Insights
July 8, 2026
Your ESPP and Your 1099: Why the Cost Basis Is Often Wrong
Your broker sends a 1099-B when you sell ESPP shares. But the cost basis on that form is often incomplete or understated, and filing without adjusting it often means paying tax twice on the same income. Tax season is when ESPP mistakes become expensive. The most common one is not a decision error.
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July 1, 2026
ESPP Tax Rules: Qualifying vs. Disqualifying Dispositions
When you sell your ESPP shares matters more than most people realize. The timing alone can change how your gains are taxed and how much you actually keep. When you sell your ESPP shares matters more than most people realize. The timing of your sale relative to your purchase date and your original
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June 17, 2026
The ESPP Discount and Lookback Provision, Explained
The discount is just the starting point. Here is how the lookback provision amplifies it and what that means for your decision to participate. The discount is why people enroll in an ESPP. But understanding how that discount is calculated, and what a lookback provision adds to it, is what separates employees who
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June 10, 2026
How ESPP Enrollment and Offering Periods Work
You opted in to your ESPP. Here is exactly what happens between enrollment and the purchase date and what you need to know to make the most of it. You decided to participate in your company’s ESPP. Now what? The enrollment process seems simple on the surface. You pick a contribution percentage and
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June 3, 2026
What Is an ESPP? A Plain-English Guide for Women in Tech
What is an ESPP, and why does it matter? ESPPs are one of the most underused benefits in tech compensation. This post breaks down exactly how they work and why they are worth paying attention to. If you work in tech, you have probably seen ESPP in your benefits enrollment portal. Maybe you
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May 20, 2026
The Women in Tech Equity Compensation Playbook
RSUs, ESPPs, and stock options explained so you can actually […]
May 13, 2026
RSU Cost Basis and 1099-B Explained (Avoid Double Taxation)
Selling RSU shares is not the end of the tax […]
May 6, 2026
The RSU Tax Bill Nobody Warned You About
Your employer withholds taxes when your RSUs vest. For many […]
April 22, 2026
Double Trigger Vesting at Private Companies: What Your RSUs May Not Be Telling You
At a pre-IPO startup, vesting on a schedule does not […]
April 15, 2026
RSU Vesting Schedules Explained: Cliff, Back-Loaded, Performance, Double Trigger, and Refreshers
M Maria Castillo Dominguez, CFP®, EAFounder of Valoria Wealth Management. […]