Stephen Hazel

About Stephen Hazel

If you work at a large organization (especially in healthcare or a complex corporate environment) your compensation is rarely just a paycheck.It arrives quietly, wrapped in layers…Retirement plans.Brokerage windows inside your 401(k).Employer contributions.RSUs.Equity Compensation.Tax elections.You are expected to “choose wisely.”Yet, no one ever defines what wise means in the context of your income, tax bracket, and long-term goals.There’s no manual showing how your retirement plans are meant to work together - or how today’s benefit elections quietly lock in future tax outcomes. Over time, the opportunity to convert a high level of compensation into substantially greater after-tax wealth quietly erodes…year after year…compounding in the background.This is exactly why I use the Employee Equity Architecture - a disciplined planning framework built for professionals navigating complex benefits and retirement systems.From the start, benefits and retirement choices are evaluated with our tax-reducing frameworks embedded, not added as an afterthought once options have already closed.Plus, as an Enrolled Agent (EA), I’m able to provide tax advice and planning alongside financial guidance (something most advisors are simply not licensed to do).Because once taxes are part of the conversation early, the entire structure changes.Your 401(k) and brokerage window are no longer treated in isolation.Your benefits elections are viewed through a tax-aware lens.And your decisions are coordinated - rather than fragmented across silos.If you’re curious how early tax coordination could materially change what you keep from your compensation, let’s talk.

Experience

1. Certified Financial Planner

   Magnificent Life Financial Planning

   Mar 2014 — Present · Tempe, AZ, US

   As your financial planner/advisor, we provide comprehensive financial planning with personalized support and holistic life planning:We conduct thorough financial analysis considering your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.Our approach includes budgeting, debt management, insurance needs, tax planning, and estate planning:We customize communication, meetings, and decision support based on your preferences.Meetings are structured for productivity and comfort, ensuring clarity and focus:We offer emotional support during market volatility and life transitions to stay focused on long-term goals. Mitigate various risks, including investment, health, liability, and longevity risks:Plan for retirement, marriage, divorce, starting a family, or career changes, adjusting your financial plan accordingly. Set meaningful financial goals and reinvent goals for the next life stage after transitions.Help discover priorities and how to live life going forward:Provide visualized recommendations and scenario planning to understand complex concepts and potential outcomes:Educate and empower you to make informed financial decisions, improving financial literacy and confidence.Ensure understanding of recommendations and confidence in financial choices.By integrating these elements into our traditional financial planning process, we aim to provide comprehensive support tailored to your needs, navigating life\'s financial complexities with confidence.

Education

• Arizona State University

  BA, Asian Languages: Japanese

• Grand Canyon University

  MBA, Finance

• Occidental College

  Physics

Skills

• Business Development
• Budgets
• Finance
• Management
• Insurance
• Project Management
• Financial Services
• Coaching
• Process Improvement
• Business Planning
• Leadership
• Start-Ups
• Leadership Development
• Investments
• Program Management