just advising is designed to solve specific problems

Justin Horowitz, CFP®, a fee-only, advice-only financial planner in North Carolina’s Triangle area and virtually nationwide, supports people paying off student loans, earning equity compensation, purchasing their first house, having their first child, aligning their money and values, and building a confident foundation.

which money archetype are you?

Six quick questions. About a minute.

who this is for

the paper millionaire

equity compensation

a lot of your net wealth is tied to one company: your employer.

your primary focus

On paper, you’re doing great. In reality, a big chunk of what you own is tied up in your company’s stock, through RSUs or an ESPP. You feel every swing in the share price, and the taxes on vesting and selling still feel like a black box.

a common blind spot

Waiting for the “perfect” moment to sell, while your company’s ups and downs decide whether your bigger goals happen on time.

where we’d start together

We’d map out your grants and vesting dates, then build a plan for turning company stock into diversified savings over time, with the taxes in mind.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. How much of my net wealth should be in my company’s stock?
  2. Why do I owe more taxes when my RSUs vest, and how do I plan for it?
  3. Should I sell my RSUs as soon as they vest, or hold on to them?
  4. How do I decide when to sell company stock, and what happens with the taxes?
  5. How do I turn company stock into diversified savings over time?
  6. What should a plan for my RSUs and ESPP include?

the degree-rich striver

student loans

a good income, with a lot of it going to student loans.

your primary focus

You worked hard for your degree, and it’s gotten you to high places. But every month, a chunk of that paycheck goes straight to paying off debt. Some days it feels like you’re running in place while everyone else gets ahead.

a common blind spot

Throwing every spare dollar at your loans to feel debt-free sooner, while your emergency savings and retirement accounts sit on the sidelines.

where we’d start together

We’d compare your repayment options side by side, including forgiveness programs if you qualify, analyze the pros and cons of your tax filing status, and weigh paying your loans off faster against investing more.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. Should I pay off my student loans faster, or invest more?
  2. Is extra money better spent on my loans, or somewhere else?
  3. Do I qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and what would it take?
  4. Does my repayment plan still make sense for my income and career?
  5. How will my student loans affect buying a home or other big goals?
  6. How do I compare paying down my loans against investing more?

the nest-hunter

buying a home

ready for a home, not ready to be house-poor.

your primary focus

You’re ready for a place of your own. Between prices, interest rates, and down payments, though, the math feels exhausting. You want to buy a home without becoming house-poor.

a common blind spot

Putting every dollar toward the down payment, then having nothing left for closing costs, repairs, and the surprises that come with owning a home.

where we’d start together

We’d find a home price that fits your whole plan, not just what a lender approves, and understand how your spending patterns will differ before and after becoming a homeowner.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. When am I actually ready to buy a home?
  2. Where should I keep my down payment savings until I buy?
  3. How much house can I afford without becoming house-poor?
  4. Is it better for me to rent or buy right now?
  5. How much should I keep in savings after buying a home?
  6. What’s a comfortable housing budget for my whole financial plan?

the family architect

growing family

starting a family and wanting your finances to resemble that.

your primary focus

A new baby (or another one) changes everything, including your money. Childcare, health insurance, time off, and future school costs all land at once, and you want to know your family’s foundation is solid.

a common blind spot

Focusing on a college fund while forgetting about the groundwork, like the right life and disability insurance, an updated will, and savings to fall back on.

where we’d start together

We’d put your family’s protection in place first: insurance, estate documents, and savings. Then we’d plan for childcare and your kids’ futures.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. Would my family be okay financially if something happened to me?
  2. Should we build our emergency fund before saving for our kids’ education?
  3. How do we plan for childcare costs, and are there tax breaks that help?
  4. What insurance and estate documents does our family actually need?
  5. How big should our emergency fund be now that our family is growing?
  6. What should we take care of financially before and after a new baby?

the conscious wealth steward

values-aligned money

you want your money to look like your values.

your primary focus

Building wealth matters to you, just not at the expense of what you believe in. You want to know where your money actually goes, and you’d like it to support the things you care about.

a common blind spot

Assuming a fund labeled “sustainable” or “ESG” matches your values, without looking at what it actually holds.

where we’d start together

We’d look at what your current investments and bank actually support, then find options that line up with your values.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. How do I find out what my investments are actually supporting?
  2. How can I give to causes I care about in a tax-smart way?
  3. How do I invest sustainably without falling for greenwashing?
  4. How do I avoid investing in companies that go against my values?
  5. Can my bank and my accounts line up with my values, too?
  6. How do I check whether my current investments match my values?

the foundation builder

the basics

you’re doing fine, but not sure you’re doing it right.

your primary focus

You make a healthy living and pay your bills on time, but your money feels improvised, spread across old accounts and good intentions. There’s no big crisis. You’re just tired of guessing whether you’re saving enough, investing the right way, or missing something.

a common blind spot

Waiting for the “perfect” plan before doing anything, while extra cash sits in checking and investing keeps getting pushed to next month.

where we’d start together

We’d pull every piece (cash flow, savings, debt, and more) into one clear picture, see where you stand, and set up a simple system for saving and investing that mostly runs on its own.

questions you might be facing right now

  1. How do I know if I’m on track for my age and income?
  2. In what order should I save and invest my money?
  3. Am I saving enough for my age?
  4. How do I build a simple system for where my money goes?
  5. How much should I keep in cash, and how much should I invest?
  6. What would a clear, step-by-step financial plan look like for me?

These archetypes are illustrative examples, not actual clients, and this quiz isn’t personalized financial advice.

whichever one resonates with you, I’d love to help you build a plan around it.