ISOs NQSOs Stock options Tax planning Updated for 2021

How Are Stock Options Taxed?

How are stock options taxed? If you have stock options or equity-based compensation as a large part of your income, the tax treatment of your stock options is especially important. How stock options are taxed depends on the type of options you have (incentive or non-qualified) and your sale and…

Kristin McKennaJune 24, 2020

ISOs Job Transition NQSOs Stock options

What Happens To Stock Options If You Are Laid Off?

Losing your job is stressful. If you've been laid off, you may be wondering what will happen to your stock options or restricted stock units. It will depend on some specific details about your company, grant agreement, and the type of stock options or awards you have. Here's what you…

Kristin McKennaApril 22, 2020

Diversification Employee benefits Investing Investing During a Crisis ISOs Managing Risk NQSOs Restricted Stock Awards RSUs SARs Stock options

Don’t Get Taken Down When Your Employer’s Stock Sinks

What can happen if you own too much of your company's stock? The coronavirus outbreak is yet another example of the dangers of having too much company stock. Some C-level executives are required to hold a certain amount, but many employees voluntarily double-down by either holding vested stock or buying…

Kristin McKennaMarch 24, 2020

Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs Restricted Stock Awards RSUs Stock options

Should You Sell Stock Options After The IPO Lockup Period?

What's your IPO lockup expiration strategy? Working for a company as it goes public can be a very exciting and rewarding experience. If you have company stock, an IPO means there will soon be a public market for your shares. IPOs make it much easier to sell stock options after…

Kristin McKennaAugust 6, 2019

Employee benefits ISOs NQSOs RSUs SARs Stock options

What Happens to Stock Options if I Leave the Company?

It's common for employees to move around, especially in tech and biotech. Before signing a new offer letter, make sure to understand what could happen to your stock options, restricted stock units, or other forms of equity-based compensation if you leave the company. Also, remember that each company has their…

Kristin McKennaMay 29, 2018

Employee benefits Financial Planning Investing ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

Employee Stock Options Explained

Stock options or awards can be quite complex. The goal of Employee Stock Options Explained is to provide employees with a complete primer to their stock options. Simple explanations so you have the tools to begin to manage your stock options. Employer stock may be a significant part of your…

Kristin McKennaSeptember 12, 2017

Diversification IPO ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

What Happens to Stock Options After a Company Goes Public?

Whether you work for a company that is pre-IPO or has recently gone public, you may wonder what that means for your stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs). The truth is, there are many different things that can happen to your stock options after an IPO. Here's a summary…

Kristin McKennaAugust 8, 2017

Infographics ISOs NQSOs Stock options

Incentive Stock Options vs Non-Qualified Stock Options

What's the difference between ISOs and NSOs? Although there are some key differences to be aware of, non-qualified and incentive stock options also have a lot in common. For employees, stock options can offer both risk and reward. Unlike restricted stock units, which are given or "awarded" to employees, incentive…

Kristin McKennaApril 1, 2017

Asset Management Employee benefits Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

How Much Money Should I Have in Employer Stock?

It is not uncommon for employees with stock options or equity based compensation to hold too much employer stock. Employees don't often realize how much of their financial future is tied to their employer. Other times, individuals simply ignore the risks or just have no idea how concentrated they are.…

Kristin McKennaOctober 26, 2016

Asset Management Employee benefits Financial Planning ISOs NQSOs RSUs Stock options

Are You Holding Employer Stock in Your Retirement Plan?

Investing your 401(k) in company stock can be quite risky. Although companies are scaling back on the practice, there are still many big U.S. firms that allow participants to buy employer stock in their retirement plan or that make matching contributions in the form of company stock. Employees unaware of…

Kristin McKennaOctober 5, 2016