Kevin Estes, CFP®, CCFC, MBA
Welcome! I’m a financial planner who used to work at T-Mobile.
Now, I help T-Mobile employees and their families live great lives!
Making the most of the magenta benefits can change an entire family’s financial trajectory.

Support
T-Mobile’s total compensation is complicated. That complexity creates opportunity!
Below are resources for T-Mobile support (salaried) employees.


The six weeks starting mid-February is important for many T-Mobile employees
Most of the variable compensation is paid or determined then:
- bonsues (short-term incentive plan) and annual merit increases (raises) are both announced and paid February
- some of the Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) vest in February
- additional RSUs are granted in February
- the larger of the two Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) purchases occurs in early April
What is T-Mobile’s After-Tax plan?
T-Mobile offers an After-Tax plan which isn’t Roth. This plan has much higher limits and can be a way for employees who’ve maxed out their other options to save even more.
For 2025, the defined contribution limit is $70,000. That cap includes all contributions from both employer and employee.
Example
- Jen contributes $23,500 to her 401(k)
- T-Mobile matches $10,000
- Jen could contribute $36,500 to her After-Tax (not Roth) account
For more, check out:
Contribute to Pre-Tax or After-Tax?


What are some Paid Time Off (PTO) considerations for support employees?
Each department has an annual work cycle. Financial Planning & Analysis is heaviest in the fall. It’s also best to take PTO mid-month.
The first quarter is a tough time for Accounting to take vacation.
Taking time off when coworkers do as well can make PTO feel less like “get behind days.” Many departments take time off during:
- mid-winter or spring break,
- summer, and
- holidays.
How does a T-Mobile employee fund their children’s education?
Very few people can pay up to $85,000 per child each year for college from their cash flow. It’s worth considering the all-in cost of each college before applying:
- in-state tuition,
- out-of-state discounts like the Western Undergraduate Exchange,
- community college,
- Advanced Placement® / International Baccalaureate®,
- merit scholarships, and
- need-based financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) may be an important step. Also, colleges provide Net Price Calculators to help families estimate their potential cost of attendance.


How can T-Mobile employees best combine finances with a life partner?
Some people think combining finances is like a light switch: either combined or separate.
However, it’s more like a dimmer with infinite options.
The most important thing is that each person feel comfortable with how they share their finances.
For more, check out: Combining Finances Is Like a Dimmer Switch.
T-Mobile's benefits are robust.
Do estate taxes matter for T-Mobile support employees?
Estate tax thresholds are much lower than the federal limit in many states - especially those in the Pacific Northwest:
- Washington taxes estates over $2.193 million
- Oregon taxes estates over $1 million
It may be worth exploring options to reduce estate size so more money goes to intended beneficiaries and causes.
For more, check out:
Will You Owe Estate Tax?

Hey, thanks for reading my take on T-Mobile’s support benefits.
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Kevin Estes is a financial planner helping T-Mobile employees and their families live great lives.
He worked in T-Mobile Financial Planning & Analysis for nine years. Kevin received a certificate in financial planning, passed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam, and founded Scaled Financed in 2022.













