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INSIGHTS
Perspective for high-stakes financial decisions.
Market analysis, planning strategies, and commentary from Mike Germain, CFA, written for entrepreneurs, athletes, and retirees navigating complex wealth.
Tech Sector


RSUs in Silicon Valley: Why Your Withholding May Not Cover Your Tax Bill
Restricted stock units are the backbone of tech compensation, but the way they are taxed in California surprises many employees every April. Restricted stock units (RSUs) have become the default form of equity compensation at public technology companies across the Bay Area. They are simple to understand on the surface: shares are granted, they vest overtime, and once vested they are yours. The tax treatment, however, is where many Silicon Valley professionals run into trouble

Mike Germain, CFA
5 days ago4 min read


The SpaceX IPO: Three Strengths, Three Weaknesses
On June 12, 2026, SpaceX completed the largest initial public offering in market history, listing on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. The deal priced at a fixed $135 per share, sold roughly 556 million shares, and raised about $75 billion before an underwriter overallotment option worth a further $11.2 billion. At pricing, the company carried a valuation near $1.77 trillion; the stock closed its first session around $161 — up roughly 19% — pushing SpaceX past a $2 trillion m

Mike Germain, CFA
Jun 296 min read


From Concentrated to Diversified Pairing a Rule 10b5-1 Plan with Tax-Loss Harvesting
For many founders, executives, and early employees, a single stock represents the lion's share of their net worth. That position may have created enormous wealth, but holding it concentrated exposes that wealth to the fortunes of one company, one management team, and one set of risks that no amount of conviction can fully diversify away. The instinct to reduce that risk is sound. The execution is where it gets complicated. Unwinding a concentrated position into a diversified

Mike Germain, CFA
Jun 228 min read


Where Are We in the AI Technology Cycle?
The Big Picture Artificial intelligence has moved from the pages of science fiction into the core of how businesses can operate. Over the past three years, we've witnessed one of the fastest technology adoption cycles in history — and we believe we're now entering its most consequential phase. Understanding where we are in this cycle is critical for investors. Technology revolutions follow a predictable pattern: hype, infrastructure build-out, deployment, and finally maturati

Mike Germain, CFA
Mar 253 min read


Silicon Valley's New Reign: Why AI-Powered Tech Leads the Next Investment Cycle
The next industrial revolution isn't coming; it's here, and it's powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Mike Germain, CFA
Dec 5, 20252 min read
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