Evergreen guides on the decisions that shape a household's finances, written in plain language for California families, each with the current year's figures and the sources behind them.
A plain-language guide to what Sacramento region retirees pay in California income, property, and sales tax, and the decisions that change the bill.
Nyle Bayer · September 30, 2026 · 11 min read
An answer-first guide to capital gains tax on a California home sale that separates cash proceeds from taxable gain and covers Section 121, basis, withholding, and Proposition 19 for Bay Area sellers moving to Placer County.
Nyle Bayer · September 23, 2026 · 11 min read
What happens when you inherit an IRA, how the SECURE Act 2.0 10-year rule and RMDs work, and how step-up in basis applies to inherited homes and accounts, including California's community property rules.
Nyle Bayer · September 10, 2026 · 14 min read
A plain-language comparison of traditional and Roth IRAs for California pre-retirees, covering deductions, income limits, the backdoor Roth, RMDs, and state tax treatment.
Nyle Bayer · September 8, 2026 · 11 min read
A plain-English guide for California families with $1 million to $8 million in assets on the estate planning issues that actually apply to them in 2026, none of which involve the federal estate tax.
Nyle Bayer · September 3, 2026 · 12 min read
ISOs, RSUs, and concentrated stock each carry different tax rules and risks. This guide covers exercise timing, AMT planning, RSU vesting strategies, 10b5-1 plans, and diversification approaches with current 2026 figures.
Nyle Bayer · August 28, 2026 · 11 min read
A pre-retiree's guide to Roth conversion strategy: timing, tax bracket management, the five-year rule, sequencing, and California tax rules.
Nyle Bayer · August 26, 2026 · 11 min read
California generally taxes long-term capital gains as ordinary income, while federal rules may apply a different rate. See how the two systems interact before a sale.
Nyle Bayer · August 24, 2026 · 10 min read
A taxable, traditional, then Roth retirement withdrawal order is a starting point. See when Social Security, pensions, Roth conversions, RMDs, or concentrated stock change the sequence.
Nyle Bayer · August 24, 2026 · 10 min read
A practical, general guide to diversifying a concentrated stock position through a phased, tax-aware process that reflects your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance.
Nyle Bayer · August 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Why a handful of companies create most of the stock market's wealth, why that concentration is normal and cyclical, and how long-term investors own durable companies broadly and hold through 50 percent drawdowns.
Nyle Bayer · July 7, 2026 · 7 min read