This alert highlights some of the recent noteworthy additions and updates in the award-winning content of myStockOptions. See the full list of additions and updates on the website.

Year-End Planning: How Tax Reform Affects Your Decisions
With the tax changes introduced in 2018 by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (see our related article), tax planning at year-end is more important than ever. When you consider stock option exercises or sales of shares from restricted stock/RSUs or an ESPP, you want to be aware of the new income thresholds that trigger higher tax rates, plus the risk of underwithholding. Our updated section on year-end planning has concise articles and FAQs that clearly present key guidance on year-end planning for anyone with equity compensation and company stock holdings, including strategies for year-end gifts and donations.

Maximize Your Social Security Benefits With Stock Compensation
You have been paying Social Security taxes for your entire working life, including those on the income you from nonqualified stock options (NQSOs) or restricted stock/RSUs. As you near retirement age, there are planning ideas with stock compensation you should know about as you make decisions on Social Security benefits. A new article in the Life Events section at myStockOptions provides the core knowledge to inform those decisions.

How To Defer Taxes On Restricted Stock Units
Grants of restricted stock units (RSUs) can be structured to include a special feature that lets you elect to defer the delivery of the shares at vesting and therefore also the taxes on the income recognized. In the RSU section at myStockOptions, we recently published a new article explaining how deferral features work in RSU plans and what you need to know before you elect to defer.

Learning Center Offers Crucial Year-End CE Credits
As the clock ticks toward the close of 2018, many professionals with continuing education requirements to meet before year-end will be relieved to learn that myStockOptions has courses and exams offering continuing-education credits. Our Learning Center offers:

  • 30 continuing-education credits for Certified Equity Professionals (CEPs): 100% of the total requirement
  • 15 continuing-education credits for Certified Financial Planners (CFPs): 50% of the total requirement
  • 15 continuing-education credits for Certified Private Wealth Advisors (CPWAs) and Certified Investment Management Analysts (CIMAs): 37.5% of the total requirement
  • Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs) and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are encouraged to take our courses and exams and include them, if possible, when they self-document their continuing professional education

Each course of study features podcasts, articles, and FAQs from myStockOptions. 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.

New In The Global Tax Guide: Luxembourg
The Global Tax Guide at myStockOptions explains the taxation of equity awards in 42 countries, including the rules on income tax, social taxes, capital gains tax, income-sourcing, tax residence, exit tax, and asset reporting. The newest addition is a guides on equity comp taxation in Luxembourg. This joins other recent additions on Austria, Portugal, Turkey and Egypt. See also recent updates in the tax guides for Belgium, France, and the United States.