Incentive stock options are a type of equity compensation you may receive as part of your overall compensation package. Incentive stock options, or ISOs, allow you to buy company stock at a fixed price for a set period of time, regardless of the current fair market value of the stock. In the best circumstances, incentive stock options can be a tool to generate significant wealth if…
I’m Daniel Zajac, CFP®
I write about employee stock options and equity compensation in a way that is easy to understand.
What to Expect When Your Company IPOs and How to Prepare for a Liquidity Event
Being part of an initial public offering, or IPO, is an exciting time. This is when a private company goes through the process of getting listed on a publicly-traded exchange. Where shareholders may have previously only been able to buy or sell the company’s equity in private deals (if allowed by the company), an IPO allows for company stock to be bought, sold, or traded…
What Are the Key Differences Between Restricted Stock Units and Employee Stock Options?
Restricted stock units and employee stock options are commonly-awarded types of equity compensation that you may receive as part of your overall pay from your employer. While both restricted stock units and stock options are forms of equity, they each have particular features and are treated very differently from a tax perspective. Restricted stock units or awards (RSUs) typically…
6 Advanced Planning Ideas to Use When Your Restricted Stock Units Vest
Restricted stock is often considered the simplest type of equity compensation to understand. And relative to other types of equity you could receive, this might be true. But that doesn’t mean managing restricted stock is easy. Restricted stock gets complicated thanks to factors such as double triggers, tax withholding (or lack thereof), and sell-to-cover or…
How to Prepare for the Impact of Restricted Stock Units on Your Cash Flow, Tax Bill, and Investment Portfolio
Restricted stock units are often considered the most straightforward type of equity compensation. Unlike other ways that employees can receive shares of company stock, restricted stock units (or RSUs) often have a largely automated process for granting, vesting, and taxation. Once vested and settled, the fair market value of the RSUs is taxed and the…
What You Need to Know about Double-Trigger Restricted Stock Units
If you work for a private company and receive restricted stock units as part of your compensation package, that equity compensation may have a double-trigger provision. While not all restricted stock units, or RSUs, come with this feature, it’s an important element to understand. What Are Double-Trigger RSUs? Double-trigger restricted stock units are those that…
What to Do When Your Equity Compensation Is Granted and Vested
If you are on the receiving end of an equity compensation award, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of new information, jargon, and rules coming your way. You might also feel uncertain about how new.
What Is Cost Basis and Why Is It Important for Equity Compensation?
If you have equity compensation, you may wonder how the value of the shares you hold may influence your tax bill — or how vesting, exercising, and selling your shares may impact the value of your award..
How Are Your Equity Compensation Stock Benefits Impacted by the Company’s Stock Performance?
Equity compensation and employee stock benefits can be a great tool for employers to attract and retain key talent. These benefits can be equally attractive for employees, because they fast-track your ability to grow wealth if the company’s stock price rises when you can hold and sell shares. But that’s a big “if.” Stock prices…
When to Exercise and Sell Your Employee Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units
If you have equity compensation as part of your benefits package, you’ve likely spent time considering when it might be best to take action and maximize the value of these potential assets. Deciding the.
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NEW! The Ultimate Guide to Equity Compensation
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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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Get the Ultimate Guide to Incentive Stock Options to better understand your equity compensation.