Sorry I did the math wrong but it's still the overall right answer.

Before you even use any healthcare, you're saving $1844/year in paycheck premiums. Then your employer is giving you $1800/year in HSA contributions.

So you're up $3644 before you ever see a doctor.

In 2024 99% % chance to hit your OOP max. So on the HDHP you're going to pay $3360 in premiums and $6800 for care. Minus the $1800 you got from your employer. Total spend $8,360.

If you take the PPO, total spend $12,204.

The math may be different for 2023 since you won't hit your OPP max most likely but I sort of doubt it. The premium savings and HSA contribution will cover a good chunk of regular medical you care you may get before you're pregnant.

The HDHP wins because you're saving 4200 $3644 in premiums/employer HSA contributions and $3644 is way more than the OOP max differential.

You can invest them with most providers until you need to withdraw.

There's virtually no way this is for your benefit and them asking is illegal in quite a few states.

It's doable. It's not recommended do to penalties.

You don't need to pay more penalties most likely. You just need to do the indirect rollover correctly.

You can contribute to a Roth IRA assuming you have earned income but this has nothing to do with your 401k check.

I doubt anyone can given much specific advice. Divorce is part state law, part what the exes agree to, and part what a judge agrees to.

It doesn't have to be exactly 50/50 but I would almost guarantee he has some claim to the house they live in and retirement accounts.

And it's still limited to business use the % you can deduct.

Your take home should be like at least 6K so not sure how 2K isn't affordable.

To be clear, your primary vehicle doesn't magically become a business vehicle that suddenly is saving you 100% on your taxes. You can deduct the use of your vehicle that is used on the business.

Virtually everyone goes into debt for law school. I would not go 100K into debt for an MBA unless it's a a top ~20 program. I would evaluate what it is you actually what to do. There are combined MBA/JD programs but it doesn't really sound like you want to be a lawyer.

At this point you owe the bill. In the future you need to reject tests you don't want to pay for.

Were there 1 or 2 tests that were just way more at the other lab?

You should be extremely concerned. Equity firms are concerned with profit and a great way to increase profit is to reduce payroll.

It would be helpful to think about why you were acquired. Does your now former employer hold important patents or IP? Do you have key customers? Are the employees highly specialized and difficult to replace?

If it's the first or second, the risk of them winding down this company from an employment perspective much higher.

That's not to say it's all bad. When I went through a merger our health insurance improved. On the flip side, it became pretty clear within 3-6 months that the acquiring firm was calling the shots. Our offices were in different cities and it was also clear that my office was now "second tier".

I don't really get that perspective but if it works for you...

You still end up with more money though. If you quit your W2 job, you'll be in the same position as them.

You also know how tax brackets work right? You only pay that bracket's % on income in the bracket. You don't pay 22% on everything.

> I don't think they care if I'm using the transit benefits for my own use.

The IRS does. The benefit is specifically for commuting, not personal use.

You're not being punished. This is actually very fair within the context of the US tax system. If you make 50K at your W2 job and 50K from your business, you pay the same income taxes I pay making 100K at my W2.

There is no 14% tax bracket. That may be your effective tax rate but it's not a bracket.

LLC revenue and expenses are reported on your Schedule C and the profit is added to your W2 income for taxation. An S corp changes this slightly.

It doesn't really matter. They're all very similar.

Even on 15K, the difference between 4% and 3.3% is about $9/month in interest.

It might but I doubt it. You can run the simulator here https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator

Nothing about this suggests filing separately would be wise.

> If we file joint then I am just afraid that her 27k new payment will be based on both incomes and a lot higher, so is that just something my tax guy can help me with?

She has a 60K income alone, I haven't done the simulation calculator lately but I doubt income based really helps her whether you file joint or separately.

Budgeting conservatively is probably wise but $150 in gas for a remote worker sounds super high.

Can you just pay your parents for your share? Family plans do generally have the lowest per line cost.

If not, the cheapest options are generally going to be resellers like Mint, Google Fi, etc.

Tmobile is typically cheaper than Verizon, but coverage is more iffy outside population centers. Much better than it was years ago before the Sprint merger.

> to negotiate the monthly cost down to as low as possible.

Not really a thing.

Given the move, I think you should keep the current job and get settled. Then you can more freely explore roles in NC or ideally, remote jobs that have more growth potential.

She's probably stuck with both of them for 2023. You can't make changes after open enrollment without a qualifying event. She should check with HR.