Changing jobs: map your equity deadlines

Make one record for each grant

Before access changes, retain copies of your grant agreements, plan documents, amendments, statements, and relevant transaction records through an employer-approved method. Keep personal equity records, not confidential company material. List the award type, grant date, vested and unvested amounts, stated expiration, and the provisions covering termination of employment.

Ask the plan administrator which date counts as the end of service for each award. Do not assume the date you give notice, your last working day, and the formal termination date are interchangeable. Ask what happens to pending vesting or settlement, and whether departure circumstances or a separate agreement change the treatment.

Keep contractual rights and tax conditions separate

For options, confirm the last permitted exercise date for your specific situation, the required process, and when payment and instructions must be received. Ask whether a normal expiration date is shortened by departure. A colleague’s experience is not evidence of your own window, and an open portal is not confirmation that the grant remains exercisable.

The IRS describes employment requirements for statutory-option treatment in Publication 525. Those tax conditions are not the same as the contractual period during which an employer permits an exercise. An option can remain exercisable under its agreement while its tax treatment changes. Have a tax professional evaluate the timing independently; do not turn a commonly quoted ISO rule into a universal deadline.

Create a calendar you can act on

Raise unresolved terms with the employer promptly, and seek legal advice where interpretation matters. A financial planner can help assess cash flow and employer-stock exposure while your tax professional reviews tax consequences. If a date may be imminent, contact the plan administrator directly rather than treating a website inquiry as a deadline-management service.

• For each date, record the triggering event, source document, required action, and person who confirmed it.
• Ask about processing cutoffs, approvals, payment methods, and any restrictions on selling shares after departure.
• Arrange continued access to tax forms and statements, and update personal contact details through approved channels.
• Compare any exercise cost and potential tax with the cash you need during a job transition; do not assume shares can be sold to cover either.