by Kaye A. Thomas
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| List Price: | $23.95 |
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| Lowest New Price: | $3.45 |
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Book Description
Consider Your Options is the first book to offer plain language guidance on all the popular forms of equity compensation: stock grants, nonqualified options, incentive stock options and employee stock purchase plans. It tells how to avoid mistakes that can result in paying too much tax or otherwise failing to get the maximum investment return from these benefits. The book assumes no knowledge, explaining all the basic terminology and concepts from the ground up. Yet it also includes intermediate and advanced planning techniques, and information about cutting edge developments like reload options and the "early exercise" option plans that are popular with companies preparing to go public. You'll find a complete description of the section 83b election and tips for when it provides the greatest benefit. In addition to complete coverage of the main topics, Consider Your Options includes guidance in related areas, such as stock valuation, estimated tax payments, and the dreaded alternative minimum tax (AMT). It's loaded with examples and tips, and tells where you can go for additional information. Read this book to get the most from your equity compensation.
Amazon.com
Just about everyone has heard a story about a corporate secretary or twentysomething Microsoft employee who retired early--as a millionaire--not because of winning the lottery, but because she exercised the stock options granted by her company. The fact is, many, many working Americans have access to stock and option plans in the workplace, and although it is a bit of a stretch to assume that such plans are a guaranteed ticket to riches, equity compensation can be an intelligent means for building wealth. The trick, according to Kaye A. Thomas, is understanding and handling it properly, and this is where Consider Your Options comes in. Thomas, a veteran tax lawyer, has written a straightforward, no-nonsense, plain-language guide to getting the maximum value from your equity compensation. He begins with the basics--what stock is and how to buy and sell it, stock grants and purchases, options in general--and proceeds with clear examinations of nonqualified and incentive stock options. From there, he leads the reader through the ins and outs of exercising stock options, vesting, and employee stock-purchase plans, with an emphasis on tax implications and financial planning (an entire section of the book, for example, deals with the Alternative Minimum Tax). "There are certain things about stock, options, and taxes that are almost never explained because every idiot knows them," Thomas writes. "Unfortunately, there are many normal, intelligent, educated adults who don't know these things--because hardly anyone ever bothers to explain them." Now that Thomas has bothered, novices and experts alike can avoid the common mistakes and poor planning that jeopardize the highest return from these benefits. --Svenja Soldovieri
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Average Customer Review:
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Mandatory Options Reading!, 2005-10-20
Barring an extensive endeavor to compile the various option programs offered by industry on you own, Thomas' "Consider Your Options" is an extremely helpful text for both individuals new to the options sphere as well as experienced program administrators to pick up on the nuances of the various qualified and unqualified differences. Definitely a must-have for either executives or financial advisors who work with executives to use as a tool to help establish a strategy to protect and enhance their wealth. A solid addition to your desk reference library. 4 Stars.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
 Covers the basics, but not strategy or advice, 2003-12-30
This book is good in that it covers all the basic mechanics of stock options -- Incentive and Non-Qualified, and ESPP plans. However, this basic information can easily be found on the web or from your employer.What is sadly lacking from this book is advice on strategy on how to manage options, e.g., ideas on when to exercise and sell. Because of this, the book is quite disappointing to me and not very useful.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
 If you have any stock options, GET THIS BOOK!, 2002-07-12
This is the perfect book for anyone who has any stock options or who can participate in their company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). It starts very simply, and in a series of short, but complete chapters, covers the spectrum of stock ownership, vesting, ISOs vs. NQOs, the effect of AMT, and much more. Did you know that stock purchased in an ESPP is treated by the IRS in almost the same way that an ISO is? That there is usually no long-term advantage to buying and holding Non-qualified options? That you only have 30 days to file your 83b exclusion? (If you don't know what an 83b exclusion is, you need this book). The book does its best to explain Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and althought this chapter fried my brain, its because of the complexities of the AMT (simplify it IRS!), not because of the book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
A must have for people with equity in their company..., 2002-07-09
An excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand and be involved in planning strategies to maximize the after-tax value of your stock compensation. Covers restricted stock grants, options (ISOs & NQSOs), employee stock purchase programs (ESPP). Various areas of tax planning are covered in detail: strategies to minimize AMT, effects of early exercise thru 83b election, gifting or donating options/stock, etc. The author describes topics in a matter that is both thorough and easy to read. The book is organized into sections devoted to specific topics making it easy to skip or skim sections that may not pertain to your particular situation (e.g. there are separate sections on NQSOs and ISOs). Additionally, the author makes good use of examples throughout the book to illustrate complex rules. This latest edition (Apr 2002) includes updated information regarding changes to tax laws as well as explanations of pitfalls that many optionees have encountered recently (e.g. ISO "wash" sales). This book is a must have to anyone who receives a portion of their compensation in the form of equity, whether it be stock grants, options, ESPP, or any combination of these. The book is both an informative read as well as a handy resource to keep on your bookshelf. After reading this book, most people will have all or nearly all the tools & info they need to develop their own strategies for managing their stock should they so desire. For those seeking professional advice, this book serves as a great overview so that you can understand the process and ask all the right questions. I only wish I had found this book sooner :)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Best book on Options out of the four I got, 2002-01-22
Structuring a deal with two companies to work for options - and needed some advice. Bought every book that I could get my hands on 1. Consider Your Options Kaye A. Thomas (Harvard Lawyer - (male) ) GREAT! Excellent advise parceled out with just the right amount of depth - but gets to the meaty stuff. Really told me not only what I wanted to know - but other things that I didn't know I needed to know. Easy to read - learned - good stuff.
2. Better Than Money David E. Gumpert - Not as learned a book - but easy reading and focused on the employee side. Addressed several issues about negotiation of options in a hire situation
3. Pay Me In Stock Options C.E. Curtis - Hard Back - but cheap. I would not recommend - a hard read, not organized
4. Stock Options for Dummies Alan R. Simon The basics - and well done - but didn't address several of the issues that I wanted to know....How to get more ....and the psychology aspect of obtaining them.
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