Case Study: A Quiet Millionaire with a Concentrated Stock Position


A Burlington principal engineer—who built wealth the steady way—used a paced diversification plan and tax-aware execution to reduce single-stock risk.

Meet Evan: A Quiet Millionaire with concentrated employer stock

 

Evan is a classic Quiet Millionaire: a principal engineer on Route 128 who reached seven figures in his portfolio through years of steady saving, employer plans, and sensible investing. Over time, his employer stock crept up to 35% of his portfolio.

He kept asking: What if I sell a big block and regret it? What if I wait and a drawdown wipes out years of progress? What if realized gains create a tax bill I didn’t plan for?

Evan didn’t want drama or market bets, just a low-stress, rules-based way to bring concentration back in line so his quiet compounding could keep working.

 

Quiet Millionaire Stock Concentration Evan 2

Evan's Plan: Financial planning and portfolio diversification

The plan focused on steady de-risking and the bigger picture—goals, taxes, estate, and protection—all working in sync.

  1. Goals & scenarios: Clarified near- and long-term goals (housing, timeline, work flexibility) and modeled “what-ifs” to set targets Evan was happy with.

  2. Investment plan: Documented risk/return targets, a paced diversification policy for the single stock, and a simple rebalancing cadence.

  3. Year-round tax planning: Built a rolling projection for estimates, gain/loss harvesting windows, and Roth-conversion opportunities in future lower-income years.

  4. Estate basics for a solo client: Reviewed and updated will, beneficiaries, durable POA, and health-care proxy; organized everything in the portal.

  5. Insurance fit check: Right-sized disability and umbrella coverage to match income and asset levels.

  6. Charitable giving: Outline a simple approach to donate appreciated shares in higher-income years to enhance impact and deductions, without overcomplicating recordkeeping.

The First 90 Days: Evan's Financial Plan in Action 

In the first 90 days, we built momentum for this quiet millionaire without crowding his calendar.

  • Collected statements, cost basis, prior-year tax returns, and beneficiary forms; set up a single dashboard and portal access.

  • Ran goal-based scenarios and agreed on targets, risk level, and a paced path to reduce the concentrated position.

  • Kicked off year-round tax tracking with a baseline projection and thresholds for gains, harvesting, and estimates.

  • Introduced an estate-planning attorney to refresh will/POA/health-care proxy and confirm titling/beneficiaries.

Evan's Results: Lower Risk, Steady Plan

Evan stopped second-guessing every trade. Risk came down. Taxes were planned, not guessed. A written policy replaced emotions-based decisions. Estate and insurance basics were current and easy to find. Charitable gifts could be made with appreciated stock, on purpose and on schedule. The plan felt steady—clear next steps without extra noise.

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

 

If you’re a Quiet Millionaire—a steady saver who prefers low-drama decisions—this plan likely fits how you operate.

  • Diversifying a concentrated stock position without all-in/all-out moves

  • Year-round tax projections to guide timing, estimates, and harvests

  • Goals and risk in writing with a simple investment policy

  • Fewer logins, one dashboard, and an organized vault

  • Updated will/power of attorney/beneficiaries and right-sized disability/umbrella coverage

  • Charitable gifts with appreciated shares, planned for high-income years

Quiet Millionaire apple picking

 

 

 

You bring your what-ifs.

We'll bring a plan. 

We’ll walk with you, at your pace—clear priorities now, steady guidance for what’s next.

Schedule a Call
 

Quiet Millionaire Financial Planning

Read more about how Sachetta helps you make sense of your financial plan—organizing accounts, coordinating taxes, and setting calm next steps at a pace that fits your life.

 

Quiet Millionaires
Quiet Millionaire father and son fishing

Behind every financial plan is a real life—full of deadlines, family goals, and important decisions. This story reflects the kinds of challenges our clients bring to us, and how we build calm, clear strategies in response. While this story is fictional, the strategies are true to life.

Disclaimer: Action plans and results are shown for illustrative purposes only, are not indicative of any specific Sachetta client, and will vary based on each client’s individual circumstances and objectives.

Last updated December 6, 2025.