Originally Posted by Excargodog

W-2s aren’t everything. Anyone who believes that a tax advantaged dollar paid out in per diem or into a 401 K is somehow LESS valuable than a dollar on the W-2 is simply misinformed and perhaps ought to either take a basic tax management course or just pay Fidelity or Vanguard the half percent to let them manage their money. I will concede that the tax advantage difference is relatively unimportant your first few years (unless you are joint filing with a spouse who out earns you) but eventually it makes a huge difference - even as a senior FO.

Something hopefully everyone understands during contract negotiations and voting on a new CBA.