Career
Matt Smith
Case Study - Navigating the First Year of ...

New equity partners often face higher expenses and unpredictable income—right when they’re making permanent financial decisions. Here’s how one attorney got ahead of the stress with a thoughtful financial strategy.

Case Study - Navigating the First Year of Equity Partnership
Investing
Matt Smith
BigLaw Attorneys: A Case for Portfolio ...

What if your “diversified” portfolio isn’t really diversified anymore? A modern approach may help high-income professionals protect and grow wealth more effectively in today’s market environment.

BigLaw Attorneys: A Case for Portfolio Modernization
Investing
Matt Smith
BigLaw Attorneys: It's Just Entertainment

Financial media is entertainment. “Outperformance” is alchemy. BigLaw attorneys may see more value from investment hygiene—like smart rebalancing, cash management, and tax-aware strategies.

BigLaw Attorneys: It's Just Entertainment
Taxes
Matt Smith
BigLaw Attorneys: Bonus Taxes and the "April ...

BigLaw attorneys are anxiously awaiting tax season, wondering if they’ll be hit with yet another surprise bill. If you earned a sizable bonus last year, the answer is probably yes. But why does this keep happening—and how can you avoid it in the future? Let’s break it down.

BigLaw Attorneys: Bonus Taxes and the "April Surprise"
Debt
Matt Smith
BigLaw Attorneys: Planning for Student Debt

This is one of the 3rd rails of financial planning for attorneys. The debt you incurred during your undergraduate and/or law school years may feel enormous and can trigger very real emotional reactions. People don’t like to be in debt, and it often casts an ominous cloud over those that owe money to a lender. Those feelings are very real, very justified, and very normal. It is a good instinct to have to want to avoid getting into or staying in debt. However, there is a way to integrate your student loan repayment with your broader investment plan! Read on.

BigLaw Attorneys: Planning for Student Debt

Allegory of Tariffton: Tariffs, Debt, and the Family Budget

Allegory of Tariffton: Tariffs, Debt, and the Family Budget

What if the richest family in town decided to grow their own food and build their own tools—just to avoid paying the grocery and hardware store? This parable helps unpack the real-world logic of tariffs, national debt, and generational trade-offs.

Case Study - Navigating the First Year of Equity Partnership

Case Study - Navigating the First Year of Equity Partnership

New equity partners often face higher expenses and unpredictable income—right when they’re making permanent financial decisions. Here’s how one attorney got ahead of the stress with a thoughtful financial strategy.

BigLaw Attorneys: A Case for Portfolio Modernization

BigLaw Attorneys: A Case for Portfolio Modernization

What if your “diversified” portfolio isn’t really diversified anymore? A modern approach may help high-income professionals protect and grow wealth more effectively in today’s market environment.

BigLaw Attorneys: Life Insurance - Scams and the Real Deal

BigLaw Attorneys: Life Insurance - Scams and the Real Deal

Life insurance can be an essential tool for financial security, but many BigLaw attorneys dismiss it due to aggressive sales tactics and/or based on a vague understanding of their benefit at work. Here’s what you need to know about term vs. whole life insurance and whether you need additional coverage beyond your firm’s benefits.

Case Study - Estate Planning for All

Case Study - Estate Planning for All

Most young families assume they don’t have an “estate” to worry about yet. Kids will be taken care of by family or close friends if something happens; loved ones would tell the doctors what they would want if they couldn’t speak for themselves — but without legal documents, the state may decide instead. This couple changed that.

Case Study - Optimizing and Coordinating 401k and HSA Accounts

Case Study - Optimizing and Coordinating 401k and HSA Accounts

A routine check of a client’s 401(k) and HSA revealed missed contribution increases and over $20,000 in uninvested cash. By addressing these inefficiencies, we helped them maximize tax benefits and optimize their portfolio for long-term growth.

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Of Fees and Friends

,
Of Fees and Friends

Today, I had lunch with an old friend. Our conversation quickly centered around some of the things we are dealing with within our respective families, conversations that many of our contemporaries can probably identify with when it comes to aging parents.

We both acknowledged that we have arrived in that time of our life, and I mentioned that I see it within my client base as well. Things are changing, and people our age are finding themselves becoming more involved in the care of their parents, or even siblings, and it’s happening as Hemmingway put it, “Gradually and then suddenly.” ***

Case Study: Electing Employee Benefits for a BigLaw Family

Case Study: Electing Employee Benefits for a BigLaw Family

Choosing employee benefits can feel overwhelming, especially when both spouses have options. Errors or missed opportunities can compound when somebody spends time making choices once and then continues with the same choices year after year. See how we helped a BigLaw attorney’s family optimize health insurance, HSA contributions, and insurance coverage.