Author: Derek Jess

Should I Sell My Company Stock? A Decision Tree for Smarter Equity Decisions

When your company is doing well, holding stock can feel like a reward for your loyalty and hard work. Whether through stock options, RSUs, or employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs), owning shares of your employer’s stock can be an exciting opportunity to participate in the company's growth. Read more…

Optimal Employee Stock Purchase Plan Strategies for High Earners

If you are a high earner, opting into your company’s employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) can be exciting. You may have dollar signs in your eyes at the thought of an ESPP magically putting extra cash in your pocket. Read more…

Making Sense of Your Equity Compensation Statements: A Breakdown of Key Terms and Examples

Reading an equity compensation statement can feel like translating a foreign language, except with a mishmash of terms, figures, and dates. Unfortunately, these statements rarely come with any explanations or glossaries, which can leave even the savviest professionals wondering, “What on earth am I Read more…

The Different Types of Equity Compensation You Need to Know

When employees find out they're getting equity compensation from their employer, their first reaction is typically, "Great!" Their second reaction is often, "How does this work?" Both reactions are understandable. In most cases, equity compensation is a net win for employees. It rewards you for a Read more…

The Most Common RSU Mistakes — And How to Avoid Them

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) can be a powerful incentive and useful tool for building wealth, but they aren’t as simple as purchasing shares on the market. If managed improperly, RSUs can lead to surprise tax bills, underpayment penalties, overconcentration in company stock, and even legal Read more…

3 Useful Company Employee Benefits Policies for High Earners

Employee benefits can have a significant impact on wealth accumulation, but the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans reports that 80% of companies struggle to get employees to read benefits materials. Read more…

How Are Restricted Stock Units Taxed? Vesting, Withholding, and Selling Explained

As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Read more…

100% Stock Portfolio: Sound Strategy or Click Bait?

In the world of investing, the allure of higher returns can often overshadow the importance of prudent risk management. Read more…

Synthetic Equity Explained: Your Guide to Understanding This Type of Deferred Compensation

Synthetic equity. Phantom stock. Stealth securities. Read more…

How Much Money Should You Contribute To Your ESPP?

Employee stock purchase plans are a great benefit that many companies offer to help employees invest in the future of the company and make more money. When managed properly with tax implications in mind, your ESPP shares can be turned into rocket fuel for your financial goals. Read more…

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