John P. Barringer
Market volatility and stock-price declines rattle even the most experienced holders of stock compensation (and their financial advisors). Sooner or later, volatility or downturns may force you to make decisions that affect your financial future and long-term wealth. This article presents topics that I find myself discussing over and over again with my best clients.
Daniel Zajac, CFP®
If you own restricted stock units (RSUs), you need to plan for what you will do when the shares vest. Whether you hold or sell, being prepared will help you be proactive instead of reactive and make the most of the opportunity RSU grants provide.
myStockOptions Editorial Team
For reasons beyond your control, you may find yourself in a position where you suddenly need to sell stock for cash to meet urgent living expenses. When selling stock you must always proceed with caution. Review this checklist of topics to understand on tax, company, brokerage firm, and SEC rules.
Geoffrey M. Zimmerman
Podcast included! Planning for equity compensation begins with identifying the role stock grants will play in your life, whether for retirement, college funding, or other goals. This article offers points to consider for three different types of investors.
Meg Bartelt, CFP®
When markets are on a wild ride, stock volatility can rattle anyone's financial plan for equity comp and company shares. What should you do with shares acquired from equity awards now? Should you change your strategy or ride it out? This article provides a financial planner's insights.
Alan B. Ungar
Podcast included! While in 2018 the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act superseded many prior tax provisions, other tax provisions introduced in previous legislation (such as the Affordable Care Act, i.e. Obamacare) remain in place. Income thresholds for the tax brackets trigger higher tax rates, so it is wise to monitor the tax impact of income-generating events stemming from stock compensation. This article suggests strategies for minimizing their impact.
Justin Goldstein, AIF®
Emotions can have a powerful impact on financial decisionmaking. The study of behavioral finance, i.e. how people make decisions about investments and other financial matters, can help you to develop a sensible approach to stock compensation and holdings of company stock.
Paul Palazzo, CFP®
Podcast included! Stock options can be very lucrative if handled properly, but there are situations in which people can easily make mistakes. In this article I discuss the most common mistakes I see.
The myStockOptions Editorial Team
Podcast included! The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act has provisions that affect stock compensation, whether in financial planning or in stock plan administration. This article details six with an impact on the taxation of stock compensation or holdings of company shares.
Bruce Brumberg
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) are changing in many ways, largely in response to accounting rules. For Part 2, myStockOptions.com asked financial and wealth advisors what they are recommending to clients about ESPP participation.
John P. Barringer, CFP®
Many companies have turned away from stock options and begun to make outright stock grants that must vest before the shares can be issued. For employees, these grants have added a new layer of complexity to their equity compensation. This article presents six questions I get all the time from clients who have received restricted stock, restricted stock units, or performance shares.
Richard Friedman
Podcast included! Understand financial planning for restricted stock and RSUs. Part 1 discusses the growing popularity of these grants, their special features, and the related tax planning.
Sue Stevens
Could the Roth IRA be your greatest opportunity for accumulating tax-free growth? Well, as with most strategic-planning issues, it all depends. Part 1 of this two-part article series looks at the rules and factors to consider in a Roth IRA conversion.
Bruce Brumberg
Whether you are a novice or advanced investor, it can be hard to decide what to do with your company's stock grants. Should you exercise options now or wait? Should you hold company stock at vesting or sell it and reinvest? Behavioral economics and investor psychology offer insights that can help you develop a personally acceptable approach.
William Baldwin
Podcast included! Rather than a guarantee, today's benefit plans offer only an
opportunity to attain financial security. The planning decisions you make with equity awards are crucial.
William Baldwin
Podcast included! Stock options are a major element of your long-term incentive compensation, offering tremendous potential to accumulate personal wealth. Given your stock options' complexity, it’s essential to develop a strategy to realize their full potential.
John P. Barringer, CFP®
My clients want to exercise options shortly after they vest for a significant purchase, like a fancy boat or a sports car. The most expensive boat or car I can imagine is the one bought with your just-vested options. Tips I tell clients include not exercising too soon or waiting too long.
John P. Barringer, CFP®
I see too many smart people who have substantial gains in their stock options do dumb things, as I explained in my first article. Here are more of the rules I try to teach my clients, which can act as a guide for you, too.
Strategies
Tax errors can be costly! Don't draw unwanted attention from the IRS. Our Tax Center explains and illustrates the tax rules for sales of company stock, W-2s, withholding, estimated taxes, AMT, and more.
Want to learn more about financial planning for equity compensation? Visit our podcasts page for interviews with some of our expert contributing authors.
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