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The W-2 Escape Plan
Know Your Number Before You Give Notice
You've run the mental math a hundred times. You know you want out. But “I think I have enough saved” isn't a plan — it's a hope. This checklist turns the leap into a calculated decision: your real runway, your real burn rate, and the exact financial architecture you need before you give notice.
For W-2 professionals earning $150K+ who are 6-18 months from going independent.
What's inside
The Runway
- Do you know your actual monthly burn rate — not your guess, your real number?
- Do you have 12-18 months of living expenses in liquid savings (not retirement accounts)?
- Have you stress-tested your runway against a 6-month delayed revenue scenario?
Health Insurance
- Do you have a specific post-employment health insurance plan — COBRA, marketplace, or spouse's plan?
- Have you factored the full annual cost ($12K-$30K+ for a family) into your runway math?
Entity Setup & Tax Architecture
- Have you decided on your business entity — and do you know why LLC vs. S-Corp matters?
- Do you understand how self-employment tax changes your effective rate by 7-15%?
- Have you set up quarterly estimated tax payments before your first invoice?
Retirement Accounts
- Do you have a plan for your employer 401(k) — rollover, leave, or Roth convert?
- Have you evaluated a Solo 401(k) to shelter up to $72K per year from day one?
Income Replacement
- Do you have your first client or revenue source identified — not hypothetical, signed?
- Have you calculated your personal break-even number (not your business break-even)?
- Have you reviewed your non-compete or non-solicitation agreement with an attorney?
...plus personal financial architecture review, emergency fund separation strategy, partner alignment framework, and a milestone-based departure timeline.
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13 questions that separate a calculated leap from an expensive mistake.
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