Moving for Taxes is Foolish

Shaan Puri believes that opting into powerful networks—especially early in your career—is almost always worth more than incremental dollars. He learned this principle from James Currier, a Silicon Valley veteran who emphasizes that networks compound over time and create exponentially more value than short-term financial gains.

Key Points:

• Networks Have Varying Power:

  • Some networks (Harvard alumni, San Francisco tech scene) are extremely powerful
  • Others are relatively weak and provide limited opportunities
  • The strength of a network directly impacts the opportunities available to you

• Geographic Location Matters:

  • Moving to San Francisco means joining the San Francisco network
  • The higher rent ($2,000+ more) is worth it because the network value far exceeds the cost
  • Moving away just for taxes is foolish: You save 10% but lose out on 10x more money you would have made staying in the white-hot center of tech and AI

• Network Value Compounds Over Time:

  • Earlier in your career, you have more time for network value to compound
  • If you're good, you should be in good networks (if you're bad, you won't get value from them anyway)
  • The actual connections and nodes in a network lead to more opportunities

• Common Mistakes People Make:

  • Choosing incremental dollars over network access
  • Not recognizing the long-term compounding value of being in the right place
  • Staying in weaker networks because of comfort or lower costs

• College and Career Decisions:

  • Where you go to college = joining that alumni network
  • Taking a job isn't just about the role—it's about the network you're joining
  • You can win anywhere, but being in strong networks increases your probability of success

• Personal Example:

  • Shaan recognized he made this mistake early on
  • Talking with James Currier helped him understand how valuable networks truly are
  • He committed to San Francisco by changing his phone number, telling people he was moving, and buying a one-way ticket

• The Seriousness Factor:

  • Most people are not serious about their goals
  • Being in the right place signals and reinforces your commitment
  • The best founders don't stay in weaker startup ecosystems—they move to where the action is