Wealth Planning

Deferred Compensation: How High Earners Can Reduce Taxes

March 5, 2025


Mike Fitzhugh
Mike Fitzhugh

Director in Wealth Management, Partner

Mike has been delivering comprehensive planning services to high net-worth families since 1983. He served on the Aspiriant Board of Directors, including serving as Chairman from 2007 until 2010.

Mike began his professional career at Deloitte Haskins & Sells in 1982, and joined the Executive Financial Counseling Group, led by Tim Kochis, three years later. For the next five years, he provided comprehensive financial, tax, and investment services to senior corporate executives and other high net-worth families.

After earning an MBA, Mike led the financial planning practice at an investment management consulting firm in Silicon Valley for four years, developing an expertise in the strategic role of stock options in wealth planning. In 1996, he joined Kochis Fitz, the predecessor firm to Aspiriant, and became a Principal of the firm in 1998. During that time, he developed a specialty in designing
Rule 10(b)5-1 stock sales plans.

In 2008, Barron’s recognized Mike as one of the 100 top independent wealth managers in America. He has been ranked by the San Francisco Business Times among the top 25 independent Wealth Managers in the Bay Area since that list was developed in 2007. Mike co-authored the book, Wealth Management, A Concise Guide to Financial Planning and Investment Management for Wealthy Clients. As an expert in comprehensive wealth management, he has appeared on National Public Radio’s Marketplace and been quoted in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Financial Times, and Research.

Mike has been an instructor in the Personal Financial Planning Program at University of California-Berkeley, and makes presentations at professional conferences for financial advisors, attorneys, and CPAs.

Mike graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS degree in Economics and Finance (with Highest Honors). He earned a MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley.

Nick Ruzette
Nick Ruzette

Senior Manager in Wealth Management, Partner

Nick joined Aspiriant at the end of 2014 as an associate in Investment Operations. He transitioned to the Wealth Management team in the beginning of 2017. He has over ten years of experience working in financial services, including seven years working with high-net-worth individuals and families.

Prior to joining the firm, Nick spent time at an M&A consulting firm in San Diego and third-party marketing firm in Orange County, Calif.

Nick earned a B.A. degree in economics and a Minor in accounting from the University of California at San Diego. He earned his CFP® certification in 2017.

Nick lives in San Francisco with his wife. In their free time they enjoy getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family. You can trust that they’ll have recently had an Italian meal, and that Nick has eaten a chocolate chip cookie recently.


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