Lisa Strauss Niser, E.A.

https://www.lisaniser.com

1:1, online and group programs to help you overcome the fear of taxes and make informed decisions.

Sample sessions include:
What Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Taxes.
How Cash Flow and Taxes Change when You Make Partner at a Professional Firm
The Importance and Impact of Financial Wellness
Understanding the Tax Impact of Retirement Plans and HSAs
How W4s and Withholding Work
What Real Estate Investors Need to Know About Taxes.
Tax Basics 
The Tax Side of Child Care including What It Means To Be A Household Employer
Marriage and Taxes

Speaker I Educator

Lisa Strauss Niser, E.A

https://www.lisaniser.com

Tax preparation and planning, financial planning and IRS representation for individuals, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Tax Advisor

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Prepared individual, trust, partnership, and S corporation tax returns for corporate executives, many of Fortune 500 companies, and other high net worth individuals.

Provided financial planning services, including estate, retirement and options planning, to corporate executives of Fortune 500 companies and other high net worth individuals.

Consulted with individuals and small businesses on how to utilize Quicken and Quick Books software to manage their books and financial affairs.

Worked with the developer of the firm’s financial planning software to continually enhance and improve its effectiveness.

Developed a financial planning template for use with the firm’s electronic file system that was rolled out firmwide.

Manager

Altschuler, Melvoin & Glasser LLP

Prepared individual, trust, partnership, and S corporation tax returns for high net worth families.

Assisted with tax planning strategies, including creation of family limited partnerships and family foundations.

Prepared semi-annual financial summary showing asset allocation, rate of return and net worth information by account and by investment manager for a family with 16 separate entities.

Provided assistance with financial transactions on a regular basis as primary contact for a family worth over $80 million.

Tax Senior

How would it feel be financially well? To understand enough about taxes and finances that you feel in control of your finances, know the questions to ask, and can make informed decisions that work for you and your goals?

I am here to help you achieve that!

My approach to taxes is to take time to listen to you, ask you questions and help you understand how things work in a way that makes money feel manageable. Whether you are an individual, a small business owner, or the education/employee engagement manager for an organization, I can help you learn what you need to know so you and your team can ask good questions and make decisions that fit your priorities and move you towards meeting and maintaining your goals.
 
My background comes from working at E&Y and PwC and having exposure to big firm accounting and to different ways of working with both individuals and organizations.  Through my experiences, I saw first-hand the value that individualized, judgment-free support provides.
 
I combine this background and my focus to provide realistic, simple advice since the day I started my practice in 2003. I take on a limited client load so I can provide support throughout the year to answer questions and help my clients become comfortable with and confident about taxes and money.
 
In fact, many clients hire me to support them on a consulting basis and refer to me as their “advisor on speed dial.”
 
One of my favorite ways to provide value is to help organizations empower their employees by providing financial wellness benefits.  This includes providing interactive workshops woven with real life scenarios and fun, I help teams understand that money can be a source of power in addition to sometimes being a source of stress.  And since learning about money is a great equalizer, my programs benefit both the employees and the company! 
 
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞:

- 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐱 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞: https://www.lisaniser.com

- 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: https://bit.ly/lisaniser
 
- 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐱 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: https://bit.ly/lisaniser

Lisa Niser

Nexa Wealth Planning

At Nexa Wealth, we believe managing your money is more than just numbers in a bank account – it’s about creating a life rich in choices and free from constraints. 

Here, money doesn't dictate your choices – it amplifies them. With us, you’re not just surviving; you're thriving. We're dedicated to crafting financial freedom for each of our clients, turning dreams into rock-solid plans, and plans into rock-solid reality.

Email: renee@nexawm.com for free consultation

CEO & Certified Financial Planner

Northwestern Mutual

Women are more than capable of taking control of their finances, and I'm here to help them do so. 

I'm passionate about empowering women to take ownership of their finances and achieve financial freedom. 

As a Certified Financial Planner, I help women executives maximize their cash flow, make smart investments, and develop tax-savvy strategies to ensure their money grows and lasts for years to come. 

With my help, women can confidently make financial decisions, assertively create a plan, and reduce their financial worries. 

•	Understand your financial options 
•	Create a forward-thinking financial strategy 
•	Make money decisions with confidence

If you are tired of second-guessing what your money is doing for you, and instead you want a simple roadmap to achieve the results you desire, I invite you into having a conversation.  

DM or email for a complimentary 30-minute Money Strategy meeting
📧 renee.cohen@nm.com

Certified Financial Planner™ for women executives and business owners 

Created financial literacy corporate workshops to inspire employees into financial action & eliminate money anxiety.

Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator & Speaker

Bixel Exchange

Bixel Exchange is the innovation and tech arm at the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the US, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Our cornerstone programs include Startup Launch Tech SBDC and Tech Talent Pipeline that combine forces to create an inclusive greater LA technology community.

Advisor

Fox Sports Net

Director, Corporate Partnerships

Big Ten Network

Manager, University Development

Designing Work-Optional Lifestyles for Women & Couples with Dynamic Financial Plans | Financial Consultant for Executives & Business Owners in Sports & Tech | Financial Wellness Speaker

The biggest money secret that not enough successful women know?

Creating financial security for life is actually insanely EASY.

- Dream of retiring by 50?
- Want to cover your kids' big moments?
- Looking forward to luxe vacations without needing an excuse?
- Need an iron-clad safety net for whatever life throws your way?

But it’s not just about the future. It’s about enjoying your life right now.

Financial freedom isn't just for later. It’s about living your best life now, knowing you are crafting your future while relishing today.

This is where I step in.

With all the financial advice out there, you need what works, not just noise. You need strategies that move the needle. You need results, not tasks.

My mission? To make managing your finances the SIMPLEST part of your day.  

I’m here to help you make smart choices that align with your dreams for your family and your future.

You've worked tirelessly for your success. So let’s save smartly and maximize and grow what you have. True financial freedom is more than account balances.  


I’ve partnered with many women and couples like you, creating personalized plans that balance today's lifestyle with tomorrow's dreams. This isn't about strict budgets. It’s about shaping your finances to fit your life today, while maximizing every aspect of your income and assets.

I’m more than a financial planner. I’m your partner, guide, and ally in achieving your financial dreams in the most straightforward and effective way possible.

Every plan is tailored to the individual because your financial success should be as unique as you are.

Ready to make these dreams a part of your everyday life?

Let’s unlock the full potential of your finances together. Because your money should support the life you want, now and in the future.

Send me a DM or email at renee.cohen@nm.com.

This conversation could change everything. ✨

Your journey goes beyond just managing numbers. It involves:

✨ Strategic Cash Flow & Debt Management,
✨ Tax Optimization for executive roles,
✨ Effective Navigation of Stock Options & Significant Financial Events,
✨ Personalized Retirement Planning,
✨ Comprehensive Insurance Solution

Renee Cohen, CFP®

They couldn't talk about money without it ending in silence.

Both earning six figures.
Beautiful house.
Kids in great schools.

And they hadn't looked at their accounts together in two years.

"We just handle our own stuff," she told me. “It's easier that way."

But easier wasn't working.

She was moving money to savings he didn't know about.
He was stressed about money but didn't want to seem worried.
Both were making decisions in isolation.
Both assuming the other had it handled.

I see this more than you'd think.
Successful couples who've turned money into the third wheel of their relationship.

Too charged to touch.
Too important to ignore.

So they danced around it:

She'd quietly pay for soccer camp before he noticed the email.
He'd handle the roof repair without mentioning the cost.
Both adding to their separate savings 'just in case.'

Amazon packages arrived without discussion.
Investment statements stayed unopened.
Tax time meant handing everything to the CPA and hoping for the best.

They could plan entire vacations without mentioning the budget.
Navigate private school applications without discussing the tuition.

Two successful people.
Living one life.
Never actually talking about how to pay for it.

We didn't start with a budget.
(That would've been like handing them firecracker.)

We started with one question:
"What does financial success look like for your family?"

For the first time in years, they heard each other's actual fears.

She wasn't hoarding money.
She was terrified of her mom's story repeating.

He wasn't being careless.
He was exhausted from feeling like the safety net.

Once they could see each other's why,
the how got so much simpler.

Now they have monthly money dates.
15 minutes. One dashboard. No judgment.

She texted me last month:
"We actually high-fived after paying the tax bill. Is that weird?"

Not weird at all.
That's what happens when money stops being a battleground
and starts being something you build together.

→ What's the one win you and your partner have celebrated together this year?

Renee Cohen CFP®

Financial Planner for Women | I bring your financial life together so your decisions feel easier and more intentional | CFP® + Founder, Nexa Wealth

No alternative text description for this image

The $45K question that changed my client’s life 

 

She had $194K sitting in cash.
VP salary.
All the "right" financial pieces.

But she couldn't commit to starting her own business.

"I need another year of savings first."

We ran the numbers.

$45K to launch her consulting firm today.
Or wait another year while that dream compounds into regret.

Then I asked her the question:

"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to watch 42-year-old you bet on herself?"

She went quiet.

We both knew the answer before I even asked.

Because future you isn't celebrating (all) the extra cash you hoarded.

She's thinking about the business you never started.
The clients you never helped.
The version of yourself you never became.
Wishing she could go back and shake younger you who played it too safe.

The women I work with don't have risk problems.
They have permission problems.

Maybe you've saved six months of expenses.
Maybe it's two years.
Maybe you're still building.

Doesn't matter.

We all wait for some guarantee that says "now it's safe to leap."

That guarantee doesn't exist.

What does exist:
Your ideas sitting in notebooks.
Your expertise waiting to be shared.
Your impact delayed by another year of "preparation."

She launched her firm six months ago.
Hasn’t replaced her corporate salary yet.

That takes time no matter what people promise you. 

But more importantly?

She stopped waiting for permission to become who she already was.

Because 65-year-old you doesn't care about the perfect financial moment.

She cares that you trusted yourself enough to try.

The math already works.
Future you is waiting for you to believe it.

→ What would you start tomorrow if you knew future you already knows the outcome?

Sometimes the worst time to travel is exactly when you should.

Had a client text me her photos yesterday.
Barcelona with her family to visit friends instead of their traditional Thanksgiving plans.

Six months ago, she almost canceled it because her husband had been laid off.  
"Maybe we should wait until things are more settled."

They'd saved for this trip for two years.
Between their emergency fund and his severance, they had enough.
Not perfect "sleep-like-a-baby" money.
But enough.

The thing is, when life feels uncertain, "enough" never feels like enough.
You want to hoard every dollar.
Just in case.

But, they had the funds.
They had the time.
They had everything except permission.

I asked them one question:
"In 10 years, will you regret going or regret waiting?"

They went.

Her text yesterday:
"The kids are already asking when we're coming back."

Some moments can't be recreated.
Some windows close.
Some "next years" never come.

Your accounts will never give you permission.
That's not supposed to come from a spreadsheet.
That comes from you.

As we head into December, maybe it's worth asking:

What have you been putting off that your future self would tell you to do today?

→ What's your "Barcelona" that keeps getting pushed to next year?

"Are we missing something?"


I hear this from people who already have financial "help."

They've got investments. They've got someone managing things.

But that nagging feeling won't go away.

Had a client come to me with $2.5 million in an annuity.
She'd put in $325k twelve years ago and $40k every year after. 

"It's been fine," she said. "I just haven't looked at it much."

Twelve years.
Her whole life had changed.
New job. Kids in college. Different dreams.

But that money was still sitting in 2013.
Stuck in a product someone sold her once and forgot about.

When we looked at everything?

That annuity hadn't made sense for her in years.
Nobody was handling her taxes.
Her ex-husband was still on her estate plan.

She had money. She had investments. She had "help."

Spread across seven different logins she could barely remember.

What she didn't have was someone looking at how it all worked together.
Someone asking "what else could this be doing?"
Someone who'd catch what everyone else missed.

We restructured the annuity to actually work for her current life.
Found $32K in annual tax savings she didn't know existed.
Got her ex-husband's name off everything.

She texted me last week:
"For the first time in years, I'm not wondering if I'm doing this wrong."

That's what my clients pay for.
To stop wondering.
To know someone sees everything.
To trust that the important stuff isn't getting missed.

Because the real cost isn't what you pay for planning.
It's living with that constant question mark.

→ How many passwords did you have to reset this year?🙋‍♀️

She sat on $400K in cash for three years.

Watched the market go up.
Watched inflation eat away at it.
Read every article telling her to invest.

Still couldn't do it.

Why?

Her dad lost everything in 2008.

And even though she was earning $250K a year,
even though she knew the math,
she couldn't shake that image of him at the kitchen table.
Staring at statements worth nothing.

Her brain knew better.
Her body remembered different.

It took us six months to unpack that.

Not the investing part.
The trust part.

We didn't start with asset allocation.
We started with what safety meant to her.

Turns out it wasn't about the market at all.
It was about control.

So we built a plan that gave her both:
→ Ten months expenses in cash (not the six everyone recommends)
→ A 5 month CD she could see and understand
→ Index funds portfolio but only after she felt ready

The first investment was $15k.

She texted me that night:
"I keep checking to see if it's gone."

It wasn't.

Three months later, she moved another $50K.
Then another.

Now she's fully invested with a plan that makes sense.
Not because I convinced her.
But because she convinced herself.

Sometimes the smartest financial move
isn't following the perfect strategy.

It's honoring where your fear comes from
and building something you can actually stick with.

→ Fill in the blank: 'My parents always said _____ about money, but I've learned ____

"You need a partner as your backup plan."

If you're single and tired of hearing this, you're not alone.

You smile politely. Change the subject. 

But inside, you're screaming: 'I'm not broken. I don't need fixing.

I get how this feels. I didn't meet my partner until I was 41.

The truth is, you don't need a backup plan.

Whether you're single by choice, divorced, widowed, or just haven't met someone yet - the math is the same.

Your plan needs to fit where you are now, not where others think you should be.

My single clients may need a higher target to retire comfortably.
While their married friends may split that number between two people.

And if your situation changes? We adjust.
Your plan evolves with you.
But right now, today, we plan for the life you're actually living.

The math is different.
The questions are worse.

"What does your husband think?"
Asked by the realtor. The financial advisor. Your aunt at Thanksgiving.

Each time, you explain. Again. That it's just you.

And watch them try to figure out if that's sad or brave.

"Maybe wait until you're married?"
(You've been waiting. For the house, not the spouse.)

Meanwhile, you're out here buying homes, starting businesses, and building wealth without waiting for someone to split the check.

You don't need a backup plan.
You need a bulletproof one.

Yes, there are nights when you run the numbers and feel the weight of carrying it all yourself. 

When you wish someone else could make the hard calls. When 'independent' feels like a nice word for 'alone.'

Your emergency fund does need to be bigger.
Your insurance does need to be stronger.
Your retirement does need to be fuller.

Not because you're alone.
But because you're planning for your own security first.

And that's not sad.
That's powerful.

Some of my clients stay single. Some partner up later. Some are starting over.

Doesn't matter where you are now.

What matters is having a plan that works for today and can grow with you tomorrow.


→ What's the most awkward money question someone's asked you at a family dinner?


—

BTW - if you want help building that bulletproof plan, I'm opening up a few spots in January. Drop me a 'READY' and I'll send you the details.

The $12K question she almost didn't ask. 


She'd been sitting on it for three months.

"Is it too late to do anything about my taxes this year?"

We were on a call last week.
Six weeks left in 2025.
And she thought she'd missed her chance.

(Most people think tax planning ended in April.)

But when we actually looked?

We found $12,000 in deductions and retirement space she hadn't used.

→ Charitable donations she forgot about. Medical expenses that actually crossed the threshold. That advisor fee from January.

She thought she'd maxed out her 401k.

→ Turns out she had $8,000 of space left.

The underperforming stocks in her account became a tax strategy.

→ We sold them to offset the gains from her RSUs.
(The tax savings alone made it worth it.)

Those last two December paychecks became an opportunity.
Perfect time to fix her withholdings.

All of this disappears on January 1st.

The question saved her $4,800 in taxes.

I see this constantly in November.
People suddenly realizing there's still time.

Time to use those tax strategies that expire December 31st.
Time to top off retirement contributions.
Time to balance out investment gains.

Six weeks isn't the end of your financial year.

It's actually when some of the best moves happen.

→ You checking your stuff before year-end?

P.S. - Want to know what moves you could still make? Reply with 'MOVES' and I'll send you what I'm telling all my clients right now.

You're still following money rules you didn't choose.

"Save everything just in case."
"Don't take risks."
"Feel guilty for wanting nice things."

You absorbed these from your parents, teachers, first boss.
Long before you had the six-figure income you have now.

So when money still feels uncertain,
you blame yourself.

Not disciplined enough.
Not paying enough attention.
Need to "finally get organized."

But you were taught to protect money.
Not use it as a tool.

To hold onto what you have.
Not turn it into options.

The turning point isn't when you've got it all perfectly sorted.

It's when you decide you're done trying to piece it together alone.

When you can look at your accounts and actually know what's happening
without logging into 10 different places.

When every decision runs through your own filter:
"Does this move me closer to what I want?"

Not through fear, guilt, or someone else's checklist.

Because confidence doesn't come from knowing everything.

It comes from knowing your next step
and trusting it's the right one for you.

→ What money rule from childhood are you ready to rewrite?

Having someone manage your investments isn't the same as having a plan.

I hear it constantly:
"I already have someone."

But then they follow it with:
"I still handle all the tax stuff myself."
"I'm not sure if I should exercise these stock options."
"We never talk about anything except the portfolio."

You have someone managing one account.
Not your financial life.

When April brings a surprise $20K tax bill, when RSUs vest with no clear strategy, when you're running private school numbers alone?

That's not in their department.

I see this all the time.
Smart women with "help" still playing CFO.

Still coordinating between:

Still coordinating between:
→ The person who handles investments (but not taxes)
→ The person who handles taxes (but not planning)
→ The estate attorney (from 2019)

Everyone managing their piece.
No one managing the whole picture.

One client put it perfectly:
"I have a team but no quarterback."

She had all the players.
But she was still calling all the plays.

Real planning connects everything.

Your investments know about your tax situation.
Your tax strategy considers your equity comp.
Your estate plan actually reflects your life today.

Because you shouldn't need a spreadsheet to track who handles what.

You need one person who sees it all.
Who connects it all.

That's the difference between having investments managed and having your life planned.

→ What would you do with your time if you weren't playing financial coordinator?

Everyone says the AI bubble “will burst."


(meanwhile they're sitting on $500K in cash)

Had three conversations about this yesterday.

Smart people paralyzed with:
→ $200K here
→ $500K there
→ Sometimes more

"It feels like 2000 all over again."

I get it.

The valuations are Insane.
Every headline says Bubble!
Your tech friends are betting on which unicorn dies first.

But yesterday...

Someone said the quiet part out loud:

"I'm more afraid of looking stupid than losing money."

THERE it was.

Because it’s not about AI.

Never was.

It's about:
→ That cousin who lost everything in crypto
→ That coworker who bought Tesla at the peak
→ Your parent’s horror stories from 2008

So you wait.

And wait.

And wait.

For what exactly?

→ The "right" time?
→ Things to feel "safer"?
→ Someone to ring a bell saying "NOW"?

Meanwhile...

Inflation is eating 3% yearly.
On $500K? That's $15,000.
Gone (quietly).
While you wait for "perfect."

True story:

Met with someone last month.
$400K in cash.
Sitting there since 2021.

First it was inflation fears.
Then recession fears.
Now it's AI bubble fears.
It’s always something.

Same paralysis, different headline.

We didn't debate whether AI was overvalued.

We started here:

"What scares you more?”
A) Losing some in a correction
B) Losing purchasing power every single day"

She chose B.

She is investing gradually.

Not because I convinced her AI wasn't a bubble.

But because she realized:

Sitting out IS a bet.
A bet that fear is smarter than a plan.

Look...

The market might correct tomorrow.
AI might be overvalued.
December might be terrible timing.

OR...

You might look back in 5 years at all that cash.

And realize the biggest risk wasn't the bubble.

It was letting 2008 make your 2025 decisions.

→ Quick question: What financial ghost from YOUR past is still calling the shots?

—

P.S. Fear is expensive. How much is yours costing you? Drop a "👻" if you felt this one.

"Why would I pay someone to manage my money?"

(the question that costs you more than the fee)

I'll tell you why.

Because at 2am when you're watching your account drop.

You need someone who's seen this before.

Not YouTube.
Not Reddit.
Not your brother-in-law who "called" the last crash.

Someone who answers when you call:
"Should I sell everything?"

With:
"No. Here's why. Breathe."

That's not managing money.
That's managing fear.

And fear?
Fear is expensive.

It costs:
→ The returns you miss panic-selling
→ The gains you skip waiting for "safety"
→ The sleep you lose checking futures
→ The peace you trade for worry

I don't manage portfolios.
I manage the space between logic and panic.

That's what you're paying for.

The voice that says:
"Remember why we built this plan."

When yours is screaming:
"GET OUT NOW."

Because here's what I know:

The market has recovered from:
• Every crash
• Every correction
• Every "this time is different"

But not everyone has.

Some sold at the bottom.
Some never got back in.
Some are still waiting for "the right time."

They didn't need better investments.
They needed better behavior.

And behavior?
That's hard to manage alone.

→ What's the worst financial 'hot tip' someone gave you at a party?

—

P.S. That 2am panic? We ALL have it. The difference is who you call.

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