Equity compensation & real estate tax strategy · California
Year-round tax strategy for Bay Area tech professionals with RSUs, ISOs, and real estate — from a single advisor who holds the EA, CFP®, and Master of Science in Taxation credentials.
30-minute intro call · No obligation · 100% virtual, California-wide
Illustration · The RSU withholding gap
$400,000 of RSUs vest this year
Simplified federal-only example; California and AMT can widen it. A diagnostic models your actual grants.
Fewer than 400 professionals nationally hold this combination. You get tax technical depth and planning judgment in the same conversation.
Built for these moments
Quarterly estimates and sell-to-cover strategy so April holds no surprises and no penalties.
Multi-year exercise modeling to size each lot against your AMT crossover point and credit recovery.
Liquidity planning, lockup timing, and concentrated-position strategy before the event, not after.
1031 exchanges, depreciation, Prop 19 transfers, and community property basis steps.
FTB residency rules and sourcing of unvested equity, so a move actually saves what you expect.
After-tax comparison of competing equity packages and what happens to options you leave behind.
Also serving
California medical spa owners — entity structure, worker classification, and proactive tax strategy.
How it works
We talk through your equity, property, and what's coming up. If Fulcrum isn't the right fit, you'll hear that on the call.
A written review of your grants, withholding, and last return, with projections and the top moves ranked by dollar impact.
An annual retainer covers projections before every vest and sale, quarterly check-ins, and preparation of your returns.
Transparent pricing
Every engagement starts with the diagnostic. Its fee is credited toward your first year if you continue. Your exact tier is quoted on the intro call.
[Who it's for, e.g. RSUs at one public company, W-2 only]
[Who it's for, e.g. equity plus one rental property]
[Who it's for, e.g. ISOs, pre-IPO equity, multiple properties]
[Who it's for, e.g. liquidity events, entities, executives]
Equity Tax Diagnostic: [DIAGNOSTIC PRICE] · one-time, credited toward your first-year retainer
Start with the diagnosticBest fit: households with meaningful equity compensation or California real estate. [Add income or equity threshold if you want to pre-qualify.]
| Fulcrum | Typical tax preparer | Asset-based advisor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plans before vests, exercises, and sales | Yes | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Prepares and signs your returns | Yes | Yes | Usually not |
| California equity and real estate depth | Core focus | Varies | Varies |
| Fee tied to your portfolio size | Never | No | Yes, often ~1% |
| One advisor who knows your full picture | Yes | Seasonal | Varies |
Meet your advisor
Before founding Fulcrum, Neil built and ran a tax practice serving roughly 800 clients. He saw the same pattern every spring: tech professionals with six- and seven-figure equity learning about their tax problem after it was too late to fix.
Fulcrum is the fix. A deliberately small roster, so every client gets proactive planning around equity compensation, California tax rules, and real estate — from someone who knows their whole picture.
[Personal line: why you do this work, Fremont roots, life outside work]
Book a call with Neil“[Client testimonial focused on a specific outcome, e.g. avoided an AMT surprise]”
“[Client testimonial about proactive, year-round planning]”
“[Client testimonial about real estate or a move out of state]”
[Testimonial disclosure language, per the advertising rules that apply to your practice]
Not ready to talk yet?
See whether your next vest is under-withheld, in about a minute.
Run the numbers →What the FTB looks at before you move, and how equity gets sourced.
Get the checklist →The year-round calendar for RSUs, ESPP, and refreshers at big tech.
Download the playbook →Both. Retainer clients get planning throughout the year and their federal and California returns prepared, so the strategy and the filing never drift apart.
No. Fulcrum charges a flat annual fee and never takes custody of your assets. Your accounts stay where they are.
We spend 30 minutes on your equity, property, and upcoming events. You will hear honestly whether Fulcrum is a fit, and if it is not, where to go instead.
A review of your grants, pay stubs, and most recent return, a projection for this year, and a written list of your highest-impact moves. [Confirm deliverables and turnaround time.]
[Your policy: replace, coordinate with, or advise alongside an existing preparer.]
[Your policy, e.g. California residents and people leaving or moving into California.]
For California med spa owners
Worker classification, entity structure, and proactive tax strategy for aesthetic practices. Start with the free California Med Spa Tax Exposure Check.
Book a 30-minute intro call. You'll leave knowing whether Fulcrum fits and what your first moves should be.
Documents are exchanged through an encrypted client portal. Prefer email? [your email]