Financial advisors for executives with complex compensation.
409A deferred comp, 10b5-1 plans, 280G parachute analysis, concentrated-stock diversification, executive offer evaluation — matched with advisors who specialize in C-suite comp.
Executive comp is its own legal and tax discipline
Section 409A. Section 280G. Section 16. SEC 10b5-1. These aren't planning optimizations — they're regulatory landmines where getting the election wrong can trigger 20% excise taxes plus immediate inclusion of deferred balances in income. Typical executive balance sheets carry $5-50M of restricted employer stock, a seven-figure NQDC account, and an upcoming change-of-control event. Generalist advisors don't have the reps.
- NQDC elections. Deferral amount, distribution schedule, 409A election timing. Get wrong and the entire balance becomes currently taxable plus 20% penalty.
- 10b5-1 plan design. Post-2023 SEC amendments, cooling-off periods, single-trade restrictions. Executives need plans; the design dimensions matter.
- Change-of-control / 280G. Golden parachute excise tax on payments exceeding 3× base. Mitigation via deferral, cutback provisions, and post-acquisition employment structures.
- Concentrated stock diversification. At $10M+ positions, optimal strategy differs from smaller positions — exchange funds, CRUTs, direct-indexing SMAs with tax-loss harvesting.
- Executive offer evaluation. Base + bonus + LTI grant types (RSUs vs options vs PSUs) + deferred comp + change-of-control clauses. The offer letter hides the real economics.
Featured tools & calculators
NQDC Deferral & Distribution Calculator
Model how much to defer and when to take distributions — balancing current-year tax savings against retirement-year brackets and 409A constraints.
NQDC Distribution Schedule Calculator
Compare lump sum vs. 5-year vs. 10-year installment distributions side-by-side — federal and state tax cost, after-tax proceeds, and effective rate by year.
280G Parachute Tax Calculator
Model whether your change-of-control package triggers the §4999 excise tax and whether a 2.99× cutback leaves you with more money after all taxes.
ISO AMT Calculator
Find the maximum shares you can exercise this year without triggering AMT — using 2026 exemption and phase-out thresholds.
Stock Option Exercise Calculator
Compare after-tax proceeds across exercise scenarios for ISOs and NSOs: same-day sale, hold for long-term capital gains, and ISO qualifying disposition with AMT analysis.
10b5-1 Sell-Down Calculator
Build a quarterly sell schedule from your current concentrated position to a target concentration level — shares per window and after-tax proceeds.
Executive Offer Comparator
Side-by-side analysis of two offers: base, bonus, equity vesting schedule, sign-on, and total value over 3 or 5 years including cliff vs. graded vesting.
Golden Handcuffs Calculator
After-tax cost of leaving at 5 departure scenarios — today through +3 years. Supports RSU, NSO, and ISO tranches with optional new-offer break-even.
RSU Multi-Year Vesting Tax Projection
Model overlapping RSU grant tranches year-by-year through 2030 — shows the 22% withholding shortfall, peak income year, and quarterly payment estimates.
RSU State Tax Relocation Calculator
Day-count allocation showing per-tranche CA and NY tax exposure at any move date — useful if you're considering relocating before grants vest.
All guides, topics & resources
Over 50 guides covering every dimension of executive compensation planning. Browse by topic below, or use the calculators above to model your specific situation.
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC)
- Section 409A: Complete Rules for Executive Deferred Compensation
- NQDC Strategy Guide: Elections, Triggers & 409A Rules
- NQDC Annual Election Guide: December Deadline, How Much to Defer & Re-Deferral Rules
- NQDC vs. 401(k): Which to Fund First
- NQDC Creditor Risk: What Happens If Your Company Fails
- NQDC at Death: Beneficiary Designations and IRD Treatment
- NQDC Investment Options: How to Allocate Your Deferred Compensation
- Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs)
RSUs, Stock Options & Equity Grants
- RSU Tax Planning: The Withholding Gap
- RSU Tax Return: Avoiding the 1099-B Double-Taxation Trap
- RSU: Sell Immediately or Hold? The Executive's Decision Framework
- RSUs vs. Stock Options: Executive Equity Comparison
- Performance Stock Units (PSUs): Tax Planning
- Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs): Tax Planning
- ISO Stock Options & AMT Planning
- AMT Credit Carryforward: Recovering ISO Minimum Tax (Form 8801)
- Stock Option Exercise Calculator: ISO vs NSO After-Tax
- Section 83(b) Election: Restricted Stock & Early Exercise
- ESPP Tax Planning for Executives
- Phantom Stock & SARs: Tax Planning
- Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs): Tax Guide
- Profit Interest & Carried Interest Tax Planning
- Restricted Stock Award (RSA) vs. RSU: The Tax Difference
- Underwater Stock Options: When Exercise Price Exceeds Stock Value
- Stock Option Grant Terms Negotiation: Post-Termination Window, Vesting & ISOs
Concentrated Stock Diversification
- Diversifying Concentrated Executive Stock: 5 Strategies
- 10b5-1 Plans for Executives: Design & SEC Compliance
- Exchange Funds for Concentrated Stock (IRC §721)
- Hedging Concentrated Stock: Collars, Puts & VPFs
- Direct Indexing: Completion Portfolio for Concentrated Stock
- Charitable Giving with Concentrated Stock: DAF & CRUT
- Concentrated Stock Tax Calculator: After-Tax Proceeds (2026)
- NUA Strategy: Company Stock in Your 401(k)
Change of Control, M&A & Acquisition
- Golden Parachutes & 280G: The Change-of-Control Tax Analysis
- Executive Equity at Acquisition: Acceleration, Cash-Out & 280G
- Rollover Equity in a PE Buyout: What Executives Need to Know
- Executive Departure Planning: Equity, NQDC & Severance
- Executive Severance Package Negotiation
- What Happens to Your Equity When You're Laid Off
IPO, Pre-IPO & Lockup
- Pre-IPO Executive Financial Planning: 12-Month Countdown
- IPO Lockup Expiration Planning
- QSBS Planning: IRC §1202 & OBBBA $15M Exclusion
Executive Career & Offer Evaluation
- Negotiating an Executive Compensation Package
- Section 16 Insider Trading Compliance: Form 3/4/5 & Short-Swing
- Dodd-Frank Clawback Policy & IRC §1341 for Named Executive Officers
- Section 162(m): The $1M Executive Pay Deduction Cap
- Executive Compensation Benchmarks 2026: CEO, CFO, COO Pay by Tier
- New Executive Financial Planning: The First 90 Days
- Executive Non-Compete Agreements: Financial Planning Guide
- How to Find an Executive Comp Financial Advisor
- 12 Costly Executive Compensation Planning Mistakes
Tax Planning for Executives
- How to Reduce Taxes on Executive Compensation (2026)
- Executive Cash Bonus & Annual Incentive Plan Tax Planning
- Retention Bonus Tax Planning: Withholding, §1341 Clawback & 280G
- Estimated Quarterly Tax Payments: Safe Harbor Guide
- Multi-State Equity Compensation State Tax Planning
- Highly Compensated Employee 401(k): ADP Testing & Overflow Strategies
- Qualified Opportunity Zone Planning for Executive Capital Gains
- Roth Conversion Planning for High-Income Executives
- Mega Backdoor Roth for Executives
- Executive Comp Tax Planning Calendar: Year-Round Deadlines
- Executive W-2 Guide: Every Box Explained (2026)
- Executive Perquisites: What's Taxable — Company Cars, Aircraft (SIFL), Club Memberships
Retirement, Estate & Comprehensive Planning
- Executive Retirement Planning: NQDC, Equity & Income Sequencing
- Executive Early Retirement: Equity Deadlines, NQDC & Pre-59½ Income
- Executive Estate Planning: GRATs, SLATs & NQDC as IRD
- Executive Disability Insurance: Closing the Income Gap
- Split-Dollar Life Insurance: Tax Treatment for Executives
- Executive Net Worth by Age: Are You on Track?
- Executive Compensation in Divorce: RSU, ISO & NQDC Division
- Executive Mortgage Planning: Qualifying on Equity Compensation
- Cash Balance Pension Plans: What Executives Need to Know
- Executive Compensation Planning: A Complete Guide
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