What are golden handcuffs, and when is leaving still worth it?
Golden handcuffs are unvested value that makes leaving expensive. They are a number and a set of dates, not a moral claim. Dates matter. This page does not tell you to leave.
Golden handcuffs are unvested value that makes leaving expensive. They are a number and a set of dates, not a moral claim. Dates matter. This page does not tell you to leave.
ISOs can lose ISO status after a post-termination exercise window. NSOs are taxed as ordinary income on the spread at exercise. Strike, FMV, and the window change the cash question. This is not tax advice.
Using Worth Leaving does not show you to companies. Looking is not a profile. Accept is the only reveal. Decline never outs anyone.
A private walk-away calculator for unvested equity. Math runs in your browser. Share links carry bands, not exact dollars.
Unvested RSUs are typically forfeited when you quit. The company plan governs. Vested units you keep, subject to settlement, trading windows, and tax.
A 409A valuation is a private-company fair market value for common stock, used to price option grants. It is not a preferred round price. Stale reports misstate paper value. Private paper is not cash.
Walk-away cost is the unvested equity you forfeit by leaving. RSUs, options inside a cliff, refreshers that have not started. Worth Leaving computes it from your grants.