help with optimizing 4x game empire management in the late game

idk ive been playing a lot of stellaris lately and im having trouble keeping my empire from falling apart in the late game. im talking like 2000 stars and beyond rn. i feel like i've got a good grasp on the early and mid game but once i start getting into the whole federation and crises thing its like my whole economy just starts to implode. dont get me wrong i love the challenge but its getting frustrating. has anyone else had this issue and if so how did you deal with it. i've tried focusing on specific admin techs and attempting to specialize my planets but it feels like no matter what i do im just playing whack a mole withmy budget. i've also experimented with different government types and policies but it seems like every time i think ive found a solution something unexpected pops up and sets me back. imo i think the key might be finding a way to effectively utilize the trade system but i cnt seem to wrap my head around it. does anyone have any advice or strategies for dealing with this stuff