Equity Compensation Explained: How to optimize your Equity Comp With Jeffrey Krueger (Ep. 13)
If you have equity comp at work and you are not sure what you actually “have”, or what it could cost you at tax time, this episode will help you get oriented fast.
Sam Diarbakerly sits down with Jeffrey Krueger, CPA, CFP®, Partner at Seaport Financial Partners, to break down the real tax story behind concentrated stock and equity compensation, the kind that can quietly create six or seven-figure surprises if you are not planning ahead.
Using real-world executive scenarios, Sam and Jeff walk through the building blocks of equity comp, RSUs, non-qualified stock options, and ISOs, and explain why timing, withholding, and coordination matter. They also dig into QSBS (Section 1202) planning, including what it is, when it applies, and why early action can unlock meaningful long-term tax advantages for founders and employees at qualifying startups. Along the way, they keep it practical, focusing on how to avoid “bad surprises”, build a plan before a liquidity event, and keep your advisor team rowing in the same direction.
What to expect:
- A plain-English breakdown of RSUs, non-qualified options, and ISOs, and what triggers taxes for each
- Why RSU withholding can fall short, and how surprise tax bills happen
- How AMT works in the ISO conversation, and why it changes planning decisions
- Why “sell right away” is often a smart default for vested RSUs (and when it might not be)
- How an 83(b) election works, and why early timing can matter
- QSBS (Section 1202) explained, plus what changed recently and why it expands planning flexibility
- Why tracking grants, lots, and dates can save you real time, money, and stress later
- And more!
Connect with Sam Diarbakerly:
Connect with Jeffrey Krueger:
About our Guest:
Jeff Krueger is a Partner at Seaport Financial Partners. He is a CPA and a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, known for proactive tax planning and for helping business owners and corporate executives navigate complex equity compensation, concentrated stock, and liquidity-event planning strategies.
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