I wasn't expecting having to mint a lot, so I took bureacracy as a first Idea. It has served me well, as tax is about 50-70% of my income. In hindsight, I should have taken national bank though. I'm supporting around 15 colonies at this point. ca. 40 oversees provinces. I'm not sure how that happened, I got carried away.
My situation will improve as soon as Italy and Austria core, and I'm currently way over my naval support limit despite never having built a boat. That situation should improve as well, I was thinking of taking Press Gangs next.
Trading is the issue. I have five in both Andalusia and Venice, but these net me perhaps 10% of my total income. Further trading is limited by my slider sitting at 0, and an uncomfortably high BB, coming down from 20 at -1.4/y.
I was getting 5-yearly DoW's from Portugal, dragging in England, Austria, Switzerland and Aquileia, I got tired of the situation and annexed the latter for 9BB, and took Chur for another 3, so I can vassalize the Swiss if they ever trouble me again. Was thinking of waiting for a succession crisis in Portugal, but they are getting annoying, so I might take action there.
One of the disadvantages of having taken apart European powers to the extend that I have is that I get into a lot of wars to protect my vassals. Portugal et all hit me when I was already facing down Burgundy, the Hansa and Bohemia, so WE is also rather high. I'll have to spend a few years rebel-whacking before I can get any meaningful growth done.