Global Tax Guide
Top 10 questions to ask about a grant of restricted stock/RSUs
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This issue of our quarterly newsletter showcases some of our award-winning content on restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares. Although our trusted brand name is myStockOptions, we could just as easily be myRestrictedStock, given our extensive and engaging articles, FAQs, videos, podcasts, and quizzes on restricted stock/RSUs and the related financial planning.
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What are the top 10 questions I should ask about my grant of restricted stock or RSUs?
You should know the answers to the questions in the checklist below. Understanding the topics involved and the key stock plan documents will help you make the most of your restricted stock/RSU grant and prevent costly mistakes.
1. Do I have a grant of restricted stock or a grant of restricted stock units? What are the key differences?
2. Is formal acceptance of the grant required? What happens if I don't accept the grant before vesting?
3. What is the vesting schedule?
4. Is vesting based on duration of employment from the grant date or on performance goals?
5. What would happen to the vesting of my grant if I were to leave or lose my job, die, become disabled, retire, or become retirement-eligible? What about a leave of absence or furlough?
6. When the shares vest, what account will they appear in?
7. Does the company offer a choice for the tax withholding, or does it hold back shares to pay the taxes?
8. With RSUs, can I defer the delivery of the shares at vesting?
9. If my company pays dividends to shareholders, will I get dividends on my restricted stock? If so, when? What if I have a grant of RSUs instead?
10. What would happen to my restricted stock in a corporate acquisition or merger?
Got another minute? In just 60 seconds, the myStockOptions editor-in-chief runs through the top 5 things to know about your restricted stock or RSUs:
In addition, you should understand the tax treatment, the reporting on your Form W-2 (whether for restricted stock or RSUs), and the related tax return reporting. This website's Tax Center covers all tax topics involving stock compensation. For key financial-planning points to know about your restricted stock or RSUs, see a related article.
For grants of restricted stock or RSUs in a private company, see a related checklist of points to know.
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Can restricted stock, RSUs, and performance shares go underwater?
Not in the way stock options can.
Restricted Stock And RSUs
Restricted stock is worth the full market value of the stock when it vests or, with restricted stock units (RSUs), when shares are delivered. It does not matter if the stock price has dropped since the grant date. However, the value of the grant goes down (or up) by the same percentage that your company's stock price does.
Example: You receive a grant of restricted stock/RSUs when the market price is $25 per share.
- The stock price drops 20%, to $20.
- The value of the stock you receive is thus $20 per share.
- At $20 per share, stock options granted at $25 would be $5 underwater.
- If the stock price increases to $30 at vesting/delivery, your stock is worth $30 per share.
The grant may lose value if the stock price drops, but the value cannot fall to $0 unless the stock price does. Restricted stock always has value and usually in a public company does not require purchase (no exercise price as with stock options). This is a key reason why companies grant fewer shares of restricted stock or RSUs than options, as another FAQ discusses. In companies that grant early-exercise stock options, the price you paid to exercise the option to get restricted stock may be higher than the stock's value later; however, that is not considered underwater.
At vesting (or at grant if you make a Section 83(b) election), you pay taxes on the value of the shares you receive. When you sell them, you will have a capital loss for any drop in value after vesting.
Down markets can also impact the size or value of your grants, depending on the grant guidelines your company uses (see a related FAQ). Thus the grant can go "underwater" in the sense that if your company intended the grant to give you $X amount in value at vesting (e.g. $50,000) and the stock price drops after grant and stays lower, you then receive less than expected at vesting.
Performance Grants
With performance-vesting restricted stock or performance shares, a decrease in your company's stock price or financial condition could, depending on the goal or metric used for payout or vesting, result in no shares. In this situation, very few companies make any adjustment in the goals or provide the discretion to still allow a payout. While this is how these plans are supposed to work, some companies decide that the design and metrics need tweaking in future grants.
For more on this topic, see the full FAQ.
Restricted Stock & RSU Financial Planning: Advanced Bootcamp
- June 29, 2pm–3:40pm ET, 11am–12:40pm PT
- 2.0 CE credits for CFP, CPWA/CIMA, CEP, and EA
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (RSUs) are the most common type of employee equity compensation. As part of our advanced series building on our flagship webinar Stock Compensation Bootcamp For Financial Advisors, this webinar focuses on financial and tax planning for restricted stock/RSUs to effectively build wealth and prevent expensive mistakes. Volatile stock markets make the need for effective guidance even more important, as the webinar will cover. In 100 minutes, it features insights from a panel of three leading financial advisors, including real-world case studies, to provide practical info, guidance, and expertise for restricted stock/RSUs in both public and private companies.
For details of the webinar agenda and panelists, see the webinar registration page.
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Stock Option Exercise Strategies: Advanced Bootcamp. It is crucial to have a plan for stock option exercises. This webinar features compelling strategies from a panel of three experts in financial and tax planning for option exercises.
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Stock Comp Financial Planning For Private Company Employees: From Startup To IPO Or Acquisition. Equity comp in private companies is different. Learn the related financial and tax planning with three leading financial advisors, including real-world case studies.
Restricted Stock & RSU Financial Planning: Advanced Bootcamp. Insights from a panel of three leading financial advisors, including case studies, to provide practical expertise for restricted stock/RSUs in public and private companies.
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Getting an RSU grant is a reason to celebrate. But now comes the tricky part: financial and tax planning. In fact, planning with restricted stock and RSUs can be deceptively complex for a type of equity award that is supposed to be foolproof. Plus, you have the taxes to understand. Key questions to include on your planning checklist:
- What documents have the important grant details?
- How will withholding be handled at vesting?
- Should you hold or sell the shares?
- If you sell, how many shares should you sell, and what should you do with the proceeds?
An article at myStockOptions present three key planning topics recommended by financial advisors (all CFP® professionals) who have extensive experience in working for clients with restricted stock, RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs: So Your Company Granted You RSUs. Now What? 3 Planning Tips From Top Financial Advisors. For more on these planning topics with RSUs in particular, see articles at myStockOptions.com written by two of these advisors:
- Financial Planning With Restricted Stock Units: 3 Key Questions
- Sell Or Hold RSU Shares At Vesting? 3 Approaches To Consider
Multimedia Resources On Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), And Performance Shares At myStockOptionsBelow we list articles, videos, podcasts, and interactive quizzes about restricted stock, RSUs, and performance share in the award-winning multimedia content of myStockOptions.com.
The extensive section on restricted stock and RSUs at myStockOptions.com is complemented by a self-study course and exam for CFP, CPWA/CIMA, and CEP continuing-education credits.
All of the content and tools of myStockOptions are available by individual Premium Membership (bulk memberships at discounted rates available), by individual Pro Membership for financial advisors, or by corporate licensing.
ARTICLES
Ten Financial-Planning Rules You Should Know About Restricted Stock And RSUs by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
While grants of restricted stock and RSUs are conceptually simple, financial planning for them can be complex. This article presents the essential financial-planning points that you should consider before your restricted stock or RSU grant vests.
Restricted Stock Units Made Simple (Part 1): Understanding The Core Concepts by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Restricted stock units (RSUs) have become the most popular alternative to stock options. While RSUs share many of the same issues as restricted stock, there are differences, and it is important to understand the basics of RSUs in their own right.
Restricted Stock Units Made Simple (Part 2): Taxation by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
The taxation of RSUs generally resembles that of restricted stock but carries some important differences, as this article explains.
Restricted Stock 101: Five Essentials Of Restricted Stock & RSUs by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
While restricted stock and RSUs are relatively straightforward, they have technical aspects you must understand to make the most of them. Learn the essential facts of restricted stock and RSUs, including basic concepts, vesting schedules, and tax treatment.
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Securities: How To Tell Them Apart And Avoid Confusion by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), and restricted securities are often confused by employees, companies, and financial advisors alike. That can be problematic. Those three things are not the same—and understanding which you have matters, as a lawsuit by current and former Uber employees demonstrates. This article explains the differences..
The Great Benefits Of Restricted Stock And RSUs by Richard FriedmanPodcast included! Your company may no longer be using stock options. Instead, it may be granting restricted stock, restricted stock units, or performance shares. While these grants don't carry the same upside as stock options, they have benefits you will surely appreciate once you understand their special features.
So Your Company Granted You RSUs. Now What? 3 Planning Tips From Top Financial Advisors by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
This article present three key planning topics recommended by financial advisors (all CFP® professionals) who have extensive experience in working for clients with restricted stock, RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs.
Sell Or Hold RSU Shares At Vesting? 3 Approaches To Consider by Meg Bartelt, CFP®
When your restricted stock units (RSUs) vest, you have a lot of wealth tied up in one stock. How many of your RSU shares should you sell? How many should you hold? This article presents ways to approach your best answer to those key financial-planning questions.
Financial Planning With Restricted Stock Units: 3 Key Questions by 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.
What To Do With Your Just-Vested Shares After Your Company's Stock Price Drops by 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.
Stock Options & RSUs: 5 Costly Mistakes To Avoid by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Stock compensation is complex: make no mistake about it. However, that's easier said than done. It's actually all too easy to make costly mistakes with grants of stock options or restricted stock/RSUs and the related taxation. This article recaps two myStockOptions "advanced bootcamp" webinars in which leading experts in stock options and RSUs discussed equity comp blunders to avoid.
Stock Options & RSUs From Startup To IPO Or M&A: Top Financial Advisors Cover 5 Key Topics by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Stock comp in private companies can be a financial rocket, but with rocketry comes rocket science. It's surprisingly complex. This article presents key points from financial advisors with expertise in financial and tax planning for equity comp in private companies.
How Amazon, Apple, Google Adapted Their RSU Grants To Help Retain Top Talent by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Hiring competition, the Great Resignation, and market volatility are prompting changes in longstanding stock comp practices for key performers at big, established tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Google.
Restricted Stock: Tax, Financial, Estate, And Retirement Planning (Parts 1 and 2) by Richard FriedmanPodcast 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. Part 2 covers complex issues in financial, estate, and retirement planning.
Stockbrokers' Secrets: Restricted Stock And Performance Shares by John Barringer
For many employees, receiving restricted stock, restricted stock units, or performance shares adds a new layer of complexity to their equity compensation. This article presents six common questions the author hears from his clients.
Performance Shares (Parts 1, 2, and 3) by Bruce Brumberg
Part 1 explains the basics of performance share grants. Part 2 explores their structure in depth, along with the concept of expiration and the impact of job termination. Part 3 explains the taxation of performance share grants and then goes on to discuss the special tax considerations that arise in corporate mergers and acquisitions.
From Apple To Uber: 5 Key Features Of Performance Share Grants by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
At most public companies, whether established or just going public, when you reach the executive ranks you are now more likely to receive grants of performance shares than the more famous stock options. Examples of equity grant approaches at Apple and Uber help to illustrate five key facts about these awards.
Decisions At Grant With Restricted Stock (Parts 1, 2, and 3) by Tom Davison
Part 1 presents what you need to know at grant and the decisions you can make. Part 2 discusses the risks of the Section 83(b) election. Part 3 explains ways to analyze your alternatives.
Decisions At Vesting With Restricted Stock (Parts 1 and 2) by Tom Davison
Vesting is another crucial time for making decisions about your restricted stock. Part 1 explores what tax-withholding method to use, whether you should hold or sell the stock, and what account to keep the shares or cash in after vesting. Part 2 looks at key vesting decisions.
Restricted Stock Versus Stock Options: Making A Rational Choice (Part 1) by Alan B. Ungar
In a growing trend, your company may let you choose between stock options and restricted stock. Which is better for you? Learn techniques to analyze your financial situation and goals so that you can make the right choice.
Restricted Stock & RSUs: 10 Mistakes To Avoid On Your Tax Return by the myStockOptions Tax Team
Restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares bring their own very special issues to tax returns. The potential for mistakes has been increased by recent IRS changes in reporting rules. This article presents tips for sidestepping tricky common pitfalls that can even fool professional tax-return preparers.
7 Year-End Strategies For Restricted Stock, RSUs, And Performance Shares by Bruce Brumberg
As part of year-end tax planning, review holdings in restricted stock, RSUs, and performance shares for strategic moves. This article has some ideas.
Restricted Stock Units After An Acquisition: Know What Could Happen by Kristin McFarland
When a company is merging or being acquired, many employees are left wondering what will happen to their unvested RSUs. While the outcomes for holders of unvested RSUs and current equity holders will depend on the terms of the M&A deal, if your company is being acquired there are a few things you should know about your restricted stock units and what may happen.
How To Defer Taxes On Restricted Stock Units by the myStockOptions Editorial Team
Grants of restricted stock units (RSUs) can be structured to include a feature that lets you elect to defer the delivery of the shares at vesting and therefore also the taxes on the income recognized. This article explains how deferral features work in RSU plans and what you need to know before you elect to defer.
VIDEOS
Restricted Stock & RSUs (Part 1): Key Aspects To Know
Editor-in-Chief Bruce Brumberg presents the fundamentals of restricted stock and RSUs to help stock plan participants make the most of these grants. The coverage includes key concepts, such as vesting schedules and understanding a grant's value. Running time: 4:37.
Restricted Stock & RSUs (Part 2): Taxes And Related Key Decisions
An engaging primer on the basic tax treatment of restricted stock and RSUs, including the tax rates, the timing of taxation, and withholding. Running time: 3:57
5 Things You Need To Know: One-Minute Videos On Restricted Stock, RSUs, And Performance Shares
Video included! When and how is a grant of restricted stock or RSUs taxed?
PODCASTS
Basics Of Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units
Running time: 8:05. In this audio interview, the editor-in-chief of myStockOptions.com explains how restricted stock and RSUs work, including grant, vesting, sale, and taxation.
Why Restricted Stock And RSUs Are A Good Deal
Running time: 11:37. Compensation expert Richard Friedman explains what makes restricted stock and restricted stock units valuable equity awards. This interview is a companion to Mr. Friedman's article on this topic in the Restricted Stock section of myStockOptions.com, where he also has articles on financial and tax planning for restricted stock and RSUs.
Restricted Stock Units After An Acquisition: Know What Could Happen
Running time: 13:36. When a company is merging or being acquired, its employees wonder what will happen to their unvested RSUs. In this interview, wealth advisor Kristin McFarland explains the potential outcomes for holders of unvested RSUs and current equity holders in an M&A deal. This interview is a companion to her article on this topic.
INTERACTIVE COURSES/EXAMS/QUIZZES
Learning Center: Course on Restricted Stock, RSUs, and Performance Shares for CE Credit
This course and exam, offering continuing education credits for CFPs, CEPs, CWPAs, CIMAs and other professional designations, weaves all of our key articles, FAQs, podcasts, and videos on restricted stock, RSUs, and performance shares into a dynamic, interactive learning tool.
You can also test your smarts with our free interactive quizzes on restricted stock and restricted stock units. In addition to being fun, the quiz is also a course of study. The answer key links to content on the topic for followup reading.
AdvisorFind Directory
Find a financial, tax, or legal advisor with experience in stock compensation
Stock compensation raises many questions.
- How much should you contribute to your ESPP?
- When should you exercise stock options?
- Should you sell or hold restricted stock at vesting?
- How can you diversify your company stock holdings?
- How can you minimize your tax bill?
- How do you negotiate for stock compensation in your employment agreement?
While myStockOptions.com is a good place to learn about concepts, issues, and general strategies in equity compensation, at some point you may need an advisor to help with your unique situation. Yet finding a good advisor can be hard when you are busy and don't know where to start. The AdvisorFind Directory from myStockOptions.com is for you.
- Identify and contact an expert who can provide specialized professional guidance on equity compensation.
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Searching AdvisorFind is free and does not require registration at myStockOptions.com.
As part of its full suite of tools for financial and tax planning with equity compensation, myStockOptions has a special stock compensation portfolio tracker, calculator, and modeling tool for restricted stock and RSUs.
myRecords
myRecords is the online record-keeper and portfolio-tracker for employee stock options (nonqualified and incentive), restricted stock, restricted stock units (RSUs), and stock appreciation rights (SARs).
- Store and view grant data, including vesting and expiration dates. Helpful "wizards" speed up data entry.
- Model stock-price changes and "as of" dates to see total value and total gain.
- Sort grants by next vest date, expiration date, grant type, and other features, with separate presentations for restricted stock and SARs.
- Grant information feeds our calculators and modeling tools.
- Export grant data to an Excel file (MSO Pro Members can also import data from Excel files).
- Receive email alerts for key dates, such as vesting and expiration, or key values.
- Enhancements for Premium and MSO Pro Members include interactive pie-graphs that illustrate and model the value of: outstanding, exercisable, and unvested options and SARs; and vested and unvested restricted stock.
- Print grant holdings in attractive tables and charts.
- Pro Members can easily enter grant data for multiple clients, track clients' holdings in multiple companies, and switch from one client to another to quickly view different portfolios.
- Pro Members can create sharp-looking PDFs of tables and charts for communicating with clients, all with your name and firm's logo.
When you have multiple types of grants, e.g. stock options and restricted stock units, you can see the values for all your unvested and vested stock grants both individually by grant type and in total on one interactive screen or printout. This gives you a unified look at the value of the stock grants provided by your company.
You can access your stock grant data and use our tools with a web browser on any computer, anywhere in the world, at any time. We use industry-recognized security safeguards, including TLS encryption, to keep your financial data fully secure.
Quick-Take Calculator For Restricted Stock & RSUs
The Quick-Take Calculator For Restricted Stock & Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) imports grant data from myRecords to let you see restricted stock (or RSU) profits interactively at vesting and make projections. Whether for yourself or for clients, make smarter decisions about financial planning and taxation!
- View net gains at vesting, whether all the shares are sold or shares are sold only to pay taxes.
- Personalize tax data for state, year-to-date Social Security, and federal tax rates.
- See and easily print the tax breakdown.
- Edit the tax-withholding amounts.
- Easily model for increases and decreases in stock prices and changes in tax rates to see the cash flow these grants can generate.
- For Premium and MSO Pro Members, this calculator includes special interactive, animated bar-graphs that illustrate the net gains and taxes, along with "what if" stock-price increases. These let you easily compare, and print colorful reports of, net gains at different stock prices and tax rates.
- Pro Members can run scenarios for multiple clients and save results for one-click future review in our Saved Scenarios tool. (For details of Saved Scenarios, see the relevant section below.)
- Pro Members can create sharp-looking PDFs of tool results for communicating with clients.
I Need The Money Calculator 
The I Need The Money Calculator is a Premium tool for stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, and SARs. It will help you develop strategies for reaching your target financial goals. Whether for yourself or for clients, make smarter decisions about financial planning and taxation!
- Enter a required amount of after-tax money. This dynamic tool determines whether there are enough vested options or stock appreciation rights (SARs) to exercise and sell to obtain the needed money.
- It suggests which options or SARs to exercise to reach the desired net amount, using first in the calculation either the oldest options or the biggest spread. When your current stock price is not high enough to reach your cash goal, you see what price your company stock must hit, along with the needed percentage increase, to reach your financial target.
- Special features for restricted stock let you know whether there are enough vested shares in the future to equal the required cash and, if these fall short of your cash goal, the price the stock must reach and the needed percentage increase.
- Dynamically edit tax withholding, stock price, and "as of" date to make projections and see alternative scenarios.
- Interactive, animated pie-graphs illustrate the net gains and taxes for the dollar amount needed at the specified stock price and date.
- Pro Members can run scenarios for multiple clients and save results for one-click future review in our Saved Scenarios tool. (For details of Saved Scenarios, see the relevant section below.)
- Pro Members can create sharp-looking PDFs of tool results for communicating with clients.
Restricted Stock Comparison Modeling Tool
The Restricted Stock & RSUs Comparison Modeling Tool is a dynamic tool for Premium and Pro Members to help you plan for grants of restricted stock/RSUs: sell the shares at vesting for an alternative investment, or hold the company stock? This tool helps you decide what to do with your company stock once it vests. Based on the patented Options & SARs Comparison Modeling Tool!
- See the future value of restricted stock and RSUs at vesting.
- Compare holding shares from restricted stock/RSUs with selling the shares to fund an alternative investment.
- View graphs that illustrate the differences between your company stock and investment alternatives.
- Dynamically edit tax rates, stock-price changes, dividend rates, holding periods after vesting, and returns on alternative investments to make projections and see various scenarios.
- Pro Members can run scenarios for multiple clients and save results for one-click future review in our Saved Scenarios tool.
- Pro Members can create PDFs of tool results for communicating with clients.
Sudden stock-price drops can scare even the most experienced holders of equity comp and company shares. Sooner or later, volatility may force you to make decisions that affect your financial future and long-term wealth. The section Volatility at myStockOptions has insightful articles to help you think through your decisions about equity comp and company shares amid volatile stock prices, including:
How To Stomach Volatility In Your Company's Stock Without Losing Your Mind
Stockbrokers' Secrets: Equity Comp Strategies For Volatile Markets
What To Do With Your Just-Vested Shares After Your Company's Stock Price Drops
Preventing Irrational Decisions About Selling Company Stock Or Exercising Options
| myStockOptions Learning Center Offers Convenient Continuing Education (CE) Credits |
Including our popular course on restricted stock, RSUs, and performance shares, the myStockOptions.com Learning Center has self-study courses and exams that offer continuing professional education:
- 40 CE credits for CEP (over 100% of the total requirement)
- 26 CE credits for CFP (87% of the total requirement)
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- For information on CE for CPAs and CFAs, see the related sections below
Each course of study features podcasts, articles, and FAQs from myStockOptions.com. They are woven into a dynamic, interactive learning tool that teaches the topics in a memorable way. The answer key for each exam also links to relevant content on the site for further reading and learning.