FREE MASTERCLASSTax Planning Masterclass
The strategies high earners should evaluate before year-end.
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TAX PLANNING FOR HIGH-INCOME PROFESSIONALS
You earn well.Your withholding isn’t a tax plan.
Equity compensation, bonuses, investments, multi-state income and charitable giving for executives, attorneys, finance and tech professionals.
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll determine whether BigApple is the right fit.
Money moves to make before 40Busayo Ogunsanya, CPA, MST · Founder & Managing Partner
20+ yearsTax & accounting experience
Master’s in TaxationFordham University
CPA-ledTax planning & fractional CFO advisory
WHAT WE SEE
High W-2 earners often assume there is nothing left to plan.
01RSUs and bonuses under-withheld at the flat supplemental rate
02Stock options exercised without modeling AMT
03Living in one state and working in another, with no review of credits
04Concentrated company stock and no plan to diversify
05Backdoor and mega backdoor Roth options never checked
06Charitable giving done in a way that produces no deduction
07Surprise balance due in April
HOW BIGAPPLE HELPS
Planning for W-2 earners with complex pay.
Annual and quarterly tax projections
RSU, ISO and NSO planning
Bonus and withholding review
Multi-state and NYC residency review
Backdoor and mega backdoor Roth strategy
Donor-advised fund and charitable timing
Capital gains and loss harvesting coordination
Side-business and 1099 income planning
Year-end planning before December 31
Every engagement is based on your facts. We do not promise a specific tax outcome.
THE C.A.T. FRAMEWORK
Applied to a high earner’s finances.
Cash Flow → Assets → Tax Planning
CASH FLOW
Salary, bonuses, vesting schedules, side income and the timing of each.
ASSETS
Company stock, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, real estate and deferred compensation.
TAX PLANNING
Time exercises, sales, contributions and gifts so tax is planned rather than discovered.
QUALIFICATION
You may be a fit for BigApple if…
If your pay is a single salary with no equity, bonuses or investments, a planning engagement may not pay for itself.
- You earn $300K or more, or your income jumped recently
- You receive RSUs, options or large bonuses
- You work or have lived in more than one state
- You hold a concentrated stock position
- You owed a large balance last April
- You want tax planning integrated with investment decisions
ILLUSTRATIVE PLANNING EXAMPLE
How the decisions connect.
CLIENT PROFILE
A technology executive living in New Jersey and working in New York receives a large RSU vest, holds incentive stock options and plans a significant charitable gift.
THE PROBLEM
Large equity events were creating tax that withholding didn’t cover, across two states.
WHAT WE REVIEWED
- Cash flow
How much cash will the vest produce after withholding, and when? - Estimated taxes
Is the supplemental withholding enough, or will there be a balance due? - Multi-state
How do New York and New Jersey taxes interact on this income? - Equity
Should ISOs be exercised this year, and what is the AMT exposure? - Retirement accounts
Is a backdoor or mega backdoor Roth available through the plan? - Charitable giving
Would donating appreciated shares through a donor-advised fund work better than cash? - Year-end planning
Which sales, gifts and contributions need to happen before December 31?
THE STRATEGY
- Projection covering vest, exercise and bonus timing
- ISO exercise modeled for AMT
- Multi-state filing position reviewed
- Charitable gift structured with appreciated shares
THE RESULT
One coordinated plan instead of separate decisions. Any tax effect depends on the client’s actual facts, so we don’t show a savings figure for a hypothetical example.
Hypothetical scenario for illustration only. It does not describe a specific client and does not promise any result.
LEARN FIRST
High-income tax planning, explained.
Questions high earners ask us
How are RSUs taxed?
RSUs are ordinary income when they vest. Employers often withhold at a flat supplemental rate that can be lower than your actual bracket, which is why many people owe in April.
Will exercising stock options trigger AMT?
Exercising incentive stock options can create alternative minimum tax even if you don’t sell. We model the exercise before you act.
I live in New Jersey and work in New York. How am I taxed?
You generally file in both states and claim a credit in your home state. Remote work, the New York convenience rule and NYC residency can change the result.
I am W-2 only. Is tax planning worth it?
Your options are narrower than an owner’s, but equity timing, retirement strategy, charitable giving and investment decisions can still matter significantly.
What is a mega backdoor Roth?
Some 401(k) plans allow after-tax contributions that can be converted to Roth. Whether you can use it depends on your plan’s rules.
Is it too late to plan for this year?
Not necessarily. Many decisions can still be made before December 31.
Your tax return tells us what happened. Your tax plan determines what happens next.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONBest for professionals earning $300K or more with equity compensation, bonuses or multi-state income.