Maren Holloway
Writer at Smartonic
Maren writes about work and money — career decisions, runway math, the questions people keep putting off.
Writes about
- Work
- Money
- Career decisions
Articles by Maren
- Career trap
Career change for nurses: the ten-month runway and six landing paths
7 min read · Published 2026-08-12
- Golden handcuffs
Should I take a retention bonus? A four-question checklist
6 min read · Published 2026-08-11
- Hate-my-job
Should I quit my job without a backup? Six variants, three hold up
7 min read · Published 2026-08-05
- Golden handcuffs
What happens to RSUs when you quit: three states, one tax event
5 min read · Published 2026-08-05
- Golden handcuffs
Lifestyle creep: what it is, examples, and the one-rule defense
6 min read · Published 2026-08-04
- Golden handcuffs
How companies use golden handcuffs for employee retention
7 min read · Published 2026-07-29
- Career trap
Career change from nursing: six exits that reuse the RN license
6 min read · Published 2026-07-14
- Golden handcuffs
How to Take a Sabbatical From Work (Without Losing Your Job)
5 min read · Published 2026-07-13
- Hate-my-job
Why do I hate my job after a year? What actually falls off
4 min read · Published 2026-07-13
- Career trap
Career change for teachers: six landing paths and the real pay math
6 min read · Published 2026-07-09
- Career trap
Holland Codes explained: the RIASEC types and your three-letter code
7 min read · Published 2026-07-06
- Hate-my-job
How to leave a job you hate gracefully: the four-stage exit
6 min read · Published 2026-06-25
- Golden handcuffs
Golden handcuffs after acquisition: what changes at month six
7 min read · Published 2026-06-23
- Hate-my-job
Should I quit or stick it out? Three questions to ask first
6 min read · Published 2026-06-22
- Career trap
Career change without going back to school: the four working paths at 40
7 min read · Published 2026-06-18
- Golden handcuffs
How to Leave a Job Without Losing Your Bonus
5 min read · Published 2026-06-17
- Hate-my-job
Signs You Should Quit Your Job: 4 That Survive a Vacation
7 min read · Published 2026-06-15
- Career trap
Second career ideas over 50: the realistic list (and what it pays in 2026)
6 min read · Published 2026-06-12
- Golden handcuffs
How to get out of a non-compete: four routes
6 min read · Published 2026-06-08
- Golden handcuffs
How to negotiate a buy-out from golden handcuffs
6 min read · Published 2026-06-05
- Golden handcuffs
RSU vs stock options: which cuff binds harder?
5 min read · Published 2026-06-05
- Career trap
Career pivot runway: the 18-month math (a worked example)
5 min read · Published 2026-06-04
- Golden handcuffs
Golden Handcuffs vs Golden Parachute: The Structural Difference
5 min read · Published 2026-05-27
- Career trap
How much money to quit your job: the three-tier runway math
6 min read · Published 2026-05-26
- Hate-my-job
I Hate My Job But It Pays Well: The Honest Math
6 min read · Published 2026-05-26
- Golden handcuffs
Golden handcuffs examples: 3 real-numbers walkthroughs
5 min read · Published 2026-05-22
- Golden handcuffs
Wait-and-Vest playbook: how to leave a job with stock options
10 min read · Published 2026-05-19
- Career trap
What should I do with my life? A 4-question diagnostic
10 min read · Published 2026-05-18
- Hate-my-job
I hate my job: what's actually going on (and what to do)
14 min read · Published 2026-05-15
- Golden handcuffs
Golden handcuffs: how to recognize the trap
14 min read · Published 2026-05-14
- Career trap
Career change at 40: the runway-fear math (a FAANG operator's playbook)
8 min read · Published 2026-05-10