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I founded Green Bee Advisory to help driven leaders — in the corporate world and in…
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Articles by Catherine
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Longevity Planning: Are You Ready for a 40-Year Retirement?
Longevity Planning: Are You Ready for a 40-Year Retirement?
For generations, retirement planning followed a fairly predictable formula: work for several decades, retire around age…
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🌈 Financial Planning for High-Net-Worth LGBTQ+ Families: 5 Ways to Build, Preserve, and Transfer Wealth in 2026
🌈 Financial Planning for High-Net-Worth LGBTQ+ Families: 5 Ways to Build, Preserve, and Transfer Wealth in 2026
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 Pride is a time to celebrate authenticity, resilience, and community. It's also a good…
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🧑🏼🎓In Honor of 529 Day (aka College Savings Plan Day) : The Smart Way to Go to College Without Overpaying
🧑🏼🎓In Honor of 529 Day (aka College Savings Plan Day) : The Smart Way to Go to College Without Overpaying
May 5 Written By Catherine Valega May 29th is also known as 529 Day, and it gets a lot of attention every year. And…
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What the 2025 Tax Season Taught Me About Smarter Wealth + Tax Strategy for 2026
What the 2025 Tax Season Taught Me About Smarter Wealth + Tax Strategy for 2026
Another tax season is almost behind us. And honestly? The same patterns show up every year.
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International Women’s Day 2026: Wealth, Power & Tax Strategy for Queen Bees (and brother-bees) 🐝
International Women’s Day 2026: Wealth, Power & Tax Strategy for Queen Bees (and brother-bees) 🐝
Catherine Valega — March 2, 2026 International Women’s Day, Saturday, March 8 has been celebrated globally for more…
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Smart Year-End Moves to Cut Taxes and Strengthen Your Wealth
Smart Year-End Moves to Cut Taxes and Strengthen Your Wealth
The end of the year isn’t just holiday prep and planning for January. It’s your last window to make financial and tax…
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4 Keys to Cutting College Costs: How to Avoid Overpaying
4 Keys to Cutting College Costs: How to Avoid Overpaying
As we’re in peak college admissions seasons, before your child submits their last application, consider the following…
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Why the 2.8% Social Security COLA isn’t enough for everyone – how tracking regional inflation components helps you adjust spending and protect your we
Why the 2.8% Social Security COLA isn’t enough for everyone – how tracking regional inflation components helps you adjust spending and protect your we
You probably saw the headline: Social Security is getting a 2.8 % cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
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Catherine Valega shared thisAre you saving too much for someday — and not spending enough on today? I was quoted in NerdWallet's new article, “Should You Really Try to ‘Die with Zero’?” The idea isn’t to literally end life with $0. It’s to think more carefully about when your money can have the greatest impact. I see this with successful families all the time. Parents may be planning to leave substantial inheritances to their children. But if their children are in their 60s by the time they receive that money, would some of it have been more meaningful decades earlier? As I told Kate Ashford NerdWallet: “We see how hard it is for our kids, so let’s help them while we can. I don’t need to give them $3 million when I die — they’re going to be in their 60s. They need the help now in their 30s for the down payment on the home.” The same thinking applies to your own spending. ✅ Sometimes the financial plan says you CAN take the big family vacation. ✅ You CAN renovate the kitchen. ✅ You CAN spend more while you're healthy enough to enjoy it. But this only works with planning. Your numbers need to be revisited regularly because markets change, tax laws change, health changes and life rarely follows the spreadsheet exactly. Building wealth matters. 🤔 But knowing how and when to use that wealth matters, too. That’s one of my favorite parts of financial planning — helping clients feel confident enough not just to accumulate their wealth, but to actually enjoy it. 🔗in comments #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #HighNetWorth #GenerationalWealth #EstatePlanning
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Catherine Valega shared thisA Roth conversion can be a great tax strategy. It can also be an expensive mistake. I was pleased to be quoted in TheStreet in a recent article looking at when Roth IRA conversions can backfire. One of the points I regularly make with clients is simple: know where you sit in the tax brackets before you convert. A Roth conversion creates taxable income today in exchange for the potential for tax-free qualified withdrawals later. But that doesn’t mean “more is better.” A large conversion could push part of your income into a higher tax bracket. And if you expect your tax rate to be lower in retirement, paying a higher rate today may defeat the purpose of the strategy. For many high earners, the better conversation is not simply whether to convert. It’s: → How much should we convert this year? → What marginal tax rate are we willing to pay? → Are there lower-income years ahead that could provide a better opportunity? → How does the conversion interact with the rest of the tax and retirement plan? This is a good example of why I believe wealth management and tax planning should happen together. #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #RothConversion #RetirementPlanning #HighNetWorth #FinancialPlanning 🔗in comments
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Catherine Valega shared thisPlanning financial strategies for high-net-worth LGBTQ+ families requires thoughtful consideration of unique needs and goals. At Green Bee Advisory, we offer a comprehensive approach to building, preserving, and transferring wealth. From proactive tax planning to aligning your wealth with meaningful causes, our 2026 planning checklist covers essential tools like donor-advised funds and charitable trusts. Ensure your estate plan reflects your family, not default assumptions, and stay ahead by regularly reviewing beneficiaries. Modern family structures demand tailored planning, whether for unmarried partners, blended families, or special-needs considerations. Prioritizing healthcare and aging is crucial, with options like Medicare and long-term care funding. Ready to build a legacy that aligns with your values? Schedule your LGBTQ+ wealth planning session with Catherine Valega, CFP, EA, today. Let's create a financial plan that truly feels like you. #wealthplanning #taxplanning #philanthropy #LGBTQ
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Catherine Valega shared thisMy office is at Greentown Labs and these are the types of companies I’m surrounded by. It is so energizing and inspiring to be around talented people all working hard to make the world a better place. ❤️🌎 Congrats to Mass Magnetics (YC S26) !!Catherine Valega shared thisMass Magnetics (YC S26) produces American magnets for robotics and defense. The supply chains for magnet-making elements are the Achilles' heel of American national security, with over 95% of global production funneled through China's Zhejiang province. Magnets are the muscles of robotics. As the global automation race takes over civilian markets and national defense, the world supply of robotic muscle is limited by the capacity and security of Chinese magnet exports. Mass Magnetics' founders have previously built battery pilot production lines, materials science labs for NSF-funded companies, and exquisite aerospace hardware, including Moon-regolith melters and ultra-precise guidance systems for the world’s foremost labs, including NASA, Draper Labs, and MIT. Now they're making one bet: America's fastest rare-earth solution isn't mining. Mass Magnetics produces domestic magnets using vertically-integrated, AI-enabled supply chains. According to DoE estimates, fewer than 2% of the rare-earth magnets in post-consumer hardware are ever recovered. To fix this, Mass Magnetics has trained vision systems to identify critical metals from post-consumer streams and sort them for reprocessing. The result is an end-to-end magnet production with 1/100th the capital intensity of a mine, and none of the slow permitting or heavy metal byproducts. If you're building in domestic robotics, visit www.massmagnetics.com to get your quote or discuss reprocessing your actuators. Congrats on the launch, Eric Silver Scholem and Matthew Groll! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/gkhyDjPu
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Catherine Valega shared thisFor high-net-worth families, leaving money to the next generation is only part of the job. Teaching them what to DO with it matters just as much. 💰🐝 I was quoted by Alessandra Malito with MarketWatch this week about a grandparent who wants to leave money to her grandchildren — but with financial-literacy requirements attached. My take? Don’t wait for the inheritance. Start teaching kids about wealth while you’re still here. One simple strategy I shared: If a child or grandchild has earned income, consider funding a Custodial Roth IRA for them — essentially matching what they earn, subject to the IRA contribution rules. For families with significant wealth, this is about more than transferring assets. It’s about transferring financial knowledge, good habits and responsibility along with them. Because a successful wealth-transfer plan shouldn’t just answer: “How much will my children inherit?” It should also answer: “Will they know what to do with it?” 🔗 in comments. #HighNetWorth #WealthPlanning #GenerationalWealth #WealthTransfer #EstatePlanning #FinancialLiteracy #FamilyWealth #TaxPlanning #FinancialPlanning #CustodialRothIRA
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Catherine Valega posted this🦉Harry Potter actress. OnlyFans. And one of the biggest money lessons I see as a financial planner. I was quoted by Moneywise on the story about actress Jessie Cave joining OnlyFans to help pay the bills. Whether you agree with her decision isn't really the point. What caught my attention is something I see all the time: 🤦🏼♀️ uneven income creates financial stress. Actors. Entrepreneurs. Sales professionals. Business owners. Advisors. Real estate agents. A few great years can make you feel wealthy. Then income slows down, expenses don't, and suddenly you're making decisions from a place of pressure instead of strategy. ✅ That's why I encourage clients to: • Build cash reserves during the high-income years. • Keep lifestyle inflation in check. • Use tax planning to smooth the ride. • Plan for the years when income isn't as predictable. When your income is uneven, your financial plan shouldn't be. Thanks to Moneywise and Mike Crisolago for including my perspective. 🔗 to article in comments #FinancialPlanning #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #BusinessOwners #Entrepreneurs #PersonalFinance #HighEarners
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Catherine Valega shared thisRetirement isn't just a financial transition. It's a relationship transition. One of the biggest surprises I see is that couples often spend decades planning for retirement, but very little time planning together for what retirement will actually look like. ✈️ Will you travel? 💳 How much will you spend? 👩🏽🍼When will you help your children or grandchildren? 🤔What does a meaningful retirement look like for each of you? 🗣️Those conversations matter just as much as investment returns. I was happy to be quoted in Kiplinger's latest article by Jacob Schroeder on financial moves that can help build a happier marriage in retirement. My advice: Think of retirement as a starting line, not an end line. Many couples may spend 30–40 years in this stage of life, so it's worth intentionally planning how you'll use your time, money, and energy together. 📖 If retirement is on your horizon, this is worth the read. Link in comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts: What's one conversation every couple should have before retiring? #RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning #Retirement #PersonalFinance #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvisor #Marriage #RetirementLifestyle #CFP #LongTermPlanning
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Catherine Valega shared thisI love learning what other #femalefounders are doing this year to energize their growth! For me, it's all about live in-person communicating. #wealthplanning #taxplanning #entrepreneursCatherine Valega shared thisBuilding a business right now feels completely different than it did just a few years ago. Capital is tighter, decisions take longer, and momentum alone isn't enough to keep things moving forward. Economic Insider recently sat down with a group of founders (including our own Natanya Wachtel-BackFromTheDead Living-in-the-NOW) to talk about how leaders are actually navigating these headwinds on the ground. While everyone's playbook looks a bit different, the core message was remarkably consistent: • Stay adaptable - Staying attached to an outdated plan gets expensive fast. • Stay mission-driven - When the market gets noisy, clarity on why you're building matters more than ever. • Build with intention, not just momentum- Sustainable growth comes from understanding real human needs (in healthcare, life sciences, and beyond), not just chasing the next metric. Huge thanks to Economic Insider for bringing this group together, and to all the incredible leaders featured for sharing their honest perspectives. 📖 You can read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eP6ZjK7f For those running or scaling a business right now: What's been your biggest shift in strategy over the last year? #Leadership #Founders #BusinessStrategy #HealthcareInnovation #BehavioralScience #NSN Founders featured in the article: Natanya Wachtel-BackFromTheDead Living-in-the-NOW — New Solutions Network Ila B Corcoran — Sengo Kelly Hubbell — Sage Haus Catalina Parker — Relatable Nonprofit Isabella Rodriguez — Super Great Fantastic Ellen Hockley Ambreen Chaudhry, PharmD — noori Skincare Catherine Valega — Green Bee Advisory Gesche Haas — Dreamers & Doers® (author)
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Catherine Valega posted thisThink bringing your spouse on a business trip automatically makes it tax deductible? Think again. This is one of those areas where I see business owners get into trouble. The IRS doesn't allow a deduction just because your spouse came along or helped out. Typing notes, attending dinners, or casually entertaining clients generally isn't enough. There has to be a legitimate business purpose that can be supported if you're ever asked. The same goes for travel costs. In many cases, your airfare and lodging may be deductible, but your spouse's expenses may not be. Even part of the hotel bill could be disallowed depending on the circumstances. This is why tax planning isn't just about preparing a return after the fact. It's about making decisions before you book the trip, structure the meeting, or pay the expense. As both a CFP® and an Enrolled Agent, I help business owners connect their tax strategy with their overall wealth strategy. That means looking beyond "Can I deduct this?" to questions like: • What's the smartest way to structure this expense? • How does this affect your cash flow and long-term wealth? • Are there better ways to accomplish the same business goal while staying within the tax rules? Good tax planning can save money. Integrated wealth and tax planning can help you build more wealth over time. #BusinessOwners #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #EnrolledAgent #FinancialPlanning #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #TaxStrategy #GreenBeeAdvisory
Experience
Education
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Alumni Interviewer
University of Pennsylvania
- 11 years 2 months
Education
Interview potential U Penn students, in the greater Boston area. Educate them on the school offerings, and guide them in the application process.
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Town Forest Committee
TOWN OF WINCHESTER
- 5 years 1 month
Worked with the Town of Winchester to protect our forest space - and keep it healthy for all the lovely plants and animals that reside there. Contact me if you'd like to see pics from our night-vision cam!
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Student Improvement Council
Winchester, MA High School
- 2 years
Children
I loved this committee - we worked to encourage positive dialogue between students, teachers, administrators, and community members to effect positive change in our high school.
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Community Host
Impact Hub Boston
- 1 year 9 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
As a Community Host at ImpactHUB, I worked closely with socially-minded entrepreneurs, businesses, and services and helped them find resources to support their growth - both professionally and personally.
Publications
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Advisers see college admissions scandal as tip of the iceberg
Investment News
See publicationDiscussion on latest college admissions scandal.
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Socially Responsible Investing
TV - The Total Woman Show
See publicationI was the guest on the Total Woman TV Show - speaking about Socially Responsible Investing.
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Women and Wealth
TV - the Total Woman TV Show
See publicationI was a guest on the Total Woman TV Show, discussing Women and Wealth.
Languages
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French
Full professional proficiency
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Spanish
Limited working proficiency
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Italian
Limited working proficiency
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German
Elementary proficiency
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French
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Spanish
Limited working proficiency
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