Blog & Insights

Health insurance

• Sign up for COBRA if necessary. If you have a gap in coverage, COBRA allows you to continue your current health plan for a period.
• Sign up for new insurance. Your new employer likely provides a few options for coverage.
  • Check their offerings against your current coverage.
  • Check whether your current providers are in network.
  • Review coverage for any ongoing medications or conditions.
  • Check all relevant costs, including premiums, deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums as part of your decision.
  • Note how costs vary for in-network versus out-of-network providers

Retirement accounts

• Leave your plan where it is. This is a great option if you like the investments in your current plan. There are some situations where you may not be able to leave your plan where it is, like if your previous employer was acquired.
• Roll it over to your new plan. This can be a good choice if you like the investment offerings in your current plan, or if you want to keep things simple by having everything in one place.
• Roll it over to an IRA. If you’d prefer not to roll your existing account into your new company’s 401(k), you can roll it over into a traditional IRA. This can help you stay organized if you have multiple 401(k)s via different jobs. Additionally, IRAs tend to have a wider selection of investments to choose from.
• Take a withdrawal. Cashing out a 401(k) can help with liquidity needs, but you’ll need to pay income tax on the amount. If you’re younger than 59ó you’ll likely need to pay an early withdrawal penalty as well.
• Roth conversion. Rolling a traditional 401(k) into a Roth account means paying income taxes on the amount you convert. Read more about the different considerations when doing a Roth conversion.

• Select investments. Your plan may opt you into certain funds as a default, but you want to make sure the investments in your employer-sponsored plan align with your overall investment strategy. We can help you with investment selection.
• Automate your contributions. There are tax benefits that come with contributing as much as you’re comfortably able. At a minimum, we recommend contributing enough to qualify for any employer match—that money is part of your compensation package, so be sure to claim it.

Other insurance

• Check your life insurance. Many of us have term life insurance coverage via our employer. See when your existing coverage ends and look at new coverage options. How much insurance you need likely depends on your circumstances: Do you have debt, a family, and so on. We can help you assess your insurance needs.
• Check your disability insurance. See what coverage you have at your current job and what your new employer offers. Remember that certain medical conditions, including pregnancy, may require you to use your disability insurance.

Equity compensation

• Check your stock options. If you have had stock options at your previous jobs, check their expirations. Often, these options expire within 90 days of you leaving the company.
• Check deferred contribution. You may forfeit some, or all, of your deferred contributions when you leave a job. Check to see if your new job offers deferred contribution and make any required elections.
• Set up the logistics. Make sure your payroll has your current address and direct deposit information on file.

Create a tax plan

• What is your tax bracket? If your salary changed significantly, or if you switch to a position with more incentive- or equity-driven compensation, your tax bracket may change.
• Will you have non-salary income at your new job? Incentive pay may require additional tax planning.
  • Figure out how your non-salary income is taxed. For instance, RSUs are taxed as income on the day they vest. Some employers withhold shares to cover this taxation. See what your company’s policy is. Read more about how equity compensation is taxed.
  • Meet with a tax professional if needed. If you have RSUs, you might consider an 83(b) election, for example.
  • Adjust your withholding as needed. Most companies calculate your withholding automatically based on your Form W-4, but you can adjust the amount If you anticipate income greater than your base salary.

Review your budget

• Note your take home pay. Your actual paycheck may depend on what you decide regarding taxes and benefits, so note your take-home pay after you’ve selected your benefits package and created a tax plan.
• Review expenses. New jobs often come with subtle adjustments. Will you be traveling more in your new role where you need to plan for additional childcare expenses, for example.
• Take a step back to evaluate. Changes to cash flow (both income and expenses) are a great opportunity to reevaluate your overall financial plan and ensure you’re on track.