🎯 February 2026 True-Up Scenarios
At Goal
100% Annual Attainment
$0
Already paid quarterly — no additional true-up
Crushing It
125% Annual Attainment
$60,000
2x commission on full year = $120k total − $60k already paid
Blowout Year
200% Annual Attainment
$120,000
3x commission on full year = $180k total − $60k already paid
True-up pays in February for prior calendar year. This is a massive single check — the copilot should pre-plan routing for this before it arrives.
🧠 Copilot Recommendations
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Commission Check Routing Plan: When the ~$10,500 net commission hits (4x/year), don't let it sit in checking. Pre-set a routing rule: 50% → investments, 30% → high-yield savings for mortgage buffer, 20% → discretionary/goals.
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Base Covers Burn — Barely: Monthly surplus on base months is only ~$1,153. One unexpected expense could put you negative. Keep 2 months of burn (~$14,400) in a liquid emergency fund at all times.
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Arvada Rental Health Check: The rental nets only +$300/mo. Factor in maintenance reserves (~$200/mo), vacancy risk, and property management costs if applicable. True cash flow may be near break-even. Worth tracking closely — or consider whether selling and redeploying equity could generate better returns.
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True-Up Pre-Planning (Start Now): If you're tracking toward 125%+ for the year, you could receive a $60k–$120k check in February. Don't wait until Feb to decide what to do with it. Set the plan now: tax-advantaged accounts first (max 401k, backdoor Roth), then taxable investments, then big goals.
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Cash Flow Timing Risk: You go 8 months/year on just base + rental. Commission months (Mar, Jun, Aug, Nov) are your refueling stops. The copilot should forecast forward 90 days to flag if any non-commission stretch will drain your buffer.
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401k Optimization: At 10% of $140k base = $14,000/yr, you're not maxing the $23,500 cap. If commission is also subject to 401k withholding, consider adjusting to front-load or ensure you're capturing full employer match. (Need to confirm: does 401k come out of commission checks too?)