When this workflow applies
Use this framework when your employer stock is a large share of your portfolio, when you need cash for taxes or major expenses, or when the stock price has moved far from the vesting basis.
Step-by-step workflow
- Calculate the after-tax cash available if you sell at vest.
- Measure employer-stock concentration after the vest and set a maximum exposure target.
- Compare immediate sale with staged sale and hold scenarios using the same tax assumptions.
- Document the reason for holding if you choose not to sell, including the review date.
Common risks to check
- A lower tax rate in the future is not guaranteed and may be outweighed by price movement.
- Holding for long-term capital gains can increase single-stock risk.
- Blackout windows and trading policies can limit when you can act.
How EquityTax Pilot fits
EquityTax Pilot shows sell-on-vest, hold, and staged-sale outcomes side by side, then connects the chosen plan to reminders and tax-lot records.