Pioneer Insights

Tax Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Tax Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA): Pros, Cons, and When It Actually Saves Taxes

If you have employer stock inside a qualified retirement plan (most commonly a 401(k), profit-sharing plan, or ESOP), the Net Unrealized Appreciation (“NUA”) rules can let you shift part of what would otherwise be ordinary income into long-term capital gains. This sometimes producing meaningful lifetime tax savings. With that said, NUA is not always good. It’s a tax election with strict rules, cash-flow implications, and real portfolio risk. Below is a practical, decision-oriented overview, with specific IRS authority and two numeric examples.

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Tax Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Tax Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

The 2026 Tax Crossroads: What High-Income Families Should Be Thinking About Now

For many families, taxes are something that get attention once a year in March or April. However, the next few years are shaping up to be different. The period spanning 2025 and 2026 represented a meaningful planning crossroads, particularly for high-income households, business owners, and retirees. The OBBA made some important tax laws permanent (as permanent as a tax law can be).

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Career Transitions Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Career Transitions Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

Young Grads Bear the Brunt of Tightening Labor Market

College graduates looking to join the workforce this year encountered the most discouraging labor market in recent memory. The class of 2025 saw the number of job postings on Handshake (a career platform used to recruit college graduates) decline 15% from the previous year. The number of applications per job increased by 30%.1

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Retirement Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Retirement Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

Roth Catch-Up Contributions Begin in 2026

For nearly a quarter century, employers have been able to offer their retirement savings plan participants age 50 and older a valuable opportunity — the chance to make additional catch-up contributions to their plan. Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act passed in 2022, that opportunity became even more valuable: Employers may now allow plan participants age 60 to 63 to contribute even more than their other catch-up eligible peers through “super catch-ups.” In 2025, the standard plan contribution limit is $23,500. Participants who turn age 50 to 59 and 64 and older in 2025 can contribute an additional $7,500, while those who reach age 60 to 63 can contribute an additional $11,250.

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Family & Education Planning Nicole Renaux CFP® Family & Education Planning Nicole Renaux CFP®

The Fall Checklist: Balancing College Applications and Financial Planning

For families with high school seniors, fall is crunch time. Between campus visits, final SAT/ACT attempts, and essay writing, there’s also a parallel track that’s just as important: preparing the financial side of the college journey. Getting ahead now can reduce stress and improve the chances of securing the best possible financial aid package.

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Firm News & Updates Pioneer Team Firm News & Updates Pioneer Team

Lessons from the Trail: Trail Magic – Embracing the Unexpected with Grace and Gratitude

Life is full of surprises—some uplifting, some challenging. For those who have hiked long-distance trails, the term “trail magic” evokes a special kind of wonder. Trail magic refers to the unexpected kindnesses hikers receive on their journey: a cherry Tootsie Roll pop from a stranger, a made to order omelet at a random trail crossing, or even just a word of encouragement when morale is low. In many ways, this mirrors the financial journey we all walk through life—with its share of surprises, messes, and magical moments.

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Career Transitions Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Career Transitions Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

Laid Off from Indeed? Here’s Your Financial Action Plan

If you’ve recently been laid off from Indeed in Austin, first, take a breath. Layoffs—even expected ones—can bring a rush of uncertainty. But they can also be a powerful inflection point in your financial life. With thoughtful planning, you can transition from reactive to proactive and turn this disruption into a moment of long-term gain.

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Retirement Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP® Retirement Planning Milad Taghehchian, CPA, CFP®

Social Security and Medicare 2025 Trustees Reports: It’s Time to Address Funding Concerns

Each year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds provide detailed reports to Congress that track the programs’ current financial condition and projected financial outlook. These reports have warned for years that the trust funds would be depleted in the not-too-distant future, and the most recent reports, released on June 18, 2025, show that Social Security and Medicare continue to face significant financial challenges.

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Firm News & Updates Pioneer Team Firm News & Updates Pioneer Team

Lessons from the Trail: The Three P’s

Every year, thousands of hopeful hikers set out to conquer long-distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or Continental Divide Trail. With high spirits and grand ambitions, they march into the wilderness, packs stuffed with gear and dreams of transformation. Yet many are forced to quit early—not because of injury or lack of passion, but because they overestimated their endurance and underestimated their preparation.

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Career Transitions Pioneer Team Career Transitions Pioneer Team

From College Counselor to Certified College Financial Consultant: A Full-Circle Moment

Continuing education has always been important to me. As a career changer with a Master’s degree in Counseling, I’ve always enjoyed learning and strengthening my knowledge—whether that’s exploring different counseling theories or diving into the intricacies of new tax laws. That mindset is what led me to pursue the Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC) designation.

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