Skip to main content

How Can You Maximize the Benefit from Your ISOs?

If you’re holding Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and wondering how to exercise them strategically to minimize taxes, you’re in the right place. In this video, I’ll explain the key factors that can help you maximize your tax advantages, such as achieving a qualifying disposition and understanding the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).

Unlike other stock options, ISOs are a powerful wealth-building tool, allowing you to defer taxes until later stages. To make the most of them, it’s crucial to understand the rules for exercising and the holding periods required for long-term capital gains tax treatment.

I’ll guide you through the process, including how to avoid short-term capital gains tax and AMT by holding the stock for the appropriate duration. Additionally, we’ll discuss vesting schedules and why timely exercise can be important to preserve your compensation if you leave the company.

By the end of this video, you’ll know when to exercise your ISOs, how to time your sale to potentionally optimize tax benefits, and how to collaborate with your CPA to avoid costly tax mistakes.

Exercising ISOs can feel complex, but with the right knowledge and strategy, it’s an effective way to build wealth and reduce taxes. While consulting a tax advisor is essential to tailor strategies to your unique situation, this video will provide the foundation you need to take control of your stock options and minimize tax liabilities.


Zachary Morris

Zachary Morris, CFP®

Having traveled to over 35 countries, Zach is a believer in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s statement that Life is about the journey, not the destination. Being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ provides Zach the opportunity to help clients define and realize their journey, and co-founding Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors, an independent firm, allows the freedom to define the client experience along the way.

Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors, LLC is a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This material is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.