I have CalPERS plus Savings Plus. How much can I actually save?

More than most participants use. The 401(k) and 457(b) portions of Savings Plus have separate limits, so you can defer into both in the same year, plus catch-up contributions after 50 — and a higher catch-up amount applies in the 60-through-63 window. On top of the pension, that's a substantial tax-advantaged capacity that frequently sits partly empty.

Which pension survivor option should my spouse and I choose?

The one that wins on the numbers. The reduced monthly benefit is the price of the survivor coverage; we compare that price to term or permanent life insurance providing equivalent protection, factor in both partners' health, ages, and other income, and choose with the math visible — because the election is generally locked in at retirement.

Do we have to live in Lavender Heights to work with Aequitas?

No. Aequitas is fee-only and virtual-first — we work with LGBTQ+ households in Lavender Heights the same way we work with clients across Sacramento and the rest of the US. This page is written for the Lavender Heights demographic, not as a residency requirement.

Is there a minimum account size?

No asset minimum. Engagements are priced based on planning complexity, not portfolio size, so we can work with LGBTQ+ high earners still building wealth — not just clients who already have it.

What happens on the intro call?

Twenty minutes, video or phone. We ask what you're actually trying to figure out, share how Aequitas would approach it, and decide together whether an engagement makes sense. No pressure, no product pitch.

LGBTQ+ couple in Lavender Heights, Sacramento reviewing their financial plan

Sacramento · Lavender Heights

LGBTQ+ financial planning for Lavender Heights

You're a state employee, a creative, or both. The plan has to hold pensions, side income, and estate documents in one place.

Schedule a free intro call 20 minutes · video or phone · no product pitch

Quick answer

Is there a financial advisor for LGBTQ+ households in Lavender Heights?

Yes. Aequitas Financial is a fee-only fiduciary practice serving LGBTQ+ professionals, couples, and families in Lavender Heights and across Sacramento. Meetings are virtual, there is no asset minimum or commission, and plans are built around CA tax, titling, and chosen-family protections.

Source: CFP Board — Code of Ethics & Standards of Conduct

Who this is for

Built for Lavender Heights LGBTQ+ households

Lavender Heights is Sacramento's designated LGBTQ+ district in Midtown — bars, community services, and a mix of loft condos and Victorians occupied heavily by state employees and creative professionals.

You have a CalPERS or state-university pension and the election isn't intuitive.
You've been running side income (design, consulting, retail) and the tax treatment is unplanned.
You and your partner haven't formalized and the estate documents show it.
First-home math has never been run against your rent-controlled loft.

On the ground

Lavender Heights: state service, and benefits worth using

Lavender Heights sits at the center of Sacramento's LGBTQ+ community, and a large share of households here work for the state, the legislature, advocacy organizations, or the health systems around them. That means CalPERS or CalSTRS pensions, Savings Plus 401(k) and 457(b) plans, and a benefits package with more usable capacity than most people realize.

The Savings Plus 457(b) is the standout: separate contribution limit from the 401(k), and no 10% early-withdrawal penalty after separation from service, which makes it the right vehicle for anyone considering retiring before 59½. The pension survivor election is the other decision that matters permanently — it's priced as a reduction in monthly income, it's generally irrevocable, and it should be compared directly against life insurance rather than chosen from a form.

How we help Lavender Heights households

Pension + 457(b) election

CalPERS / CSUS public-sector benefits often carry a pension election with irreversible survivor-benefit choices. We model them against your household income and outside savings before you sign.

1099 + W-2 hybrid tax planning

S-corp vs. sole prop, quarterly estimates, solo 401(k) + SEP-IRA choice, and PTE elections handled proactively — so April isn't a scramble and next year's plan is already in motion.

Estate documents that actually reflect your life

Wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and beneficiary audits refreshed for who you actually chose — not defaults written for someone else's family. Especially the pieces most Lavender Heights couples wrote a decade ago and haven't looked at since.

Next step

Go deeper, or just talk to us

Skim the broader context if you want more before reaching out — or book the call and we'll cover it live.

LGBTQ+ financial advisor in Sacramento

The city-wide overview: how Aequitas works with Sacramento LGBTQ+ households across cash flow, tax, investing, and estate.

LGBTQ+ tax & cost-of-living guide: Sacramento

State income tax, property tax, estate tax, and LGBTQ+ planning overlays specific to Sacramento.

Schedule Your Intro Call

FAQ

Lavender Heights planning FAQs

This page is part of our wider guide to LGBTQ+ financial planning — how fee-only, fiduciary planning works for queer households, and which topic to start with.

Ready to talk through your plan?

On a free intro call we'll walk through where you are, what you're trying to figure out, and whether an engagement makes sense — no pressure.

Schedule Your Intro Call