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The Tech Employee's Equity Playbook

A practical guide to RSUs, ISOs, and tender offers — so you don't leave money on the table or hand it all to taxes.

If you work in tech, your equity compensation is probably the most significant wealth-building opportunity you'll ever have. It's also the most likely to cost you if you're not paying attention.

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Most tech employees spend more time negotiating their equity grant than they do managing it afterward. RSUs vest and get sold automatically. ISO exercise windows get missed. Tender offers come and go without a clear decision framework. And taxes arrive in April as a surprise.

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This guide changes that.

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What's inside:

  • Why RSUs are not bonuses — and why that distinction matters at tax time

  • The withholding gap that catches Bay Area tech employees off guard every April

  • How ISOs and NSOs are taxed differently, and which one you actually have

  • The AMT trap that has cost startup employees six figures in unexpected taxes

  • How to evaluate a tender offer before the window closes

  • Five questions to ask before any equity decision

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