Bruce’s Approach
Bruce R. Barton
CFP®, CFA®, MBA
Managing Partner / Financial Advisor / Member Owner
Overview
Bruce is a managing partner and financial advisor in Savant’s Los Gatos, California, office. He has a membership interest in Savant.
Bruce focuses on the financial planning and investment needs of tech professionals, with particular expertise in equity compensation strategies for stock options and restricted stock units, managing concentrated stock positions, planning for liquidity events, and helping minimize taxes. He also advises on early retirement planning and supports clients through major career and life transitions in the volatile tech industry.
Bruce is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®). He is experienced in all areas of financial planning, including proactive income and estate tax planning, wealth transfer and philanthropy, retirement income strategies, cash flow projections, insurance analysis, and education funding.
Bruce has worked in the financial services industry since 2003. He founded and led Parkworth Wealth Management as principal shareholder, CEO, and lead advisor until it joined Savant in 2025. He is the author of Personal Finance for Tech Professionals: In Silicon Valley and Beyond. He works with clients in the technology, biotech, and biomedical industries, drawing on his background in engineering and product management. Earlier in his career, he worked as an engineer and held senior product management roles at several venture-backed startups and at Alcatel, a telecommunications equipment supplier.
Bruce is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). He previously served as president of its West Region board of directors and on its national board of directors.
Bruce earned a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from Claremont McKenna College, a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College, and a master of business administration (MBA) degree in finance from the University of Chicago.
Outside of work, Bruce enjoys swimming, hiking, and reading. He lives in Los Gatos with his wife. Their two children are beginning their careers, one as a genetic counselor, the other as an electrical engineer at a startup.
Areas of Focus
Comprehensive Wealth Management
Integrated guidance for your full financial life, bringing together investment, tax, estate, and retirement planning to support your goals.
Financial Planning
Our planning process helps you evaluate key areas of your financial life, uncover opportunities, and make decisions aligned with your goals.
Investment Management
Evidence-based investing designed to help you stay focused on long-term goals while navigating changing market conditions.
Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer
Thoughtful estate planning guidance to help organize your affairs, support your wishes, and prepare for future generations.
Trust Services
Comprehensive trust administration supported by integrated investment, tax, estate, charitable, and business succession planning services.
Equity Compensation
Guidance for navigating equity compensation, including stock options, restricted stock, and other awards, as part of your broader financial and tax planning strategy.
Technology Professionals
Guidance for tech professionals navigating stock options, RSUs, equity compensation, and related tax considerations as part of a broader financial plan.
Education
- Claremont McKenna College
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts - Harvey Mudd College
Bachelor of Science in Engineering - University of Chicago
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance
Professional Designations
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional
- Chartered Financial Analyst®
Affiliations
- National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) – member
Insights & Perspectives
Thought leadership on wealth management, tax strategy, and financial planning.
SpaceX’s Staggered Lockup Means Six Selling Decisions, Not One: How Employees Should Think About Each Window
SpaceX's staggered lockup gives employees six selling decisions instead of one. Here's how to think through each window…
The Mega Backdoor Roth for High-Income Earners
Learn how the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) helps high earners contribute beyond standard limits for tax-advantaged retirement savings.
You’ve Accumulated Multiple 401(k)s in Your Tech Career. Here’s What to Do with Them.
If you've accumulated 401(k)s from multiple employers during your tech career, here's how to think through your options…
Qualified Small Business Stock: The Tax Break Tech Founders and Early Employees Need to Know
Qualified small business stock (QSBS) can help tech founders and early employees exclude up to $15 million in…
All Insights by Bruce R. Barton
43 insights
SpaceX’s Staggered Lockup Means Six Selling Decisions, Not One: How Employees Should Think About Each Window
SpaceX's staggered lockup gives employees six selling decisions instead of one. Here's how to think through each window…
The Mega Backdoor Roth for High-Income Earners
Learn how the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) helps high earners contribute beyond standard limits for tax-advantaged retirement savings.
You’ve Accumulated Multiple 401(k)s in Your Tech Career. Here’s What to Do with Them.
If you've accumulated 401(k)s from multiple employers during your tech career, here's how to think through your options…
Qualified Small Business Stock: The Tax Break Tech Founders and Early Employees Need to Know
Qualified small business stock (QSBS) can help tech founders and early employees exclude up to $15 million in…
What Your Employees Don’t Know About Their Finances is Costing Them-And You
Why smart tech professionals may struggle with benefits, equity comp, and financial decisions, and how employer-led financial education…
Don’t Sabotage Your Financial Future by Overbuying on a Home
Thinking of upgrading your home? Learn why overspending can jeopardize retirement and how smart planning keeps your financial…
What Should I Sell First: My ISOs, NSOs, or RSUs?
Deciding which equity compensation to sell first requires much analysis, paired with a clear understanding of what you’re…
Roth 401(k) or Regular 401(k)? Here’s How to Decide
Deciding between a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k)? Learn the key tax differences, when each option makes…
RSU Checklist for Publicly Traded Companies
Practical RSU checklist for public-company employees: vesting, taxes, trading windows, selling shares, and investing proceeds wisely.
How Worried Should You Be About Your Restricted Stock Units?
Decide whether to hold or sell your RSUs by considering timing, diversification needs, company health, and your personal…
6 Rules for Exercising Stock Options to Qualify for QSBS
Word about the QSBS exclusion has spread since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Here’s what you need…
Non-Qualified Stock Options: Basic Features and Taxation
Two common stock option types offered by technology companies include nonqualified and incentive stock options. Learn the key…
IPO and Direct Listing Considerations—Part I: Tax Consequences
As markets shift and liquidity events unfold, it’s important to revisit your equity compensation strategy. Whether you hold…
Incentive Stock Options and Alternative Minimum Tax
Learn how incentive stock options interact with the alternative minimum tax and strategies to help avoid unexpected tax…
When Should You Sell RSU Shares?
What to do with restricted stock units—sell or keep—is important to your long-term financial planning.
California Income Tax and Equity Compensation
Selling RSU shares after leaving California? Learn how California residency rules affect state taxes on RSUs, stock options,…
Don’t Pay Tax Twice on RSU Sales
Avoid paying tax twice on RSU sales. Learn how cost basis errors on Form 1099-B can lead to…
Pre-IPO Tech Giants Using “Double-Trigger” RSU Vesting to Attract Talent
Discover how pre-IPO tech giants like Facebook, Uber, and Slack use double-trigger RSU vesting to attract and retain…
3 Ways to Estimate the Value of Your Home
Discover three practical ways to estimate your home’s value, from online tools to professional appraisals, and learn which…
Avoid This Big Tax Mistake When Founding Your Tech Startup
When founding a tech startup, there’s one mistake that could cost you huge amounts of money in additional…
Maxing the Mega Backdoor Roth
Mega Backdoor Roth explained: Increase your 401(k) contributions and enjoy tax-free growth for retirement.
RSUs 101: A Quick Refresher
RSUs 101 refresher: how restricted stock units work, when they vest, key tax rules, and smart decisions for…
RSUs and Modeling Your Financial Goals
RSUs can make financial modeling more complicated. To learn more about essential considerations to keep in mind during…
Year-End Giving: A Two-for-One Tax Break with Donor-Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund can be a flexible way to support charitable giving in a high-income year while improving…
Find Money You Didn’t Know You Lost: Search State Unclaimed Property Sites
You may have money coming to you that you didn’t even know existed. Here’s how to find your…
Are You on the Right Path to Retirement? Assessing Your Asset-Income Multiple
Wondering whether your retirement savings are on track? Learn how the Asset-Income Multiple can offer a helpful benchmark
The Top Five Reddit Questions on Restricted Stock Units
Common RSU questions from Reddit explained, including when to sell, how RSUs are taxed, budgeting considerations, withholding issues,…
Accredited Investors and Private Securities: What You Need to Know to Qualify
Investing in many categories of alternative investments, such as private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds, requires buying…
Should I Pay Cash for Restricted Stock Unit Taxes?
The best way to pay RSU taxes is a common question we hear, and the answer might not…
How Are RSUs Taxed?
Understand RSU taxation basics, common pitfalls, and key steps to avoid double taxation on vested shares.
Two Big Financial Factors to Consider Before Switching Tech Jobs
Thinking about leaving your tech job? Before you make the leap, learn the two critical financial factors that…
Hiring an Investment Manager: What You Need to Know
When you’re interviewing potential investment managers, your first questions should focus on getting to know who you’re speaking…
How Many Recessions Have You Lived Through?
Recessions are a normal part of the economic landscape. Read on to learn more about how they’re determined,…
How to Get Off Tech’s Financial Roller Coaster
Understand factors to weigh when navigating tech’s ups and downs and deciding how company stock fits into your…
California Income Tax and Residency, Part 1: The Basics
Considering moving out of California to avoid paying income tax on upcoming gains? Read on to learn more…
Equity Compensation: Your Employer’s Stock Plans and What They Mean for You
Few tech professionals really understand how equity compensation works. Use this guide to learn about the types of…
An Introduction to Restricted Stock and RSUs
Restricted stock and restricted stock units are two popular types of equity compensation. We break down how they…
Cashing Out RSUs: Dodging Tech Stock Disasters by Diversifying
Selling RSU shares and investing in a diversified mix of securities can help manage risk and support long-term…
RSUs and California Tax
California tax laws, including a new one in 2024, have a large effect on the many tech professionals…
Exhausted by the Headaches of Owning Commercial or Residential Rental Property? Consider a Tax-Deferred 1031 Exchange into a DST
Meta description: If you’re exhausted by the headaches of owning commercial or residential rental property, you may have…
How to Know Your Financial Plan Will Be Effective
Discover how a complete and continuous financial planning process can help you stay on track.
The Wealth Building Power of RSUs (It’s not what you think.)
RSUs are important to understand, but if that’s where your primary wealth-building focus has been, it’s time to…
3 Ways Couples Can Work Together on Finances
Explore ways couples can manage money together through regular communication, shared responsibilities, and clear financial goals.
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CFP®
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.