Expectation management

Abstract We consider the application of a Fleischer–Jegerlehner-like treatment of tadpoles to the calculation of neutral scalar masses (including the Higgs) in general theories beyond the Standard Model. This is especially useful when the theory contains new scalars associated with a small expectation value, but comes with its own disadvantages. We show that these can be overcome by combining with effective field theory matching. We provide the formalism in this modified approach for matching the quartic coupling of the Higgs via pole masses at one loop, and apply it to both a toy model and to the $$\mu $$ μ NMSSM as prototypes where the standard treatment can break down.