Employers grant restricted stock units (RSUs) for various reasons: outstanding performance, tenure, company milestones, or simply as a token of appreciation to drive employee retention, but often there is minimal guidance on what these are or how to build them into your financial plan to maximize Read more…
Deferred Compensation: What It Is and How It Compares to a 401K
Saving enough for a comfortable retirement in a way that is tax-advantaged can require getting creative at times. Numerous options exist for stashing your discretionary money in a retirement account, but not all options are created equal, nor are they taxed the same. An often-overlooked option, 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?
The Short Answer: How much should you contribute to an ESPP? How much you should contribute to your ESPP depends on your cash flow, debt, and savings. With lower‑interest loans or a small emergency fund, contribute a modest, comfortable percentage. If you have no debt and strong savings, aim to Read more…
The Untold Advantages of Your Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Congratulations! Your employer has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)! It’s easy to know what to make of excellent healthcare or an annual bonus, but it’s harder to wrap your head around how to participate in a well-managed ESPP. Should you participate? How much should you contribute? Is it Read more…
Tax Planning for Equity Compensation
Equity compensation comes in several forms, including stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plans (ESPP). Each type of equity grant gives employees a stake in their employer’s financial success and a chance to boost their income. Read more…
Understanding Equity Compensation and Incentive Plans
Equity compensation plans come in multiple forms, including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and employee stock purchase plans. Each is designed to give employees a direct stake in the financial success of their companies, and hopefully to provide additional monetary benefits beyond Read more…
Smart Tax Strategies, Return Tips and Mistakes to Avoid with Equity Compensation
One of the most powerful advantages of equity compensation is that equity awards typically offer ways to defer or minimize taxes. But making the most of stock options, restricted stock units and other types of equity compensation requires smart tax planning—otherwise, you could end up with a Read more…
If Stock Options Are Part of Your Compensation Package, Here's What You Need to Know
The 2010s was arguably the decade of the corporate perk. For years, we could hardly escape the barrage of beer taps in the break room, free gym memberships, and unlimited PTO. These benefits may have led to a “best place to work” award or two, but when was the last time a free lunch helped you feel Read more…
Doing Your Due Diligence on a Private Equity Investment Offer
In our Plancorp Family Office practice, we often work with clients who are frequently presented with opportunities to invest in non-traditional offerings such as private equity, private real estate, hedge funds, etc. Read more…
