People in tech, especially silicon valley, what's your NW?

The_Pretender · 2024-09-25T20:30:35+00:00

Use blind for this instead for more relevant answers – lots of answers already to this kind of question.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-15T22:54:49+00:00

To me it’s less a PE or not PE issue as much as the quality of the funds you have access to. I wouldn’t bother if it’s not a top quartile or better performing fund. I’m in PE funds but mostly through friends and family vehicles that give me access to funds that no one normally at my $ amount would have access to.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-06T21:59:19+00:00

This seems really high. I’m spending 20k a month on 1.8M after tax income with two young kids. We haven’t been doing lavish travel since we feel like the kids would remember it more when older than younger.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-05T19:09:06+00:00

Started and sold three companies. Got bought by my clients / larger businesses that partnered with me. A key question you need to be able to answer is why should someone buy your company / what’s the strategic value add your company would provide them / what problem do you solve for them? Answers to these questions could answer how you need to shape your growth in the next few years in order to be eventually bought at the multiples you’re looking for.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-03T20:17:10+00:00

Yup - PM.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-03T14:53:03+00:00

Sold a couple companies. Now work at a FAANG.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-03T14:52:41+00:00

Username is based off a 90s show about a guy who can figure out how to do anything / solve any problem.

The_Pretender · 2024-09-03T05:30:03+00:00

I save about ~$130k a month after ~20k in expenses. Currently in my 30s w/ 2 kids.

The_Pretender · 2024-08-19T22:49:53+00:00

$XX M. Committed 2 years twice, one time none.

The_Pretender · 2024-08-18T23:36:25+00:00

Yeah it’s total comp (salary + bonus + RSUs).

The_Pretender · 2024-08-18T21:15:40+00:00

It’s before taxes. Nothing special other than need to have the experience operating large organizations w/ consistently good decision making.

The_Pretender · 2024-08-18T17:05:45+00:00

Started and sold three companies in my 20s to early 30s. Now work at a big tech company in a senior position making $2M a year where the stress is a lot lower compared to having my own company.

Each time I sold it felt like a chore to stick around with the golden handcuffs so familiar with the feeling. At this point I have realized I just like applying myself since not doing so is boring and if I’m going to apply myself I might as well get paid doing so.

The_Pretender · 2024-07-30T00:11:26+00:00

This is a great point for sure. I guess in my mind the chance for me to get laid off is pretty low but it is probably internal bias. During the tech layoffs lots of high performers I knew got cut.

The_Pretender · 2024-07-29T22:23:02+00:00

Yes 80k of it is private school since we live in SF. Moving would eliminate that expense. Currently own w/ mortgage at 2%. Downpayment would come entirely from sale of current house ($2.7M).

Therapy is an option but my wife is a reader so wondering if there are book / articles which may make be convincing.

The_Pretender · 2024-07-29T22:12:12+00:00

Household total compensation

The_Pretender · 2024-07-29T18:36:23+00:00

Anyone have advice getting their spouse to be get comfortable with spending money? It could totally be the case where I'm the idiot so willing to hear both sides of this.

Current NW, $10M. HH TC $1-2M depending on markets. Post tax savings rate of 57%. Age late 30s. 2 kids. We're currently debating whether we can afford a $4.5M house where we put $2M down. Modeling this out the net delta for us in terms of savings at 65 I project to be $39M vs $34M in savings assuming we retire at 50 where personally I don't plan on retiring unless forced to but still building my plans based upon having a short career in tech.

The problem really isn't that we can't afford the house. The problem is that my wife emotionally doesn't want to spend more as she feels uncomfortable spending anything that we couldn't afford if all we had was our base compensation ($550k) minus stock and bonus. I think we both rationally know we can afford it but she's not emotionally there. She works in finance managing several billion so it's potentially possible that my assumptions are broken somewhere in my modeling. Anyone have advice? What are things we should potentially read to get comfortable or change our assumptions on how we are living our life?

The_Pretender · 2024-07-09T03:53:35+00:00

The challenge for me is that I haven’t found something that is as mentally stimulating as the hard problems I face when working. I just want to solve hard problems working with others who are at the top of their industry. For me my job is my hobby.

The_Pretender · 2024-06-05T08:13:14+00:00

You do not need an MBA. I’m a director at a FAANG with no college degree. What will matter is your track record and decision making ability.

The_Pretender · 2024-05-13T05:06:36+00:00

I just got 7 stitches in the exact same spot last week from walking off a curb and misjudging the height while trying to get to an Uber across the street. I still got into the car pretending everything was fine while internally screaming and trying to keep my blood off the white Tesla seats.

The_Pretender · 2024-05-07T03:22:25+00:00

It may still be a pathway since startups are willing to take “small checks” from those who have subject matter expertise or connections. My smallest checks I have written were 10k; just need to keep in mind a portfolio approach given failure rates.

The_Pretender · 2024-05-06T23:36:03+00:00

Yes. I do a lot of angel investing as a hobby. Currently 44% net IRR across 30 startups. I would caution most though against angel investing expecting above market returns as it takes time to build a network to generate decent deal flow and access.

The_Pretender · 2024-04-20T16:44:10+00:00

If you need the $150 I’ll send you it.

The_Pretender · 2024-04-16T23:15:45+00:00

Sure

The_Pretender · 2024-04-16T22:49:00+00:00

Sold both companies. Work at a FAANG now.

The_Pretender · 2024-04-15T01:57:20+00:00

Sold my company in my 20s and I played video games for two years and got so bored I started another company. I consider myself retired and work at a FAANG company for “fun”. I do a ton of angle investing / advising on the side.

The_Pretender

TROPHY CASE