How Do RSU Work: The Beginner’s Guide (Start Here)
Hands down, I find myself answering more questions about RSU (restricted stock units) than any other type of stock option. And it’s understandable: The way RSU work (not only with company vesting schedules but also with tax laws) is by far one of the most confusing financial concepts for startup or tech employees. But don’t […]
Double Trigger RSU Tax: 5 Ways to Avoid a Scary Tax Bill
First of all, if you’ve got a double trigger RSU that are about to settle. Congratulations! You’re about to come into a lot of money. Just be tax aware and avoid being caught unprepared by a scary tax bill. (And also, good on you for reading this article & being smart enough to figure out […]
ISO to NSO Conversion: Should You Convert Your Stock Options?
Ahh, the golden handcuffs. Those lovely things that keep you chained to your current job until the IPO. They’re not so bad if your company is going to IPO in a year or two, but with more and more companies delaying their IPO, it puts startup and private company employees in a pickle. Here’s why: […]
Selling Stock to Buy a House in 2024: Seven Steps
Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions of your life. ???? No matter where you live. Selling stock is a great strategy to buy a house with today’s high interest rates. But, it’s outright daunting. The basic numbers alone make it feel impossible: In San Francisco, the median home value in 2024 is […]
RSU Strategies for Tech Professionals with Landon Loveall
When you’re negotiating your compensation package, it’s easy to focus on the salary and maybe even the number of stock options you’re being offered. But how often do you consider the vesting schedule and how your equity accumulates over time? This is something I didn’t fully appreciate during my early career. Looking back at my […]
Cost Basis and RSU: THE Easy-to-Understand Tech Employee’s Guide
When you’ve got stock in a company, it’s normally a really, really good thing. Especially RSUs (or restricted stock units). They’re stock you get just by working in a company…. Ones you don’t even have to pay for. And any time those RSU shares “vest”—meaning the company hands ownership of them over to you—you become […]
How to choose the right ISO exercise strategy for you
Understand your 5 strategic options and select the best one for your financial plan. Incentive stock options (ISOs) are one of several types of equity compensation you may receive as a tech employee. Intended to retain key talent, incentive stock options give employees of a given company the right to buy company shares at a […]
Private company tender offer: What to do when your company announces one
Learn what employee tender offers are, whether you should sell, and how to handle the taxes. While the post-2021 IPO slump didn’t last forever, its ripple effects are present even today. The halt in IPOs led to an increase in valuable, private tech companies flushed with cash and interest from investors. Though the trend of […]
How to Avoid the IRS Tax Trap on Stock Options
You could be overpaying your stock options tax without knowing it — even if you have a tax preparer. Here’s how to dodge this costly tax trap. Exercising your employee stock options is a good thing. After all, it usually means you’re becoming wealthier and smarter about your long-term finances. But, like it or not, […]