April 2026 The Distillery Newsletter
Welcome back to The Distillery, your monthly dose of clarity from Advocates Wealth Management. This month: post-tax season moves, RSU strategies, and why April is the most important month for your financial plan.
The Family Briefing: 5 Post-Tax Season Moves Every Houston Family Should Make
Tax season is behind us. But before you file those documents away and forget about finances until next year, there are five moves that can save you real money and protect your family.
1. Fix Your Withholdings Got a big refund? That's an interest-free loan you gave the IRS. Owed a big check? You might face penalties. Pull up your 2025 return, compare withholdings vs. actual liability, and submit an updated W-4 to HR this month.
2. Max Your HSA If you're on a high-deductible plan, your HSA is the most tax-efficient account available. Triple tax benefit: pre-tax in, tax-free growth, tax-free out for medical. 2026 family limit: $8,550.
3. Review Insurance Before Hurricane Season June 1 is 6 weeks away, and most insurers stop writing policies 30-45 days before. Check your homeowner's limits, confirm you have separate flood insurance, and review your umbrella policy.
4. Front-Load 529 Contributions Whether it's private school in Memorial or college at UT, April is the time to set up or increase 529 contributions. Grandparents: the 5-year gift tax election lets you contribute up to $90,000 per grandchild (yes, really).
5. Perform a Financial Review A May or June check-in lets you rebalance after Q1, adjust savings rates, and update estate documents. When's the last time you checked your beneficiaries?
The Energy Brief: RSU Vesting Season - The Tax Gap Nobody Told You About
April means vesting season for thousands of Houston energy professionals. Whether you're at Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, or one of the independents, freshly vested RSUs require a plan.
The Tax Gap Your employer withholds 22% federal on vested RSUs. But if your total comp puts you above $250K, your actual marginal rate is 32-35%. That 10-13% gap means a surprise tax bill in April 2027 unless you plan now.
Concentration Risk If you have RSUs + stock options + ESPP + company stock in your 401(k), you may have 40-60% of your net worth in a single company. We saw the damage in 2020. A systematic diversification plan reduces risk without sacrificing upside.
Ready to build your RSU plan? Click here to schedule a 15-minute call today.
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