A fiduciary advisor just up the road from Hockessin.

Financial planning for Hockessin families

Hockessin sits in a particular financial spot: dual-income households with demanding careers, employer stock vesting on a schedule nobody has time to think about, college a few years out, and a state line ten minutes away that changes the tax math on nearly every decision. Most families here are doing well. Far fewer have the pieces working together.

Blackshire coordinates investments, tax strategy, retirement income, education funding, and estate planning into one disciplined plan. We are fee-only and fiduciary: no commissions, no products, no quotas.

The state line runs through your finances

Many Hockessin residents earn a paycheck in Pennsylvania, or moved from there, or will retire across the line. Pennsylvania and Delaware have no reciprocity agreement, so cross-border commuters file in both states with a credit from their home state. Delaware's graduated rates reach 6.6% while Pennsylvania charges a flat 3.07% plus local wage taxes, and which state gets first claim on your income depends on where you work, not where you sleep.

In retirement the comparison inverts: Pennsylvania exempts most retirement income while Delaware taxes it above the exclusion, but Delaware has no sales tax, no inheritance tax, and lower property taxes. We put real numbers on the trade-off instead of guessing.

Retiring in Hockessin

Delaware treats retirees well. Social Security is fully exempt from state tax. At 60, each spouse can exclude up to $12,500 of pension and retirement account income. At 65, homeowners may qualify for a school property tax credit of up to $500, with a ten-year residency requirement for anyone who arrived after 2018. Our guide to retiring in Delaware covers the details, and if you're weighing a move across the line, so does our PA vs DE comparison.

The bigger wins come from sequencing: drawing accounts in the right order, using the low-tax window before required minimum distributions for Roth conversions, and managing income to stay under Medicare IRMAA thresholds. A projection that ignores those levers is not a retirement plan.

Equity compensation and employer plans

Hockessin is commuting distance from nearly every major employer in the region: W.L. Gore, DuPont, AstraZeneca, Incyte, ChristianaCare, the Wilmington banks, and the pharma corridor up Route 202. That means RSUs, ESPPs, deferred compensation, and 401(k) plans with real complexity behind them.

We help you decide what to do when RSUs vest, how to unwind concentrated employer stock without an unnecessary tax bill, and how your benefits fit the larger plan. If you work at DuPont or AstraZeneca, start with our dedicated pages.

Who we work with

Professionals, executives, and retirees across Hockessin, Pike Creek, Mill Creek, North Star, and nearby Greenville and Wilmington. Our office in West Chester, PA is about 20 minutes up Route 41, past Kennett Square. Most clients are in the $500K to $5M+ investable asset range.

Meet the team

Blackshire Wealth Management was founded by Henry Supinski, who spent a decade in the tech industry before returning to financial planning. He is supported by Ron Madey (CFA, Chief Investment Officer), Ken Kideckel (CFA, CFP®, Head of Portfolio Management), and a dedicated compliance and marketing team.

Learn more about our team →

Common questions

Where do you meet with Hockessin clients?

Our office is at 1065 Andrew Drive in West Chester, PA, about 20 minutes from Hockessin via Route 41. Many clients prefer virtual meetings for routine reviews and in-person for the big decisions. Either works.

What do Hockessin families typically hire you for?

The most common triggers are vesting equity compensation, a retirement date within ten years, a job change or severance package, and the realization that an investment account, a CPA, and a will are not the same thing as a coordinated plan.

I commute into Pennsylvania. What should I know about taxes?

Without reciprocity between PA and DE, you file in both states, and Delaware credits you for Pennsylvania tax paid. Local PA wage taxes, withholding elections, and estimated payments all need to be set up correctly or you end up lending the states money interest-free, or worse, underpaying.

Will Delaware tax my 401(k) withdrawals in retirement?

Above the exclusion, yes. Delaware residents 60 and older can exclude up to $12,500 per person of retirement income each year, and Social Security is never taxed by the state. Withdrawal sequencing and Roth conversions during low-income years can meaningfully shrink the taxable remainder.

Do you have an account minimum?

We do not publish a rigid minimum. Most clients are in the $500K to $5M+ range, but the best first step is a free 30-minute call to see whether we are a good fit.