Why Your Raise Isn't Making You Wealthier and What to Do About It

Why Your Raise Isn't Making You Wealthier and What to Do About It

From Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners by NerdWallet Wealth Partners

July 14, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how a raise can negatively impact long-term wealth without a proper financial plan.

Learn why a raise could quietly work against your long-term wealth if you don't have a plan. Host Andrew Giancola and NerdWallet Wealth Partners CEO Ryan Sterling break down what to actually do the moment a raise hits, from the tax bracket shift to picking lifestyle upgrades that won't quietly eat the whole increase. Interested in working with a financial advisor? Visit nerdwalletwealthpartners.com NerdWallet Wealth Partners LLC (NWWP) is a SEC registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor does it constitute an endorsement by any securities regulator. The content presented by NWWP on its Your Next Dollar podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice to any person. The views, strategies, examples, and figures discussed are intended to be general in nature, subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and may not be suitable for every individual. Any hypothetical illustrations used are for educational purposes only and do not represent a guarantee or prediction of future results. All investments carry risk, including the…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Giancola

Guest: Ryan Sterling

Topics covered

  • wealth management
  • financial planning
  • tax implications
  • lifestyle upgrades
  • high earners

Keywords

  • raise
  • wealth
  • financial advisor
  • tax bracket
  • lifestyle upgrades

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NerdWallet Wealth Partners

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