Guardian Financial Services

09/02/2026

https://youtube.com/shorts/JAa1jPRgvkM

Will retirement savings last as long as retirement does?

The survey cited in this video found that 58% of retirees don’t know how long their savings will last. Nearly half said their retirement expenses were higher than expected, and 64% wished they had done more planning before retiring.

Healthcare can be one of the biggest surprises. Three steps can help:

1. Estimate your retirement number.
2. Include healthcare costs in your retirement plan.
3. If eligible, consider contributing to an HSA.

The people who struggle aren’t always those who saved the least. They’re often the ones who didn’t know what to expect.

Follow Patrick Hammond, CFA®, CFP®, for more retirement-planning insights.

This video is for educational purposes only, not personalized financial advice.



CSP 1095791

09/01/2026

Engineers: Check These 3 401(k) Details

Are you getting everything you can from your 401(k)?

If you're an engineer, there are three areas I'd check:

✅ Are you receiving your full employer match?
✅ Is your 401(k) adding even more exposure to the same company that provides your salary, RSUs or ESPP shares?
✅ Do you understand how your traditional 401(k) contributions affect your taxable income?

Using a $100,000 salary as a simple example: a 5% employee contribution is $5,000, and an employer offering a match of up to 4% could potentially contribute another $4,000, depending on the plan's formula and requirements.

Watch the video for the three things I think engineers should understand about their 401(k).

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08/31/2026

If you've saved $3 million as an engineer, you'd expect retirement to finally feel like the reward for decades of hard problem-solving. So why do so many high-earning engineers quietly keep living like they're one bad year away from broke?
It's rarely a market problem. It's tax timing collisions, company stock concentration, and advisors who understand portfolios but not equity compensation — and any one of them can undo years of disciplined saving without you ever seeing it coming.
In this video, Patrick Hammond, CFP and Co-Founder of Guardian Financial Services, breaks down the three biggest retirement traps engineers with $3M+ saved run into — and what to do about each one before it costs you.

In this video you'll learn:

- Why RMDs, stock vesting, and Social Security can all land in the same tax year — and trigger IRMAA Medicare surcharges you didn't see coming
- Why concentrated RSU holdings can quietly tie your retirement to the same company that pays your salary
- Why a generalist financial advisor can leave engineer-specific blind spots unmanaged
- What a coordinated, engineer-specific retirement plan actually looks like
This video is for educational purposes only and is not individualized investment or tax advice. Your circumstances may differ; consult the appropriate professionals regarding your situation.

08/28/2026

https://youtu.be/LNXH6qG9zx4

A layoff changes more than a paycheck.

When part of your compensation is tied to company stock, vesting rules, deadlines, tax questions and concentration risk can all become urgent at once.

In this video, I explain what to review first—from your equity-award agreement and separation paperwork to the decision to hold, sell or exercise—so you can make a coordinated decision instead of an emotional one.

Watch the full video and share it with someone whose compensation includes RSUs, stock options or company stock.



CSP - 1156647

08/27/2026

3 Things Your Advisor Should Address

Engineers: Does your financial plan account for your entire compensation package—or only your salary?

Stock options, employer benefits, concentration risk, vesting schedules, and an uneven career timeline can change the planning decisions that matter most.

Watch this short video for three things your financial advisor should be addressing—and why generic “retire at 65” advice may not fit your career.

CSP-1158276

08/26/2026

Your paycheck is already tied to your employer. Should your portfolio be tied to it too?

Many engineers gradually accumulate company stock through RSUs, stock options, ESPP shares and retirement accounts. Without a diversification strategy, one difficult stretch for the company could affect both your income and your long-term savings.

The goal isn’t to bet against your employer. It’s to avoid allowing one company to control too much of your financial future.

Watch this short breakdown on the concentration risk many engineers overlook.

Educational content only—not personalized investment or tax advice.



CSP - 1136093

Book a Intro Appointment: https://calendly.com/d/cmkp-wg9-82f/quick-15-minute-intro-call

Website: https://www.guardianwealthfs.com/

08/25/2026

Layoff rumors can create pressure before anything is even official.

Three areas are worth reviewing early:

• What vests—and when
• How long stock options may remain exercisable after employment ends
• Whether emergency cash is truly separate from company stock

Knowing the deadlines now can help support calmer, better-informed decisions later. Plan terms vary, so verify the details in your employer documents.

This video is for educational purposes only, not personalized investment, tax, legal, or employment advice.

CSP - 1136093

https://youtube.com/shorts/ALuRJRKPR3A?feature=share

08/24/2026

High Income ≠ Financial Security

A strong salary creates cash flow. Lasting security depends on what is retained, invested and available when income changes.

This 50-second video explains the gap between earnings and financial independence—and why headline compensation can sometimes hide financial fragility.

Educational content only. Not personalized financial, investment, or tax advice.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1DfPG7jj1uM

CSP - 1136093

08/20/2026

Leaving Your Job? Don’t Miss This Stock Option Deadline

If you have incentive stock options, leaving your employer may start a 90-day clock.

Depending on your plan, missing the exercise deadline could mean forfeiting vested options or losing favorable ISO tax treatment.

Watch this quick video to learn what you should check before your last day.

CSP- 1136093

08/19/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdAzBwijYJg

What happens when the same company controls both your paycheck and most of your portfolio?

One layoff, earnings miss, or stock decline can hit your income and net worth at the same time. That is the “double-exposure” risk many engineers and tech employees unknowingly build through RSUs, stock options, ESPP shares, and employer stock in a 401(k).

In this video, I break down why this happens and the four-step framework we use to address it:

Measure your total employer-stock exposure

Set an intentional concentration ceiling

Create a systematic diversification plan

Coordinate taxes before selling—not afterward

Selling vested shares does not mean betting against your company. It means separating your paycheck risk from your portfolio risk.



CSP- 1148970

If your salary and a large share of your net worth depend on the sa...