Your Personal Wealth Scorecard

Whether you're a startup employee, senior manager, or C-suite executive, wealth planning can be one of the most powerful tools to manage your financial life. It can help avoid surprise tax bills and diversify your portfolio. Take the quiz below to see how well you know your personal wealth.

For each statement, score yourself from 1 (needs attention) to 5 (strong).

Understanding Cash Needs

I have a good handle on my monthly after-tax cash flows, including my net paycheck versus my monthly expenses.

I maintain emergency reserves of 3–6 months’ living expenses, separate from investment assets.

My plan anticipates major liquidity events (education, real estate, business opportunities) without kindizing long-term growth.

Investment Strategy & Alignment

My portfolio is deliberately constructed to balance growth, income, and near-term cash flow needs.

I incorporate alternative investments, income strategies, and global diversification where appropriate.

I regularly evaluate whether my portfolio remains aligned with evolving life circumstances.

Executive Compensation

I understand the different components of my executive compensation and have a good handle on when things vest, expire, or what happens after I leave.

I have a disciplined strategy for managing concentrated stock positions to diversify over time.

I have a good handle of what my after-tax exposure of each compensation component is.

I have a good process in place to choose between cash, stock, options if given the choice.

Tax Efficiency

I feel confident that my paycheck isn’t over or under withholding my federal or state taxes, even considering my executive compensation.

My portfolio is periodically reviewed for tax-loss harvesting and charitable-giving opportunities where appropriate.

I have a strategy for equity compensation, RSUs, and options that minimizes surprise tax bills.

I actively evaluate how each investment decision affects after-tax wealth, not just pre-tax performance.

My wealth and tax advisors coordinate decisions to ensure all parts of my plan work together.

Risk Management

I have a good handle of what % my company stock exposure is compared to my total wealth.

I have stress-tested my portfolio for adverse scenarios such as market downturns or interest rate shocks.

My plan accounts for unexpected life events such as disability, divorce, or long-term care needs.

Retirement Planning

I have a clear strategy for drawing income across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts that minimizes taxes over time.

My retirement plan accounts for healthcare costs, inflation, and the possibility of living well into my 90s.

I know how Social Security, pensions, and other income sources integrate with my investment portfolio.

Estate & Wealth Transfer

My estate documents, trusts, and beneficiary designations are current and coordinated with my portfolio.

I have a clear plan for transferring wealth that minimizes taxes and maximizes impact for beneficiaries.