The decision to exercise your employee stock options can be a difficult one, regardless of whether you have incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options. You have to consider potential tax implications, whether or not you have the necessary cash flow to...
I’m Daniel Zajac, CFP®
I write about employee stock options and equity compensation in a way that is easy to understand.
The Basics of Restricted Stock Units – And What You Should Know
Restricted stock units, or RSUs, are often used as part of a compensation package for a key employee. Employers may offer restricted stock units in place of providing cash directly through a pay bump or raise. If you have restricted stock units, you have a right to...
Exploring the Details of A Cash Exercise of Employee Stock Options
When it’s time to exercise your employee stock options, you generally have one of two options to consider: you can do either a cash exercise or a cashless exercise. The right choice for your situation will depend on a number of factors specific to your finances, your...
The Math Behind a Cashless Exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Options
When the time comes to exercise your non-qualified stock options, you may find yourself asking about the process, the cost, and how it actually happens. This may lead you to ask whether to do a cash exercise or a cashless exercise. Many people default to a cashless...
Comparing the Solo(k) and SEP-IRA for the Self-Employed
For those who are self-employed, the question of how to save for retirement is a frequent one. Fortunately, the answer may not be that that difficult at all. In fact, being self employed may mean that you have more retirement planning opportunities than you otherwise...
The Basics of How Non-Qualified Stock Options are Taxed
The income tax rules for an exercise of non-qualified stock options are relatively straightforward. You generally do not owe taxes when you are granted non-qualified stock options. You don’t owe when your non-qualified stock options vest, either. This no-tax timeframe...
How to Sell Incentive Stock Options to Accelerate Alternative Minimum Tax Credits
If you have incentive stock options, you may be familiar with the alternative minimum tax (AMT), and potentially the alternative minimum tax credit. The alternative minimum tax is a complicating factor that may rear its head in a year that you exercise and hold...
What You Should Know about Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP)
An employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP, is an employee benefit that allows employees to purchase company stock via payroll deductions. If you have an ESPP, you can often purchase shares at a discounted price to the fair market value. Some companies offer a discount...
What Is Net Unrealized Appreciation?
If you own company stock inside your 401(k) plan, you may want to know about net unrealized appreciation. Net unrealized appreciation, or NUA, is a financial planning technique that may allow you to obtain preferential tax treatment on a portion of your 401(k) assets....
Why Your Employee Stock Purchase Plan May Be a Great Deal
Many employers offer an employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP, to allow employees to purchase company stock with ease. As an incentive to participate, many ESPPs allow you to purchase stock at a discount from the current market price. ESPP’s may also allow for a...
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Hi, I'm Daniel Zajac, CFP®, EA
I write about equity compensation and employee stock options in a way that is easy to understand.
NEW! The Ultimate Guide to Equity Compensation
Understand what you have, what you should consider, and what ultimately matters to you.
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