Morgan J Ingram

Turning B2B Influence into Pipeline | CEO @ AMP

My journey wasn't always smooth.

In 2016, I was the worst-performing SDR on my team.

Then I discovered something that changed everything...
Intent + Outbound + Content = big fat pipeline.

Which has led to..
• 4× LinkedIn Top Sales Voice
• Trained teams at HubSpot, Snowflake, Salesforce, and 100+ SaaS companies
• Built frameworks that generate millions in pipeline

But here's what I noticed:

Most B2B teams are drowning in automation instead of mastering fundamentals.

That's why I built Sales Team Six a 45-day sprint that transforms your most committed reps into multi-channel outbound specialists.

We focus on three pillars:
• Intent - Know who's ready to buy
• Outbound - Orchestrate touches that convert
• Content - Build trust before the meeting

LinkedIn is incredible, but it can't be your only channel. It's your command center for detecting signals, personalizing outreach, and scaling what's human.

The edge belongs to teams that master all three.

Ready to build your revenue engine?

3 ways to get started:
• Download the Sales Nav Kit (featured section)
• DM me "REV" to discuss your outbound motion
• Book time at ampsocial.io

Not ready yet? Follow for daily insights on multi-channel outbound, Sales Navigator mastery, and frameworks that book meetings.

→ Speaking & partnerships: aneesh@wishlygroup.ca

Founder and Chief Edutainment Officer (CEO)

At AMP, we’re not just a media company - we are your strategic partner in revolutionizing B2B GTM Production. We craft immersive video content and design unforgettable event activations, bridging the gap between your brand and potential clientele.

Our Mission:

To transform traditional organizational interactions, eliminating outdated marketing practices and cold outbound methodologies. We're creating narratives that resonate, producing visual stories that capture attention and foster genuine brand connections, drive revenue, and solidify trust in today’s dynamic customer interaction landscape.

Specialties:

B2B Media Production: Crafting tailor-made media solutions designed to captivate your B2B audience and elevate your brand presence in the market.

Immersive Video Production: Designing and executing video content that speaks volumes, ensuring your message is conveyed powerfully and memorably.

Event Activations: Orchestrating events activations that drive booth traffic and acquire new customers 

Revenue Generation through Media: Implementing media strategies that don’t just tell stories but drive tangible results, enhancing your ROI through strategic media planning and production.

Brand Connection and Trust Building: Nurturing authentic brand relationships, steering your audience through their buying journey with content that validates and enhances brand trust.

Without Ralph Barsi, there is no Morgan J Ingram. 

When preparing to take my SDR role in 2016, I stumbled upon his article about the top strategies SDRs need to execute to succeed. 

As I kept reading, one part made a lightbulb go off. 

“An SDR should start a YouTube channel talking about the life of an SDR.”

I was like "hmm ok I think that could be cool."

I went to Twitter and sent Ralph a video telling him I would be the first person to do this. 

He responded, "Go get it, I can't wait to see it”. (However, I don't think he believed me at all)

Fast forward to my SDR role, three months in I was struggling like crazy and the last thing on my mind was creating content. 

Fortunately, I had a boost of confidence coming my way. 

I met Ralph in person at an event and he was like, “Hey where is that YouTube channel?.” I felt slightly embarrassed and didn't have a good answer. 

He looked me in the eyes and said get to episode 100, and I will come on. 

I left feeling motivated and knew I had to do something. 

Later that night, I swore to myself to become a better SDR and fulfill my promise to Ralph. 

The SDR Chronicles was born. 

I would check in with Ralph every other month to show him my progress. 

Throughout the process, he guided me on how to be a great SDR, suggestion what guest I should bring on and overall helping me refine my craft. 

I was locked in. 
One year later, I hit the 100th episode. 

And get this.. we filmed episode 100 in Atlanta in person at the same exact conference he told me to get it together. 

It was a beautiful moment. 

To this day, Ralph is one of the best mentors and friends I could ask for. 

He genuinely listens, cares, and consistently checks in with me whenever I have a problem. 

I leave our conversations with clarity and confidence that I can accomplish any goal I set my mind to. 

We catch up at least once a quarter to check in which led into the opportunity to do a Sales Team Six training with his team in-person in Atlanta. (more on that later in the week)

Throughout life, you run into someone who drops a key to open the door to go to the next level. 

You can decide whether to take it or not. 

Ralph was that person. 

Without Ralph, there is no Morgan J Ingram. 

Love you, and thank you for being my springboard.

Morgan J Ingram 

Outbound → Revenue. For B2B Teams That Want Results | Founder @ AMP | Creator of Sales Team Six™

20 things I am thankful for as I reflected on Thanksgiving (and no it wasn't just my mom's cooking)

 1. The gym at 2pm when it's empty and I can lock in
 2. Japan for providing my entire wardrobe at this point
 3. My trainer who pushes me harder than I push myself
 4. Growing my business into something I genuinely love
 5. LinkedIn for giving a kid from Atlanta a global platform
 6. Entrepreneurs who share their struggles, not just wins
 7. Voice notes with founders who actually get this journey
 8. My men's Bible study group that keeps me accountable
 9. Failure for being a better teacher than success ever was
10. That one perfect Arizona sunset that stops me mid-scroll
11. My inner circle for being real ones before and after success
12. Japan for showing me there's beauty in discipline and order
13. Morning walks at 5am when the world is quiet and ideas flow
14. My parents for teaching me how to show up with confidence
15. Pilots who get me to my destinations safely every single time
16. My coach who elevated my perspective when I couldn't see it
17. My Gameboy emulator keeping me sane on cross-country flights
18. Pickleball for teaching me that fun and competition can coexist
19. My faith in God for being my anchor when business gets chaotic
20. You for reading this and being part of this journey

As I am hanging with my family back in Atlanta, these thoughts keep running through my head...

Life is wild. Business is hard. Building something meaningful takes everything you've got.

But man, we have SO much to be grateful for.

The fact you read this whole list means you're here, you're present, and you have a lot to be grateful for too.

Take a moment today to actually feel it.

--- 

P.S. What's on your list? Drop it below.. 👇🏾

12 things I learned this past weekend on a men's retreat with 7 guys I'd never met before. 

 1. God's plan > your plan.  
 2. Cold plunges are overrated.  
 3. You don't need to do life alone.  
 4. Being present beats being productive.  
 5. Vulnerability with other men isn't weakness.  
 6. Be proactive in your relationships, not reactive.  
 7. People want to help, you just have to open your arms for it.  
 8. You can learn from anyone, regardless of net worth or status. 
 9. Stop performing for people who aren't even paying attention.
10. Everyone's struggling with something harder than what you're facing. 
11. The hardest thing you're avoiding is exactly what you need to be doing. 
12. Social media is an illusion, don't fall into the trap and start doubting yourself.

The last retreat got me locked in on my faith in God and had me looking at my life differently. This retreat took that to a new level and now my faith is not only rock solid it has me wanting to talk about it more. 

2026 for me is going to be about cultivating relationships.

Less reactive. More proactive.

If you're thinking "I should do something like this but..." stop. Just full stop.

Find your people where you can feel safe to get uncomfortable.

Men need this. 

Women need this. 

We all need this. 

Connection is literally one vulnerable conversation away.

P.S. Which of these 12 resonate the most?

I asked 50 executives how many personalized LinkedIn videos they received last year. Their answer shocked me because nearly all said the same thing:

“One. Maybe two. And they weren’t even that good… but I watched every single one of them.”

Wild, right?

It confirmed something I’ve been thinking about for a while: we’ve overscaled ourselves into invisibility.

We’re so obsessed with automation and efficiency…
That we lost the plot with how powerful intentional human outreach really is.

Even Kyle Coleman one of the most visible SaaS leaders on LinkedIn said he got 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 videos last year.

ONLY three! 

(THAT'S WILD WORK)

What do sales leaders miss out on by not doing this? 

Let me show you the math on this "unscalable" opportunity:

- 5 personalized LinkedIn videos per rep daily (completely doable)
- 100 videos monthly per rep
- With 20 reps = 2,000 personalized videos
- 10% conversion to meetings = 200 meetings
- $20,000 average deal size = $4 MILLION in potential pipeline

All from doing what others consider "too time-consuming" or "unscalable."

When I managed teams, we embraced the unscalable. We did the crazy stuff nobody else would do.

And we consistently hit our outbound numbers.

Today, this same philosophy is a cornerstone of our Sales Team Six program, where we help sales teams implement high-touch strategies that most competitors avoid.

Here's a challenge for every leader reading this:

Think about the unscalable actions that you could run with a pilot group to differentiate your team. 

The teams that zig while others zag always win.

P.S. If you want examples of videos that get responses? DM me "VIDEO" and I'll send it to you.

Exec Videos

I listened to 30 of my own sales calls last month. What I discovered was embarrassing even after selling for 10 years. 

Every once in a while, I get so confident in my process that I forget to follow the process. (I know, silly) Then I create my own chaos and shake my head because I know better.

Look, we have all been there.

So I did something uncomfortable:

I put my last 30 sales calls into Fathom.ai to see where my gaps were.

Three things immediately popped up:
• My intro was too loose (rambling for 5 minutes)
• I was missing 2-3 critical discovery questions
• I wasn't doing a pit stop to confirm we were solving the same problem

Within 3 weeks, instead of taking 4 calls to close it went down to 2 calls.

The thing is, I'm not using Fathom.ai for anything revolutionary. I'm using it to get clarity on my own sales flow. To actually understand what moves deals forward instead of just hoping. To catch the patterns in what works and what doesn't.

Now I have a weekly Fathom review process to continuously improve. I can see exactly where I lose people. Where deals accelerate. What questions create breakthrough moments.

It pulled me out of the chaos and into clarity.

We're running a webinar Tuesday, December 16th at 12pm ET with Brianna Doe showing exactly how to use call intelligence to master your sales cycle and your own chaotic life. 

I'll share my actual Fathom workflow, the patterns that close deals, and real examples from my calls (including the messy ones).

Come join us here >  https://lnkd.in/gt4tCdz8

We're not in an attention economy. We're in a trust economy.

And listen.. if we're really in a trust economy, that doesn't mean jumping into ChatGPT and asking it to cook up 10 viral posts that sound like the average of everyone else.

Like ya'll ain't fooling nobody with the AI slop.

But I hear it now.. "Morgan they told me I need to create 2 posts a day to get visibility"

Ok yeah sure you can do that. Yet visibility doesn't matter if it's not even good. If it's slop. It won't connect. Which leads to burnout because then you stop believing in your own voice.

One thing I've realized over a decade of creating on this platform:
Write every single post as if you're gonna impact at least one person. Not just "I need to hit 6 posts a week."

That mindset leads to burnout. And it's gonna lead to less people trusting you.

What everyone should be focused on instead is looking at your real world experiences to articulate a point and perspective that no one else has. This leads to more trust and more revenue.

So.. that is exactly what Tobi Oluwole and I are going to talk about.

We're gonna be doing a masterclass with Stanley (Your Content Coach) to breakdown how we're sharing our real world experiences on these platforms.

Join us December 12th: "The New Creator Playbook for 2025 and Beyond"

We're diving deep into:
The exact systems that cut our content time by 70%
Why we stopped posting daily (and tripled revenue)
How to turn voice notes into viral posts

We only have 500 seats and it WILL fill up asap rocky.

Excited to see you all there. Oh yeah.. here is the link to chop it up with us. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ekACXvpn

Here are 3 things I love about running my own business:

1. Narrowing my focus to have a greater impact

In 2024, AMP Social wasn't even called AMP Social because we were finding our footing.

We created thought leadership content for creators.
Produced masterclass series for top tech brands.
And took a massive amount of work on for a lean team.

After talking to customers and listening to feedback, I narrowed my focus to LinkedIn outbound because that's what I kept getting great feedback on in conversations.

(I know, that's a crazy pivot)

The insights I shared online, during my keynotes, and in conversations with other executives kept pointing to my greatest strength: social selling.

Over 80% of the teams we talked to said cold calling was their #1 channel, but they wanted help generating revenue through their team's LinkedIn profiles.

So now I train everyone on social selling as a foundation that powers your outbound motion in combination with cold calling + cold email.

2. Finally going all-in on YouTube

I started a YouTube channel called SDR Chronicles in 2016, and it catapulted my career. But like any creator, I stopped creating to focus on other areas in my life.

Yes, even I struggle to make content consistently.

But there's no time like the present, so we're back at it!

I hired a team to coach me. 
I'm filming 30-40 videos in November/December.

Then I'll start building out the content library so I can send the videos to the editing factory. 

With AI search surging, YouTube is THE place to create content that enhances your search visibility. Curious if anyone else has found similar results in their research.

3. Partnering with people who actually get it

I only want to work with people who love the craft.

Those who understand the power of content creation.

It's why I get so excited when I get to hang out with people like Jen Allen-Knuth.

It's why I look forward to the voice notes I share back and forth with Samantha McKenna.

It's why I always reply to the random social chats with Brianna Doe.

It's why I constantly plan strategy sessions with Aneesh Lal.

I know it's cliché, but the quote:

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with" is a straight fact. 

These people make me want to level up every single day.

And no matter what happens in my life or my business,

I'm crystal clear on one thing: 

I'm exactly where I need to be.

• Building my 'Sales Team Six' system for B2B teams. 
• Speaking on stages worldwide about social selling.
• Figuring out the B2B creator economy with brands. 

That's what fires me up. 

That's what I'm locked in on.

That's what I currently love about running AMP Social.

One rep using our AMP framework booked 5 meetings in 7 days with this Sales Nav combo. 

(Share this in your Slack channel)

Now the combo stacking filter is: The "Previous Company + Followed Company" Stack

I call it "The Spider-Verse Play"

Just like Miles Morales jumping between dimensions, these prospects are jumping between companies but they're still connected to your web.

Let's break down the psychology. If someone follows your company they're expressing interest. If they just left a company that uses your product, they already know the value.

The setup takes 3 minutes:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: Open Sales Nav (I know, revolutionary)

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: Click these two filters:
- Followed company (yours)
- Previous company (your customers)

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: Upload your entire customer list
Don't do this company by company unless you're psychotic. Just upload the whole list. Work smarter, not harder.

P.S. It's on the home page and just upload the book of business with CSV.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: Watch the magic happen

You'll find people who:
- Already know your product works (they used it)
- Just moved to a new company (budget available)
- Are actively following you (warm as it gets)

Then leverage that message to send an email or LI message. 

The rep who discovered this booked 5 meetings in 7 days just running this play. The exact structure he used is what we teach reps in our Sales Team Six program.

From ONE filter combo.

While everyone else is spraying and praying, you're talking to people who already love you. 

That's the cheat code.

P.S. Want to see my other Sales Nav Plays? Download my Sales Nav kit: https://lnkd.in/eKvtqmRZ

If I was a B2B sales leader, here's how I'd help my team find ready-to-buy prospects in 15 minutes. 

(Send this to your Slack group)

The "Sweet Spot Window" is the secret to booking more meetings.

Here's how to find prospects exactly when they're ready to buy: 

Step 1: Sprint into Sales Navigator. Don't walk
Step 2: Click the filter "Less than 1 year" in current role
Step 3: Look for two specific windows: 4-6 months or 7-10 months.

Why not month 1-3?
Because they're still onboarding and don't know what they need yet.

They barely know where the bathroom is... Come on people.. slow your roll.

At 4-6 months, they have the context to evaluate solutions.
At 7-10 months, they've been through 2-3 quarters and need to show impact.

Where I'm seeing the most results in Sales Team Six is at the 7-8 month mark. 

By now, they know:
↳ What's working (and what's not)
↳ Their key priorities for the year
↳ They need to make a big impact before their 1-year review

Then have your team create two separate messaging sequences for each window and watch your calendar fill up.

4-6 months: "Noticed you're settling into the role. Most [title] at this stage tell me..." 
7-10 months: "Coming up on your first full year. Typically at this stage in your role we see x,y, and z being top of mind. Any of those on your radar?"

One rep went from 2 meetings/month to 2 a week just by switching to this timing.

Tag a sales leader who needs this. 

P.S. Want to see my other Sales Nav Plays? Download my Sales Nav kit: https://lnkd.in/eKvtqmRZ

If I were an SDR trying to break into 5 enterprise accounts before year-end, here's the exact play I'd run.

(Share this in your Slack channel)

Step 1: The Intelligence Gathering

Right now everyone and their mother is trying to figure out how to use intent.
Great. So that's where we start.

Pull up your demo analytics dashboard like Consensus and look for patterns.
• Who's watching sections on replay?
• What are they downloading?
• Who are they forwarding it to?

When you find multiple people from the same account watching the same section we now know we have struck gold because we know what matters to them. 

Step 2: The Surround Sound

I love my surround sound for my gaming experience. But that's not what we're talking about here.

Here's what we're doing instead:

Take the data from Step 1. 

Now you know WHO is looking and WHAT they care about.

Send blank LinkedIn connections to:
• Everyone who viewed your demo
• Similar buyer personas at your other 4 target accounts
  
Logically if VPs of Sales at Company A care about social selling, VPs at Company B probably do too.

Now you're connected to entire buying committees before you even send a message.
But oh wait.. we are just getting started. 

Step 3: Context Messaging

Here's where everyone messes up. (I have done this in the past too) 

They see engagement and spam everyone.

Nah. Be smart about it.

Send a LinkedIn video or make a cold call saying EXACTLY this:
"Sarah, our data from VPs of Sales shows that social selling is top of mind. Made a quick walkthrough of how we helped a cybersecurity company book 5 extra enterprise meetings in 45 days. Mind if I share?"

This is an invitation to a conversation they're already having. Not a pitch.

Step 4: The Data-Driven Follow Up

The fortune is in the follow-up. That's what they tell me.

And they're right.

So you sent that message in Step 3. They didn't respond. Don't hit the red panic button yet. 

Not you my friend. You have the data.

Your follow-up changes the angle:  
"Sarah - thought you might find this update from our customer base interesting. Just saw multiple VP of Sales spend 12 minutes on the ROI calculator section yesterday. Not sure, but this might be something useful for your team. Want me to send over the metrics deck that sealed the deal for similar teams?"

No digital begging here. 

Just sharing real insights based on real data.

This play books meetings at accounts that have been ignoring you for months.

The data shows you everything and now we are taking action on it.

#ConsensusPartner

I hadn't done an on-site outbound training in 2 years. Until last week.

Let me back up real quick.

From 2017-2021 I worked at JB Sales doing sales training for SDR/AE teams on how to do outbound. About 50-60 in-person sessions a year. 30 webinars a year. Talking about the craft constantly. It was an incredible journey. 

Keeping it 100 though...  after that run I was absolutely tapped.

I had nothing left to give.

So I stopped talking about outbound for almost 2 years. Which is probably why some of you wondered where I went. Like yooo is Morgan good?!

I needed to refill the tank.

But last week I went back on-site with Kahua for our Sales Team Six program.

And it hit different this time.

Day 1: Half day of training.
Day 2: ALL coaching. No slides. Just me breaking down their actual calls, actual messages, and actual accounts. (I LOVE THIS PART. Feels like I am a rapper freestyling on the stage)

I told my team afterward: "That was the most fun I've had in ages."

That's what I optimize for now. 
Fun. Impact. Getting in the weeds with reps.

People always tell me my energy is what they remember most from my sessions. It's the #1 compliment across every survey I've ever done.

So I'm leaning all the way in.

Coaching > slide decks.
Real accounts > hypotheticals.
Fun > burnout.

The full circle moment hit hard too.

The only reason I got into this game is because Ralph Barsi wrote an article saying SDRs should create content. That was a decade ago.

Last week I worked with his team to upskill them on social selling, cold calling, and creative outbound.

Even as I write this I laugh because only God could write a better story. 

So now I am opening up Q1 slots for Sales Team Six on-site if you have a local SDR team that needs upskilling in social selling, sales nav and cold calling to level up your outbound motion. 

Oh and yeah... we do headshots at the end to spruce up the profile pic. Because why not.

If that sounds like your team, DM me happy to share details.

I turned 10 client feedback calls into my outbound campaign in 7 minutes using Apollo's AI Assistant.

(Copy this exact prompt)

Step 1: Tell Apollo What Your Buyers Care About

After 10 client calls, I knew exactly what pain points matter.

So I typed this into Apollo AI Assistant:

"You are a 20 year B2B sales veteran who sells into mid market and enterprise accounts. Uncover the most relevant buyers and decision makers for my TAM based on the following pain points: [listed my actual client feedback]. Prioritize executives and senior leaders who influence or own purchasing decisions. Select the top 100 contacts that best represent the highest-value opportunities."

Good job that is it.. no prompt engineering degree needed.

Then boom Apollo found 100 perfect buyers in 2 minutes.

Step 2: Build Your 5-Touch Campaign

Here's what works:

LinkedIn connection request (blank, higher acceptance)
Tailored email 2 days later
Follow-up email with social proof
Final touch with case study

Nothing fancy. Just 4 simple relevant touches and then you can adjust accordingly.

Apollo built all of this while I grabbed some sparkling water. (Because it's the best water)

Step 3: Test and Fix What's Not Working

Here's the cheat code:

Apollo shows you what's working in real-time.

If I see that an email is not getting a response and not landing I can quickly make that pivot. 

Based on the responses I am getting it will start to gear me towards those type of buyer personas and accounts.

Would be great to test these now in December so you can start Q1 with proven messaging going into the new year.

This used to take DAYS of work and now it takes minutes.
Leverage AI to be your amplifier not your genie.

P.S. So surprise I got early access to the Apollo AI Assistant beta and now I am going to 
share this with y'all: https://lnkd.in/gfzhYSis

#ApolloAIAssistant #ApolloPartner

Financial planning and education (without the jargon) I Creating blueprints for high-earning sales executives and business owners

I left the financial industry because I saw a problem.

People wanted to work with a planner, but they ended up becoming a number on a spreadsheet.

I had to leave to start something new.

And now?

I'm a fee-only planner who helps salespeople & equity compensated employees under 45 give a purpose to their paycheck.

I left the large financial institutions to start my own independent company. I did it so people could pay for real planning and not just an agenda to sell a hidden product. 

As a true fiduciary, Pashman Financial, LLC was built on that promise by focusing on you and you only.

🔵 Why people hire me? 

Well, people have come to me with the following problems:

- They want peace of mind with their money
- Their old advisor barely communicates with them
- They want an answer tailored to them, not from Google
- They felt pressured to buy a product that wasn't a right fit
- They are great at making money but struggle to keep it
- They want a simple plan that's easy to understand
- They want someone to hold them accountable
- They want someone they can trust

🔵 What are my services?

I help identify your goals, craft a financial blueprint that lays out action items to hit them, and monitor your progress. 

💵 Cash Flow Management  
📈 Equity Compensation
🏡 Real Estate Planning
📊 Investment Planning
📍 Retirement Planning
🛡 Insurance Planning
📚 Education Planning
💲 Tax Management
💳 Debt Repayment
📃 Estate Planning

🔵 Who do I serve?

Age: Individuals and families between 30-50 years old
Target: Sales pros, tech employees, other millennial families
Location: Virtually anywhere in the U.S.

But I love working with people that are driven to make a change. So even if you don’t fit these criteria, feel free to reach out. Your personality is everything. 

🔵 Why I'm different?

1) My model is primarily a flat fee service. No time trap. 

2) I do not require you to hand over your investments nor require a minimum to work with. Managing your assets is optional and I'll still assist you if you do it yourself. My focus is ongoing financial planning. 

3) I focus on how to increase your cash flow, not just your assets. I work with you to ensure your systems are set and consistently educate you on how your finances work. I get paid to truly keep you accountable over time.

You can find my pricing in my "featured" section on the website. 

Stop delaying action. Shoot me a message to schedule a complimentary intro.

Max Pashman, CFP®

Renting is not a waste of money 
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money
Renting is not a waste of money

It isn’t always “throwing money away”.

In fact, it’s an option that offers flexibility.

It’s avoiding being locked into a mortgage you’re not financially or emotionally ready for.

People underestimate how costly the wrong home purchase can be.

Better to stretch on rent than get trapped by a mortgage you can’t afford.

Helping Founders and Executives Plan for Early Retirement and Exit

Most have no clue what a write-off does.

Here's a quick breakdown of what it is:

A write-off is merely a deduction.

So use the example:

→ You get a $20,000 expense to write off
 → If your income starts at $200,000?
 → It gets lowered to $180,000
 → So what does that mean?

Here's what it does not mean:

IT DOES NOT MEAN $20,000 LESS TAXES.

A deduction does one thing:
Reduces income taxable.

In this case, a single person in 2025:
(Using only federal taxes in this example)

→ The entire $20,000 is in the 32% bracket
 → The amount taxed? $6,400 federal
 → So with the taxes saved?
 → You netted - $13,600

So yes, you saved more in taxes.

But you still spent money in the end.

It's not a dollar-for-dollar save.

It's a reduction in income taxed.

Big difference!

Note: Post is purely educational and not financial or tax advice*

Max Pashman

pashman-financial-llc

schooloffinances

Reset Your Password | LinkedIn

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JSESSIONID

Sales Navigator

Your employer offers you a $200,000 salary. 

But also offers a $200,000 bonus with it.

When you get the bonus, it's taxed just like your salary. 

Except it's withheld completely different from it. 

One question you should always ask:

What will you do with the bonus?

Option 1: Spend it
Option 2: Save it in cash
Option 3: Invest in your company's stock
Option 4: Invest it into your portfolio

No matter what happens, that bonus gets taxed when it vests. 

And if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not talking about a bonus.

Welcome to planning around Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) 101

90% of parents plan to invest for their kids, but are clueless where. 
 
Here are the full details of common accounts to consider:
 
#1 529 Plan 
 
Usually the first option people think of when planning for their kids. 
 
This is the traditional go-to if you know your kid is going to college. 
 
The reason being is that it provides tax advantages specifically for educational needs. 
 
Pros of 529: 
 
-Earnings are tax-free when used for qualified educational expenses 
-Can front load up to 5x normal contributions 
($19,000 X 5 = $95,000 per contributor) 
-May offer a state deduction depending on the state 
 
Cons of 529: 
 
-If not used for education, earnings are taxed + hit with a 10% tax penalty 
-Limited investments options available 
-Expense ratios could be high 
 
 
#2 UTMA / UGMA 
 
Don't think the funds will be used for college? 
 
One of the most popular alternatives is a UTMA / UGMA. 
 
It can be a good way to provide a nest egg for the future. 
 
Pros of UTMA/UGMA: 
 
-A vehicle that could be used to teach your kids about personal finance 
-Can be used for any purpose and not just their education 
-Exempted from paying a gift tax up to $19,000 / year 
 
Cons of UTMA/UGMA: 
 
-Hurts financial aid as a kids asset and is subject to kiddie taxes 
-Contributions are irrevocable (cannot be taken back) 
-Funds MUST be given to kids when they are 18-21 depending on the state 
 
#3 Custodial Roth IRA 
 
Who doesn’t love a Roth? 
 
Now you can provide one for your child. 
 
This is a unique way to build tax-free money that’s partially accessible penalty-free before retirement. 
 
(Partially is the key word here) 
 
Pros of Custodial Roth IRA: 
 
-Not included in the financial aid calculation 
-Access to contributions are penalty free 
-Earnings are penalty free and/or tax free if requirements are met 
 
Cons of Custodial IRA: 
 
-Restrictions on earnings withdrawals 
-Retirement is a very low priority for an 18 year 
-Full control is given to the child by 18/21 (like a UTMA / UGMA) 
- Child must also earn income to contribute
 
#4 Brokerage (Under Parent's Name)
 
While it doesn’t have many tax benefits, it offers flexibility. 
 
You may not know what to do with your kid's future, so this provides options open to you. 
 
This also gives you control over how to invest and when to gift. 
 
Pros of Brokerage: 
 
-Flexibility around managing and investing 
-No penalties for withdrawals 
-Capital gains tax treatment 
 
Cons of Brokerage: 
 
-No deductions 
-Dividends and trades are taxable in the year received & realized 
-Could be subject to kiddie tax if funds gifted before their adulthood 
 
What works for you will depend on your situation. 

Choose the accounts that fit for your kids! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Like these visuals? You'll love my money visual newsletter.

Be sure to be subscribed to receive the new one this week:

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People spend roughly $200 a plate for a Thanksgiving dinner. If they took that $100 and invested it in the market over 30 years you would have made nah I’m just kidding have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

"Let's circle back after the holidays"

1st Follow Up: I meant after Christmas

Next Follow Up: Sorry I really meant after Valentines Day

Next Follow Up: Yeah I meant my CPA's tax holiday season

Next Follow Up: Oh whoops I'm on Holiday for the entire summer

Next Follow Up: Scary the year went by! Speaking of which, I meant after Halloween

Next Follow Up: Who are you? Oh yeah. Let's circle back after the holidays.

Major changes are coming to your finances in 2026. 

Here's everything you need to know:

Every year, the IRS adjusts contribution limits to keep pace with inflation, but 2026 is shaping up to bring some of the most notable increases in recent memory. If you're planning ahead for retirement, these updates matter.

→ Workplace Retirement Plans (401(k), 403(b), 457)

2025: $23,500
2026: $24,500

Catch-Up (50+): increasing from $7,500 to $8,000 (up to $11,250 depending on income)

→ Traditional & Roth IRA

2025: $7,000
2026: $7,500

Catch-Up (50+): increasing from $1,000 to $1,100

→ SIMPLE IRA

2025: $16,500
2026: $17,000

Catch-Up: increasing from $3,500 to $4,000 (up to $5,250 depending on income)

→ Health Savings Account (HSA)

2025:
• Individual: $4,300
• Family: $8,550

2026:
• Individual: $4,400
• Family: $8,750

Catch-Up (55+): remains $1,000

→ What this means for you

Higher contribution limits create more room to lower taxable income, increase long-term investment potential, and accelerate progress toward retirement. 

Even incremental annual increases compound significantly over time.

If you want 2026 to be a year where you maximize your financial opportunities, start planning now.

If you need help building a contribution strategy that aligns with your goals, reach out and let’s talk.

I've fallen off the wagon a bit on LinkedIn.

Less time on here. Less engaging.

Ironically, my impressions have never been better.

But the truth is that I need time to cool down a bit. 

Some people love to flex how often they show up on here or how much they engage. 

When you are a solo business owner, your time just needs to be recharged. 

It's just my simple way of not making my way to a burnout. 

Regardless, I can't wait to go back on full go in a couple of weeks. 

I've never been more optimistic about what LinkedIn can provide in 2026 and beyond. 

Let's keep it going folks!

Talks about #money, #wealth, #investing, #personalfinance, and #financialplanning

If I were a DIY investor, these are the platforms I'd be using:

- Banking: Chase
- Investing Platform: Fidelity / Vanguard
- HYSA: Betterment / Wealthfront / Marcus
- Bill Management: Rocket Money
- CC Comparison: Points Guy
- Tracking Progress: Monarch
- Estate Planning: Trust&Will.com
- Life Insurance: Ladder Life
- Donations: Daffy.org
- Budgeting: YNAB

None of these companies paid me to write this. 

I genuinely like the areas that help DIY investors here. 

One area I did not include: retirement software. 

I personally believe that without the right expertise, this is the hardest to execute on your own.

Despite all the things you can do on your own, I think getting a second set of eyes for areas like retirement planning, equity compensation, tax planning, and exit planning needs the expertise of an advisor.

Which tools do you use?

Your friend sells iPhones for $1,000.

You decide to buy an iPhone from your friend.

Your friend says to you:

"Hey you're my friend so I'll give you a 15% discount and let you buy it for $850."

You buy the iPhone for $850.

Because of the high demand for these iPhones, this iPhone has the potential to increase its value or lower it.

And people right now are willing to buy them for $1,000.

You have two choices:

Option 1) Hold on the iPhone and see it's value go up or down

Option 2) Sell it immediately and pocket that $150 profit

All of which depends on a couple of factors:

- Your financial situation
- Your desired exposure
- Your risk appetite
- Blackout periods

And if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not talking about iPhones.

Welcome to Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP) 101.

Today: Shirt worth $100

Black Friday next week: “50% OFF! Now $100!”

 What a steal.

52% of families are unprepared for an unplanned expense. 
 
Here's how you can better prepare for it:

Create a safety net in your plan.

AKA an emergency fund. 
 
Doing so for three reasons:
 
-> Access to short-term funds 
-> Avoid tapping into long-term funds 
-> To prevent you from taking on more debt 
 
The chart you see is one that I put together. 
 
I love to incorporate multiple variables to identify the right number. 
 
These are just some examples. 
 
And just my personal take on what I've seen. 
 
You may only need 3 months, but you want 12 months for peace of mind. 
 
The point is that while the 3-6 month rule is a good benchmark, it's also flexible. 
 
Choose the amount that fits your profile. 
 
It's an insurance policy for your goals.

Don't go into a food coma with your money. 
 
Here's what most miss about finances: 
 
It's not about the fancy stuff. 
 
Investing is awesome. 
So are the investments. 
And so are the vehicles. 
 
But individually, they mean nothing. 
 
The combination of them does. 
 
Things that should be considered: 
 
- Why you have them? 
- How do they work with one another? 
- What role they play with your goals? 
- Where does you money work?] 
- When do you need it? 
 
By having the right plan, you can put a purpose to your paycheck. 
 
You wouldn't wing a Thanksgiving dinner. 
 
Neither should you with your finances.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You have Chat GPT for find your answers.
You have Perplexity to find your answers.
You have Gemini to find you answers. 

Yet, you haven't made changes.

Or worse, left wondering what you need to change now. 

Things like:

- Set up automated investing systems
- Build a savings plan for your next home
- Make a debt payoff plan you can stick to
- Build a real equity plan (RSUs, ISOs, ESPPs)
- Create a tax plan for bonuses and RSU vests
- Build a simple spending plan that actually works
- Optimize your account order (taxable, 401k, Roth, HSA)
- Review insurance needs without selling you insurance
- Optimize self-employed taxes and retirement plans
- Run long-term projections for major decisions
- Turn vague financial goals into real numbers
- Review your full financial picture for gaps
- Set up a smart charitable giving strategy
- Create an early retirement roadmap

In other, words you haven't taken action... yet.

We're entering an interesting era of paralysis by analysis. 

We're getting more well informed about our finances thanks to AI.

But the lack of action continues to remain with humans. 

Let's make 2026 our goal to it implement together.

It takes a human to know a human after all.

When you need help, DM me.

SpaceX is rumored to IPO at a $1.5 trillion valuation.

While great for employees, it could also be a tax nightmare. 

Take Timmy, for example.

He got 10,000 ISOs back when the company was tiny.

Strike price? 10 cents a share.

Meaning he could buy everything for just $1,000
(10,000 × $0.10)

Fast forward.

SpaceX becomes one of the most valuable private companies in the world.
The latest 409A valuation hits $200/share.

So on paper?

Timmy’s options are worth $2 million.
($200 × 10,000)

He hasn’t exercised yet.

Then, like many employees do, he accepts another job.

And suddenly, the countdown starts.

Most companies give you 90 days after leaving to exercise ISOs before they turn into NSOs.

So Timmy rushes.

He exercises everything in December 2025.

Pays the $1,000 strike price.
No regular tax due at exercise.
He now owns the shares.

Feels amazing.

Until tax season.

Timmy discovers he owes over $500,000 in AMT.

Because AMT treats the bargain he got:

($200 FMV – $0.10 strike) × 10,000 = $1.999 million as income for AMT purposes.

Here’s where SpaceX employees could run into the same problem:

Even if SpaceX IPOs in 2026?

You still can’t sell right away.

Because:

- Newly public companies have insider lockup/blackout periods
- Employees often can’t sell for 6 months or more after IPO
- Pre-IPO shares may have transfer restrictions
- Early investors usually get liquidity before employees

So imagine Timmy:

- He exercised in December to beat termination deadlines.
- He triggered a huge AMT bill on paper gains.
- The IPO happens in 2026, great!
- But he’s still locked up and cannot sell.

Meaning:

The AMT bill is due in April 2026

The shares still aren’t liquid.

He might not be able to sell until late 2026 or even 2027.

This turns from a dream to a nightmare.

This exact sequence has happened before at other rocket-ship startups.

Let’s pause:

Timmy is not a real person.
(This is a hypothetical scenario after all)

But problems like this?
Not made up either.

And it’s preventable.

Here’s what Timmy could have done:

- Run an AMT forecast before exercising
- Exercise earlier when the valuation was far lower
- Exercise gradually instead of all at once
- Plan for liquidity timing around IPO + blackout periods
- Keep cash on hand for any AMT exposure
- Or choose not to exercise at all

And one more nuance:

Even if you owe AMT, you may recover some through the AMT credit, but only if the stock eventually sells for a gain.

If the price drops before he can sell?

The AMT is gone forever.

That’s why ISO planning matters.

Equity can be life-changing.

Or financially devastating.

The difference isn’t the IPO.

It’s the strategy leading up to it.

So if you’re at SpaceX, or any pre-IPO company, run the numbers before exercising.

Don’t end up like Timmy.

Dear LinkedIn,

Show everyone's impression count. 

Sincerely, 
Literally Everyone

90% of employees with RSUs can’t explain how they work.

Here’s the simple version you actually need.
 
Restricted Stock Units (RSU) are equity offered by an employer to an employee. 
 
No upfront financial commitment is required from the employee. 
 
Meaning they pay nothing out of pocket for them. 
 
But rather it’s viewed as a “promise”. 
 
So how do they receive them? 
 
A vesting schedule is attached to one of these requirements. 
 
1. Time served at the company 
2. Performance related 
3. Combo of both 
 
It usually has a 4 year graded vesting period starting a year from the grant date. 
 
After 1 year 25% is vested, then 25% is added after every year. 
 
Example: You have 1,000 shares that has a 4-year vesting period 
 
In this case, 250 will be vested after the first year, 250 for the second year, and the same for the third & fourth year. 
 
So as this happens, how do RSUs get taxed? 
 
Because the employer gives this to employee like a bonus, the RSU is treated as compensation. 
 
Therefore, the entire face amount is treated as income. 
 
This event occurs only when the RSU has been vested. 
 
Example: The amount vested 1,000 stock for $10 FMV? 
 
1,000 X $10 = $10,000 
 
When this vests, this amount is treated as taxable income. 
 
But you receive this in stock, not in dollars. 
 
So how are taxes withheld here? 
 
Employers commonly sell some of the stock it in an effort to withhold the taxes. 
 
For example: 
 
Let’s say 2,500 of stock was vested at $100 = $250,000 
 
Suppose in this example 22% is withheld. 
 
Of the 2500, 550 of them would be sold immediately to withhold the taxes. 
 
Leaving the employee with 1,950 stock after. 
 
If the employer immediately sells at vesting, no additional taxes are due from those stocks. 
 
However, you’ll need to track this because employers might not withhold the correct amount for you. 
 
Monitor this as it vests. 
 
What about your stock after? 
 
When you receive your stock, the price at the time of vesting is the new cost basis. 
 
From that point onwards, the stock is has capital gains treatment. 
 
So should you keep it or not? 
 
This is concentrated stock, which is a risk in itself. 
 
This will depend on your risk tolerance and desired exposure to one company. 
 
Selling some or all may make sense and reinvest in a diversified portfolio. 
 
It all comes down to your preference!

If you sell your RSUs, this one mistake can cost you thousands.

Before you sell, always check your cost basis. For example:

You receive company stock at vest
→ Share price at vest: $40

Later, you sell
→ Share price at sale: $100

What should happen:

Cost basis = $40
Sale price = $100
Taxable gain = $60

But what I’ve seen happen way too often:

Cost basis shows $0

So the IRS thinks:

Sale price = $100
Taxable gain = $100

That means:

You’re paying taxes on gains you never actually made

Higher capital gains = Higher tax bill!

The good news:

This is usually a reporting issue.

It can often be corrected before (or even after) the sale.

But only if you catch it.

Before selling any RSUs, ESPP, or stock awards:

- Check the cost basis
- Confirm it matches the vest price
- Fix errors before you hit sell

Because paying extra taxes for no reason is a mistake you don’t need to make.

Educational only. Not tax advice.

taplio

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Max Pashman, CFP®

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