ISO Exercise Timing: A Tax Planning Guide for Executives
June 18, 2026 Incentive Stock Options come with a decision that RSUs do not: the choice of when to exercise. That choice carries more complexity than it might appear. ISO…
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans: What to Understand Before Electing
June 17, 2026 Nonqualified deferred compensation plans are one of the more powerful tax deferral tools available to senior leaders at publicly traded companies. They are also one of the…
What Happens to Equity Compensation When You Leave a Company
June 9, 2026 Career transitions happen for many reasons: a promotion to a new firm, a layoff, a retirement, or an acquisition. Whatever the cause, understanding what happens to equity…
Net Unrealized Appreciation: A 401(k) Strategy That’s Easy to Miss
May 29, 2026 Tenured leaders at publicly traded companies commonly hold employer stock in brokerage accounts, as well as inside their 401(k)s. After years of contributions, matching, and share appreciation,…
ESPP Planning: Qualified vs. Disqualified Dispositions Explained
May 27, 2026 For employees of publicly traded companies, Employee Stock Purchase Plans often start as a small line item on a benefits enrollment form and can quietly grow into…
How California Residency Affects Tax Planning for Equity Compensation
May 21, 2026 For California executives at publicly traded companies, tax planning for equity compensation often involves coordination across multiple tax years and multiple professionals. Between the state's high marginal…
10b5-1 Plans: A Structured Approach to Selling Company Stock
May 19, 2026 For directors, Section 16 officers, and other insiders at publicly traded companies, selling company stock is rarely a simple decision. Blackout periods, pre-clearance requirements, and the ongoing…
How Do Equity-Heavy Executives Avoid Tax Disaster in Retirement?
May 14, 2026 For executives at publicly traded companies, the first year of retirement can look very different than expected. After decades of building wealth through RSUs, stock options, ESPPs,…
The Single Stock Illusion in Bull Markets
May 12, 2026 Concentration risk in bull markets can feel less urgent as account values rise, equity awards vest, and confidence grows. For executives at public companies, a strong market…
When Compensation Inadvertently Shapes Portfolio Construction
May 7, 2026 For executives at the VP- and senior-level, company equity eventually shifts from being a "side benefit" into representing a major portion of net worth. RSUs, equity grants,…