Valiant Financial Planning

Valiant Financial Planning Valiant Financial Planning provides flat-fee, fiduciary advice for tech professionals and physicians.

Personalized financial planning, tax-efficient investing, and clear guidance to help you build wealth with confidence.

Happy Holidays from Valiant FP and the Reinike family!!
12/25/2025

Happy Holidays from Valiant FP and the Reinike family!!

12/15/2025

Proud moment: I was quoted in a recent Investopedia article on why only about 14% of Americans max out their 401(k) each year (per Vanguard’s How America Saves report)—and what to do if maxing out feels out of reach. The link to the article is in the comments!

Here are a few practical highlights that stood out:

- Maxing out is usually a process, not a switch you flip. For 2025, the employee 401(k) limit is $23,500 (under age 50). For many households, getting there requires gradual increases over time.

- Income math matters more than motivation. I was quoted in the article saying:
“Let’s say someone makes $80,000… To max out their 401(k), they would have to contribute over 28% of their income.” That’s a tall order when you’re also managing housing, student loans, and family expenses.

- Use “strategic moments” to increase contributions without feeling the pinch. Raises and job changes can be great opportunities. As I noted:
“If someone gets a raise, that’s a great time to put some of that new income toward retirement.” And starting a new job can be a “golden opportunity” to set a strong savings rate before lifestyle inflation kicks in.

- Make it automatic. For people who find it hard to increase savings, I often recommend setting your 401(k) to auto-increase annually. As I mentioned:
“If someone typically gets a pay raise of 3%, then they could afford to increase their 401(k) contributions by 1% or 2%, and they’ll hardly notice the increase.”

- Even high earners can run into plan limits. Some employees are classified as highly compensated and may be restricted depending on employer plan testing rules—so planning ahead matters.

If maxing out your 401(k) isn’t realistic today, don’t let that stop you: consistency beats perfection. Start where you can, capture your employer match, and build upward.

For the sixth time in the last seven years, the stock market is on track for double-digit returns. Outside of the inflat...
12/08/2025

For the sixth time in the last seven years, the stock market is on track for double-digit returns. Outside of the inflation-driven slump in 2022, this has been a remarkably strong run that has put many investors in a better financial position.

There is a saying that the anticipation of something is greater than the thing itself. Investors hope for years like this because they help move financial goals forward. That is especially true now that performance has broadened beyond AI-focused stocks, international markets have bounced back, and fixed income is finally doing its job again. At the same time, once strong returns show up, nervousness creeps in. Markets are near all-time highs, valuations are elevated, and it is natural to wonder what comes next.

Looking back at 2025, many of the big worries from the last few years reached meaningful turning points. Inflation has steadied around 3 percent. Tariffs remain high and were a major driver of volatility this year, but they have not created the economic shock many feared. The Federal Reserve has continued cutting rates, and the overall economy has grown at a healthy pace.

When we zoom out, the lesson heading into the new year is pretty clear. The risks investors fear most often never happen. The recession many have feared since 2022 did not occur. History shows that for every true market disruption, like the 2020 pandemic or 2008 financial crisis, there are dozens of feared disasters that never materialize. Long-term investing has never been about predicting the next surprise. It is about keeping perspective and staying disciplined through all types of markets.

If you want help thinking through what this means for your own financial plan, I am always here to talk.

As we head deeper into the holiday season, it feels like a good time to add a little more to the gratitude list. Markets...
11/24/2025

As we head deeper into the holiday season, it feels like a good time to add a little more to the gratitude list. Markets have given us plenty to appreciate this year, and building on last week's post, there’s even more worth highlighting as we look toward 2026.

Financial markets have delivered strong returns this year. The S&P 500 is up double digits, bonds are up roughly 7 percent year to date, and international stocks have outperformed U.S. stocks for the first time in many years based on MSCI EAFE and EM. Diversified portfolios have benefited well from this broad-based performance.

Here are three more reasons to be thankful as an investor:
- First, markets have held up well despite some stumbles. This bull market began after the October 2022 bottom and is now entering its fourth year. Bull markets typically last far longer than bear markets, which is a reminder that timing short-term events is difficult. Think back to the April tariff announcement. Markets dipped toward bear territory, then quickly rebounded to new highs. Staying disciplined paid off.

- Second, inflation has improved, even if slowly. Prices are up about 3 percent over the past year. From an investment standpoint, fears of runaway inflation have faded, giving the Fed room to begin cutting rates. A softening job market has also played a role. Lower rates generally support both stocks and bonds by reducing borrowing costs and boosting the value of older, higher-rate bonds.

- Finally, it’s worth appreciating the importance of risk management and proper asset allocation. The year ahead will bring uncertainty as usual. Questions about artificial intelligence will continue, similar to the early internet era. Political volatility around tariffs, geopolitics, and the national debt will also persist.

Reacting to these events can derail a financial plan. Your portfolio is designed to capture growth while managing risk.

The holiday season is a great time to reflect and review your portfolio. If your goals have shifted or you want to talk through how these conditions affect your plan, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you stay on track for the long term.

As the holiday season begins, it’s the perfect time to pause and appreciate what we have, both in our personal and finan...
11/18/2025

As the holiday season begins, it’s the perfect time to pause and appreciate what we have, both in our personal and financial lives. This is particularly important since investors tend to focus on what could go wrong rather than what has gone right. At the moment, with markets performing well, it’s helpful to reflect on the past year to gain perspective as new challenges and opportunities emerge.

So what can we be thankful for this year? Investors can be thankful that financial markets have performed well this year despite market swings. This bull market cycle, which began after the market bottom in October 2022, is now entering its fourth year.

While past performance is no guarantee of future results, history shows that bull markets tend to last much longer than bear markets, often running for five to ten years or more. The typical bull market has delivered cumulative returns far exceeding what we've seen so far in this cycle, despite the many challenges investors faced during those times. While there are important concerns around valuations and market concentration, investing for the long term requires us to navigate all types of market conditions.

This resilience underscores an important principle: trying to time markets around short-term events is not only difficult, but can be counterproductive if not considered as part of your broader financial plan. This was true even in April when markets fell close to bear market levels as new tariffs were announced. Markets not only rebounded quickly, but rose to new all-time highs. Investors who remained disciplined were rewarded, while those who reacted to headlines may have missed opportunities and, in some cases, may still be on the sidelines.

"Roth or Traditional - Which One’s Right for Me?"This question comes up in almost every first meeting I have with someon...
11/03/2025

"Roth or Traditional - Which One’s Right for Me?"
This question comes up in almost every first meeting I have with someone in tech. And honestly, there isn’t a magic formula, it’s more about timing and strategy than picking the “right” answer.

Here’s what I often see:
The earlier someone starts using Roth accounts, the more powerful they tend to be over time.
The later we wait, the less compelling the switch becomes (especially if income and tax rates are already high), but it could still be a smart move - it depends!

The real advantage of Roth? Building a bucket of tax-free growth you can tap later without worrying what future tax rates look like.

So what's the takeaway? Roth isn’t always the right choice, but when used at the right time, it’s one of the most valuable tools for long-term flexibility.

Happy Halloween from Valiant Financial Planning and the Reinike family!!
11/01/2025

Happy Halloween from Valiant Financial Planning and the Reinike family!!

RSUs vesting cause a lot (A LOT) of questions. But I love it! RSUs sound exciting - “free stock!” - until tax season rol...
10/27/2025

RSUs vesting cause a lot (A LOT) of questions. But I love it!

RSUs sound exciting - “free stock!” - until tax season rolls around and they suddenly feel less fun, right?!

- Here’s the quick breakdown-
When your RSUs vest, the value counts as ORDINARY INCOME.
When you sell, any gain or loss from the vesting price is a capital gain or loss.
Holding onto vested shares means you’re doubling down on your employer’s stock (your paycheck + your portfolio).
Many tech workers let RSUs pile up because selling feels “disloyal.” But loyalty doesn’t diversify your portfolio.

What if we treat RSUs like a bonus paid in stock? Possibly make a plan for what to do when they vest, maybe we sell what you need to reach your goals, NOT what feels emotionally right... Just a thought. 😉

04/21/2025

Everyone always posts about the stock market, but what about bonds!? This week's market and economic update discusses a bit about the recent volatility with bonds.

Just like in the stock market, greater uncertainty has led to swings in the bond market. These moves, driven by tariffs and a dispute between the White House and the Fed, have pushed interest rates and bond yields higher. While short-term volatility can often lead to unexpected results, it's important to remember that periods like these occur periodically, even if the causes are different each time.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Another market drop - what should we do?! Staying invested when the market gets shaky is key to long-term growth.This ch...
04/03/2025

Another market drop - what should we do?!

Staying invested when the market gets shaky is key to long-term growth.
This chart shows what happens if you step out of the market for different periods after a -2% day. Timing your re-entry is tough, and more often than not, it leads to worse results than just staying the course.

The market rewards patience, so stay focused on your long-term goals and keep moving forward!

Someone recently asked me, "What's the most common mistake you see when working with new clients?" It got me thinking......
03/28/2025

Someone recently asked me, "What's the most common mistake you see when working with new clients?" It got me thinking... There are three big ones I see all the time.

-One of the biggest? Not maxing out their 401(k) when they should be.

I’m often surprised by how many high-earners genuinely want to save for retirement and invest in their future, yet aren’t fully taking advantage of the tools available to them. A 401(k) is one of the most powerful wealth-building vehicles out there. If you’re not maximizing it, you could be leaving a lot on the table.
If you're unsure whether you're making the most of your 401(k) or want to learn more, let’s chat!

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