with it, a new generation of professionals now receive part of their salary in equity, not just cash. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and employee share schemes (ESS) are now standard for high-growth companies like Atlassian, Canva, and other tech innovators.

While equity compensation can significantly accelerate wealth creation, it also introduces new layers of complexity: income tax timing, capital-gains planning, diversification, and liquidity management.

At My Wealth Choice, we specialise in helping tech employees navigate these challenges and turn complex RSU packages into structured, tax-efficient wealth strategies.

Why RSUs Change the Financial Planning Landscape

Traditional financial planning focuses on salary, savings, and superannuation.

For tech employees, that model no longer fits.

When RSUs vest, your income can spike unpredictably. You may owe tens of thousands in tax or suddenly own a portfolio heavily concentrated in your employer’s stock.

That means your financial plan must account for income volatility, equity liquidity, and taxation risk, not just spending habits and super balances.

The Hidden Tax Shock

RSUs are treated as assessable income in Australia when they vest.

If you’re on a $180 000 salary and receive $100 000 in vested RSUs, your taxable income for that year becomes $280 000 — pushing you into the top marginal bracket (47%).

Without planning, you could face a large tax bill even if you haven’t sold any shares.

Many employees discover this too late, after their accountant files their return.

My Wealth Choice insight:

We help clients project upcoming vesting events, calculate potential tax, and implement pre-emptive strategies such as salary sacrifice to super, deductible offsets, or structured

sales to manage cashflow and tax obligations.

Superannuation Still Matters

One of the most effective, legal ways to offset RSU-driven tax is through superannuation contributions. By maximising your concessional contribution cap, you reduce your taxable income in the same year RSUs vest.

Even modest super contributions can lower your overall tax while compounding long-term wealth inside a low-tax environment (15% on earnings).

At My Wealth Choice, we integrate RSU tax forecasting with super strategies ensuring that equity wealth and retirement planning work together, not against each other.

Diversification: Reducing “Single-Stock Risk”

It’s common for tech employees to hold a large proportion of wealth in their employer’s shares. While that loyalty is understandable, it creates concentration risk, your financial

success becomes tied to one company’s performance.

Diversification helps:

Smooth investment returns
Reduce volatility
Protect against market-specific downturns

We assist clients in building tax-efficient diversification plans, often selling a portion of vested RSUs and reinvesting across global equities, fixed income, and alternative assets.

Integrating RSUs Into a Broader Wealth Plan

RSUs aren’t just a tax problem — they’re a strategic opportunity.

When integrated into a comprehensive financial plan, they can fund:

Property purchases or debt reduction
Education or family goals
Super top-ups
New investment portfolios

Our approach is to treat RSUs as a recurring wealth event — not a one-off windfall.

Each vesting triggers review points for tax, liquidity, and long-term goal alignment.

Common Gaps in Traditional Advice

Many generalist advisers overlook RSU complexity because they focus on retirement planning, not equity compensation. The result: missed timing opportunities, under diversified portfolios, and inefficient tax outcomes.

At My Wealth Choice, our expertise lies in bridging this gap combining equity planning,

investment structuring, and tax-aware strategy for Australia’s tech professionals.

A Holistic View of Tech Wealth

Our clients often hold multiple forms of wealth: salary income, RSUs, ESPPs, crypto, and startup equity.

We bring them together under one cohesive plan that addresses:

Focus Area	Our Approach
Tax planning	Forecast and model tax from each vesting event
Investment strategy	Diversify RSU proceeds into balanced portfolios
Superannuation	Use concessional and non-concessional caps efficiently
Cashflow management	Build buffers for future tax bills and lifestyle needs
Risk protection	Safeguard wealth through insurance and asset structure
Property	Use different structures to invest in property and create passive income.

Real-World Example

A Sydney-based product manager earning $220 000 with $80 000 in annual RSUs engaged My Wealth Choice for proactive planning.

By using our 3 steps Confident Choice System, we coordinated vesting events with super contributions and staggered sales, we reduced her effective tax rate by 8%, saving over $15 000 while achieving better portfolio diversification.

Why Choose My Wealth Choice

As a financial adviser with more than 20 years’ experience, I founded My Wealth Choice to help Australians make smarter choices about their money particularly those navigating complex equity compensation. My aim is simple, help my clients save on tax, make more money and retire early. I do that using my 3-step system called Confident Choice System. The Confident Choice System is a 3-step roadmap engineered to help tech professionals crush the three biggest pain points keeping tech professionals awake at night:

4- Skyhigh tax bills (and the nagging worry that the higher you climb and the better you do, the more you’ll hand over to the ATO…)

5- No coherent wealth strategy (and feeling like you should be further ahead or doing more with your money…),

6- May be most importantly, wanting to speak to someone who can help but not

being sure who to TRUST or someone who knows the ins and out for people in their situation (the IT and tech profession is ‘nuanced’ and quite specific compared to many more vanilla situations…).

Our services for tech professionals include:

RSU & ESS tax-planning strategies
CGT & sale-timing advice
Investment & diversification frameworks
Superannuation integration
Long-term wealth creation and risk management

We act as your partner in financial clarity — helping you understand, plan, and grow

every component of your wealth.

Final Thoughts

RSUs have redefined how tech employees build wealth.

They can be life-changing when managed strategically — or stressful if left unplanned.

With proactive advice, disciplined timing, and integrated planning, you can transform RSUs from a tax liability into a cornerstone of financial independence.

Take Control of Your Equity

📞 Book your complimentary Tech Wealth Strategy Session with Mo at My Wealth Choice to discover how structured RSU management, tax planning, and diversification can accelerate your path to financial freedom.

BOOK HERE