ESPPs Archives

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

An Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) lets you buy company stock at a discount – typically 15% below the lower of the price at the start or end of the offering period – making it one of the most accessible wealth-building benefits at public tech companies. The tax treatment is more complex than it appears, and selling at the wrong time can cost you significantly more in taxes. A clear ESPP strategy, coordinated with the rest of your financial plan, helps you capture the full value of this benefit. Thumb through the pieces below to learn how ESPPs work and how to make the most of yours.

OpenAI IPO Equity: What Every OpenAI Employee Needs to Know

You spent years helping build the most valuable AI company in the world. The IPO is filed, the clock is running, and the decisions you make in the next few months will determine how much of that wealth you actually keep. This is the plain-English conversation your calendar keeps postponing.

Jun 9, 2026|Categories: Alternative Minimum Tax, ESPPs, Financial Planning, ISOs, NSOs, RSUs|

Mega backdoor Roth IRA: the ultimate guide for tech employees (who are tired of paying the IRS)

You've maxed your 401(k), the Roth IRA door is slammed shut (thanks, income limits), and the IRS seems very pleased with itself. But the mega backdoor Roth IRA offers a surprisingly powerful workaround – one that can unlock tens of thousands of dollars in additional tax-free retirement savings each year, if your employer's plan allows it.

Jun 8, 2026|Categories: ESPPs, Financial Planning, ISOs, NSOs, RSUs|

ESPP Playbook: Tech Employee’s Complete Guide to Discounts, Lookbacks & Taxes

Your ESPP is offering you a 40%+ annualized return before the stock moves a dollar. The lookback provision. The qualifying disposition ladder. The cost basis adjustment that prevents double taxation. Here's the full playbook – written for the tech employee who's done waiting to figure this out.

May 4, 2026|Categories: ESPPs, Financial Planning|

Equity Compensation Financial Advisor in NYC

If you're a tech employee or founder in New York City sitting on stock options or RSUs and feeling uncertain about the right moves – you're not alone. Equity compensation is genuinely complicated, and the stakes are high. Fortrove Partners exists to give you the clarity and guidance you deserve.

Apr 20, 2026|Categories: 83(b) Election, Alternative Minimum Tax, Entrepreneurship, ESPPs, Financial Planning, ISOs, NSOs, QSBS, RSAs, RSUs|