It's tax return filing season in the United States, and the anticompetitive tax preparation companies are being less than helpful as usual. If you trade stocks and bonds in the markets (or more wisely just use a roboadvisor like Wealthfront or Betterment), you may be scratching your head when it comes to reporting tax-exempt income … Continue reading Handling Tax-Exempt Investment Income with H&R Block
General
On Quiet Quitting
As someone who has thought a lot about worker productivity & engagement over the years, watching the #QuietQuitting trend unfold across the globe over the past few months has been fascinating. https://youtu.be/iVLiRWD3gAM From what I can tell, “quiet quitting” is actually a confluence of several macro trends, listed here in order of short- to long-term: … Continue reading On Quiet Quitting
Reflections on Career Change
Around two years ago, I finally committed to a decision that I had been contemplating for the better part of a decade beforehand. I would retire from the tech industry and pursue a brand-new career in urban planning, a field that had piqued my interest ever since high school. (Yes, I did stereotypically play a … Continue reading Reflections on Career Change
The Tragedy of Lowell High School
Across the United States, few high schools attract as much national controversy as Lowell High School. This elite magnet school in San Francisco is famous for its academic rigor, competitive culture, and demographically skewed student body (57% Asian as of this writing). "This is what alumni get to brag about" -- Ian Wang Throughout California, … Continue reading The Tragedy of Lowell High School
New InDesign and HTML Resumé Templates
I've always had a slight obsession with resumés (a.k.a. CVs). I find the challenge of summarizing all of one's career highlights elegantly into a one-pager (and it really should only be one page) quite a satisfying exercise. I also think of them as products for recruiters or hiring managers, typically consumed in mere seconds at … Continue reading New InDesign and HTML Resumé Templates
COVID-19 Reflections
I tested positive for COVID-19, had an utterly horrible couple of weeks, and thankfully have survived to tell the tale. Words cannot express the devastation that came when seeing this Timeline Tuesday, November 24My parents start showing symptoms, noticeably coughing and extreme fatigue. I suggest they get tested, but they don't feel their condition is … Continue reading COVID-19 Reflections
My Quaroutine
As part of compliance with ongoing local public health regulations, I've put most of my travelling aspirations on hold and have been sheltering-in-place for the last couple of months. At first, it was quite challenging - the lack of freedom was stifling and I was a bit lost as to what I should remain focused … Continue reading My Quaroutine
Investing HSAs at Fidelity
As part of some financial spring cleaning, I wanted to take action with several leftover HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) from former employers. I think I found a pretty great home for them and will share how I've invested these funds for future growth. First, for those who work in the United States and are young/healthy, … Continue reading Investing HSAs at Fidelity
On Retiring from Tech
"NOT Working From San Francisco" The software industry in the United States is certainly a lucrative one. I've been fortunate to have worked in many great companies and with many great teammates - and I'm beyond grateful to everyone for helping me get to where I am now. After 10 years of working in software … Continue reading On Retiring from Tech
Do Ikigai Right
If you've been on the Internet anytime in the last few months or so, you likely have seen this image floating around: Most shared image on social media since the blue/gold dress It is essentially the latest attempt to answer humanity's perennial question: What is the meaning of life? What's my purpose? This time, the … Continue reading Do Ikigai Right
Brisk Mobility 