[.ca] Consider Your Options: Get the Most from You Equity ... (ISBN 0967498198)

From Amazon.com:
Just about everyone has heard a story about a corporate secretary or twentysomething Microsoft employee who retired early--as a millionaire--not because of winning the lottery, but because she exercised the stock options granted by her company. The fact is, many, many working Americans have access to stock and option plans in the workplace, and although it is a bit of a stretch to assume that such plans are a guaranteed ticket to riches, equity compensation can be an intelligent means for building wealth. The trick, according to Kaye A. Thomas, is understanding and handling it properly, and this is where Consider Your Options comes in. Thomas, a veteran tax lawyer, has written a straightforward, no-nonsense, plain-language guide to getting the maximum value from your equity compensation. He begins with the basics--what stock is and how to buy and sell it, stock grants and purchases, options in general--and proceeds with clear examinations of nonqualified and incentive stock options. From there, he leads the reader through the ins and outs of exercising stock options, vesting, and employee stock-purchase plans, with an emphasis on tax implications and financial planning (an entire section of the book, for example, deals with the Alternative Minimum Tax). "There are certain things about stock, options, and taxes that are almost never explained because every idiot knows them," Thomas writes. "Unfortunately, there are many normal, intelligent, educated adults who don't know these things--because hardly anyone ever bothers to explain them." Now that Thomas has bothered, novices and experts alike can avoid the common mistakes and poor planning that jeopardize the highest return from these benefits. --Svenja Soldovieri

If you have any stock options, GET THIS BOOK!:
This is the perfect book for anyone who has any stock options or who can participate in their company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). It starts very simply, and in a series of short, but complete chapters, covers the spectrum of stock ownership, vesting, ISOs vs. NQOs, the effect of AMT, and much more. Did you know that stock purchased in an ESPP is treated by the IRS in almost the same way that an ISO is? That there is usually no long-term advantage to buying and holding Non-qualified options? That you only have 30 days to file your 83b exclusion? (If you don't know what an 83b exclusion is, you need this book). The book does its best to explain Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and althought this chapter fried my brain, its because of the complexities of the AMT (simplify it IRS!), not because of the book.

Covers the basics, but not strategy or advice:
This book is good in that it covers all the basic mechanics of stock options -- Incentive and Non-Qualified, and ESPP plans. However, this basic information can easily be found on the web or from your employer. What is sadly lacking from this book is advice on strategy on how to manage options, e.g., ideas on when to exercise and sell. Because of this, the book is quite disappointing to me and not very useful.

Best book on Options out of the four I got:
Structuring a deal with two companies to work for options - and needed some advice. Bought every book that I could get my hands on 1. Consider Your Options Kaye A. Thomas (Harvard Lawyer - (male) ) GREAT! Excellent advise parceled out with just the right amount of depth - but gets to the meaty stuff. Really told me not only what I wanted to know - but other things that I didn't know I needed to know. Easy to read - learned - good stuff. 2. Better Than Money David E. Gumpert - Not as learned a book - but easy reading and focused on the employee side. Addressed several issues about negotiation of options in a hire situation 3. Pay Me In Stock Options C.E. Curtis - Hard Back - but cheap. I would not recommend - a hard read, not organized 4. Stock Options for Dummies Alan R. Simon The basics - and well done - but didn't address several of the issues that I wanted to know....How to get more ....and the psychology aspect of obtaining them.

Almost Too Late!:
I wish I would have had this book before I exercised the first 3 blocks of stock! Fortunately, I found it before I had gone any further. I -- along with many other pre-IPO company employees -- were quite surprised to find out about the dreaded AMT liability after we exercised our first blocks and got hit with a huge tax bill. And I paid $175 for a 45 minute session with a CPA just to find out about it. Now I am reading this book and learning how it should or could be done to avoid much of the tax liability to preserve our much earned new wealth. The information in this book is complicated -- but not because the author makes it so -- that's the IRS' fault! Read it, read it again, then read it once more -- I also found Turbotax to be helpful in testing different scenarios -- like how much AMT credit I could use by calculating my regular tax and AMT -- then go see a good CPA who specializes in option strategies. At this point you will have the basis for formulating a strategy and not have to pay excessive amounts of time to get yourself educated on how this all works. I would have easily paid $100 or more for this book. Its well worth it! regards, Director at now Post-IPO software company

A must have for people with equity in their company...:
An excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand and be involved in planning strategies to maximize the after-tax value of your stock compensation. Covers restricted stock grants, options (ISOs & NQSOs), employee stock purchase programs (ESPP). Various areas of tax planning are covered in detail: strategies to minimize AMT, effects of early exercise thru 83b election, gifting or donating options/stock, etc. The author describes topics in a matter that is both thorough and easy to read. The book is organized into sections devoted to specific topics making it easy to skip or skim sections that may not pertain to your particular situation (e.g. there are separate sections on NQSOs and ISOs). Additionally, the author makes good use of examples throughout the book to illustrate complex rules. This latest edition (Apr 2002) includes updated information regarding changes to tax laws as well as explanations of pitfalls that many optionees have encountered recently (e.g. ISO "wash" sales). This book is a must have to anyone who receives a portion of their compensation in the form of equity, whether it be stock grants, options, ESPP, or any combination of these. The book is both an informative read as well as a handy resource to keep on your bookshelf. After reading this book, most people will have all or nearly all the tools & info they need to develop their own strategies for managing their stock should they so desire. For those seeking professional advice, this book serves as a great overview so that you can understand the process and ask all the right questions. I only wish I had found this book sooner :)