Plan around your equity , not around your paycheck.
Straight answers on RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPPs, and pre-IPO stock — written for tech employees, reviewed by professionals who do this work for a living.
Six pillars, one audience
Everything here is written for someone whose biggest financial decision this year is when to sell an RSU tranche, exercise an ISO, or turn down a refresh grant.
Equity compensation
RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPPs, PSUs, QSBS — the mechanics, the taxes, and the planning.
Taxes
Federal AMT, state tax sourcing across moves, capital gains, withholding gaps.
Retirement
Planning when 60%+ of your net worth sits in one employer’s stock.
Investing
Diversification math, 10b5-1 plans, exchange funds, direct indexing.
Estate
GRATs, QSBS stacking, valuation discounts for pre-IPO shares.
Advisors
What to ask a fiduciary advisor about equity, AMT, and liquidity events.
Calculators that know about equity
Every calculator here assumes you hold RSUs, ISOs, or pre-IPO shares. No generic sliders — the defaults match how equity comp actually works.
Model every tranche against state + federal tax.
Bargain element · disqualifying vs qualifying.
True return on a qualified 15% discount plan.
Federal, NIIT, and state stacked.
Original issuance · five-year hold · $50M asset test.
After-tax cash flow on a scheduled sale plan.
Latest from the editorial team
Written by VestedGrant Editorial; reviewed by practicing CPAs, tax attorneys, and CFPs. Every piece names its reviewer.
- equity comp
Crypto and Token Compensation: Tax Treatment and Planning
How the IRS treats restricted token units, airdrops, and staking rewards in employment comp, and the planning moves that stop the paper-gain trap.
Apr 4, 2026 - taxes
International Equity Comp: What Changes When You Work Across Borders
Cross-border tax treatment of RSUs and options for inbound assignees, outbound expats, and dual-country residents. The rules that actually control your bill.
Apr 4, 2026 - taxes
Your First AMT Bill: Why ISOs Trigger It and How to Model It
A plain-language walkthrough of how alternative minimum tax works when you exercise ISOs, with a full worked example and the AMT credit recovery path.
Apr 4, 2026 - investing
The Behavioral Trap of Holding Employer Stock Too Long
Why smart tech employees systematically over-hold their employer's stock, the specific cognitive patterns involved, and how to design around them.
Apr 3, 2026 - estate
Estate Planning When Most of Your Net Worth Is One Stock
How to structure trusts, gifts, and transfers when 70% of your estate is employer stock you don't want to sell but can't afford to hold forever.
Apr 3, 2026 - equity comp
Pre-IPO Equity: What's Actually Worth Something Before a Liquidity Event
How to think about the real value of pre-IPO options, RSUs, and common stock when there is no market price and the company might not IPO.
Apr 3, 2026
Find a fiduciary advisor who understands equity compensation
Short form. We match you with up to three fee-only advisors who routinely work with RSUs, ISOs, and pre-IPO equity.
Plan your next vesting event with confidence
Free PDF checklist. Quarterly tax-planning cadence for RSU holders, AMT tripwires for ISO exercises, and the 10b5-1 calendar our reviewers send clients.