Equity Compensation Explained: RSUs, ESPPs, NSOs & ISOs | with Mark Cecchini

Equity compensation comes with its own alphabet soup — RSUs, ESPPs, NSOs, and ISOs — and getting it wrong can cost you thousands. In this episode, Branden DuCharme, CFP® is joined by equity comp specialist Mark Cecchini, CFP® to break it all down in plain English. You'll learn how each type of equity comp works, when you actually get taxed, the biggest mistake people make after their shares vest, the AMT trap that catches ISO holders off guard, and the behavioral side of holding a large concentrated position — with real lessons from employees who lived through the SpaceX IPO. In this episode:  • The full equity comp landscape, from 401(k) stock to startup options  • RSUs: vesting, the one-year cliff, and the "would you buy it today?" reframe  • ESPPs and the 15% discount that's close to free money  • NSOs and the three ways to exercise your options  • ISOs, the Alternative Minimum Tax, and how the AMT credit works later  • Profits Interest Units — the unusually favorable model OpenAI is using  • Tender offers, direct listings, IPO lockups, and managing concentration risk  • The behavioral core: FOMO, anchoring bias, and answering "how much is enough?" Have equity comp questions? Mark Cecchini, CFP® is Director of Wealth Solutions at Quadrant Capital, specializing in equity compensation for tech founders and executives. Learn more at quadcapco.com or connect on LinkedIn (search "Mark Cecchini CFP"). DISCLAIMER: Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy, and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Encompass More Asset Management LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements.