Stock-Based Compensation
RSUs, ISOs, NSOs and ESPP shares can be your biggest wealth builder, and your biggest tax surprise. We plan around your vesting and exercise calendar so your equity works for you.
Your equity has a tax calendar. Use it.
Equity compensation is taxed differently depending on the type, the timing and what you do next. Withholding on RSUs is often too low, and ISOs can trigger the alternative minimum tax.
We map your grants, vesting schedule and goals, then build a plan for when to exercise, when to sell and how to cover the tax, with no surprises.
Recognize two or more? A free call is a good next step.
Every lever, coordinated.
The specific strategies depend on your situation. Here is what this engagement typically covers.
RSU planning
Projecting vest income, closing withholding gaps and planning sales.
ISO & AMT strategy
Exercise timing modeled against AMT so you avoid unpleasant surprises.
NSO exercise planning
Timing exercises around your brackets and your other income.
ESPP & cost basis
Qualifying versus disqualifying dispositions, and correct basis on your return.
Concentration & diversification
Tax-aware plans to reduce single-stock risk over time.
Liquidity events
Planning for IPOs, tender offers and acquisitions before they happen.
From first call to a written plan.
A simple, structured start, then a relationship that keeps working for you all year.
Book a free call
We'll learn about your goals, your income and the decisions ahead.
Deep-dive review
Share prior returns through the secure portal. We look for opportunities and risks.
Strategy & roadmap
A clear written plan with projections, recommended moves and deadlines.
Implement & monitor
We help put the plan in motion, then keep it current all year.
Built for the clients we know best.
We focus on a few client groups so we can go deep on the issues each one faces.
RSU and stock option planning for tech professionals in Seattle & Bellevue.
Many of our equity compensation clients work for technology companies in Seattle, Bellevue and Issaquah, at Hillsboro’s semiconductor campuses, or in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Washington has no wage income tax but does tax certain long-term capital gains, while Oregon and California tax both. We plan your vesting, exercises and sales around the state you live in now, and the one you may move to.
RSU-heavy pay packages where withholding regularly falls short of the real tax bill.
Planning sales around Washington’s capital gains tax on large long-term gains.
Oregon taxes equity income as ordinary income, so timing and withholding matter.
ISO exercises, AMT exposure and pre-IPO planning for Bay Area employees.
Common questions.
Every situation is different. A free call is the fastest way to get a straight answer.
Why do I owe tax even though my employer withheld on my RSUs?
Employers often withhold at a flat supplemental rate that can be lower than your actual marginal rate. We project the gap and help you cover it with estimated payments or adjusted withholding.
When should I exercise my ISOs?
It depends on your income, the spread, your AMT exposure and your outlook for the stock. We model several scenarios so you can decide with the tax cost in view.
Do you work with tech employees in Seattle and the Bay Area?
Yes. Many of our equity compensation clients live in Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah and the San Francisco area, and we work with them entirely online.
Can you fix incorrect cost basis on my 1099-B?
Yes. Basis for RSU and ESPP sales is commonly misreported. We reconcile it so you are not taxed twice on the same income.
Do you help with RSU and stock option taxes in Bellevue and Seattle?
Yes. Tax services for clients in Bellevue, Seattle and Issaquah are a core part of our equity compensation work, along with tech employees in Hillsboro and the San Francisco Bay Area. We work mostly online, through video calls and our secure client portal.
Explore more ways we help.
Your taxes are decided now, not in March.
Let's build your plan while there's still time to use it.