Technology Employer Equity & RSU Directory

Vesting Schedule: 5% Year 1, 15% Year 2, 40% Year 3, 40% Year 4 (Semi-annual in Y1-2, quarterly in Y3-4)

Brokerage Administration: Morgan Stanley at Work (Shareworks) / Fidelity

Amazon equity packages are heavily backloaded into years 3 and 4 (40% each year). In year 3, your total W-2 income can leap into the 37% marginal bracket, while Morgan Stanley only withholds 22% federally. Without quarterly estimated payments or selling additional shares, Amazonians face a $15,000–$40,000 tax shock in April.

Vesting Schedule: Frontloaded 33% Year 1, 33% Year 2, 22% Year 3, 12% Year 4 (Monthly vesting after 1st year cliff)

Brokerage Administration: Charles Schwab / Morgan Stanley

Google utilizes a frontloaded monthly vesting schedule (33% across years 1 and 2). Because monthly vests are treated as supplemental wage distributions, Schwab withholds federal tax at flat 22%. Googlers with total comp above $350k find that each monthly tranche underwithholds by 10% to 15%, compounding silently over 12 months.

Vesting Schedule: Uniform 25% per year, vesting quarterly in February, May, August, and November

Brokerage Administration: Charles Schwab Stock Plan Services

Meta vests quarterly on the 15th of February, May, August, and November. With META trading at elevated fair market values, single quarterly vests can easily exceed $50,000–$100,000. If you do not proactively adjust your supplemental withholding rate in Schwab to 37%, you will owe thousands in underpayment penalties.

Vesting Schedule: Biannual or quarterly vesting (April 15 and October 15 typical)

Brokerage Administration: E*TRADE by Morgan Stanley

Apple vests typically occur in April and October. Employees receiving six-figure vests through E*TRADE will notice that statutory withholding leaves a 10%–15% federal gap when combined with base salary. Knowing exactly how many shares to sell prevents unexpected liquidation during market dips.

Vesting Schedule: 25% annual vest, paid quarterly in February, May, August, and November

Brokerage Administration: Fidelity Investments

Microsoft employees in Redmond, WA enjoy 0% state income tax on vesting wages, but face the full federal marginal spread. For senior SDEs and Partners whose base exceeds the $184,500 Social Security cap, every incremental vest dollar is taxed at 35% or 37% plus 2.35% Medicare.

Vesting Schedule: Quarterly vesting following 1-year cliff on initial grant, quarterly on refresher grants

Brokerage Administration: E*TRADE by Morgan Stanley

Due to Nvidia's dramatic stock appreciation, refresher and historical grants produce astronomical vest values. Once your cumulative supplemental wages cross $1,000,000 within a calendar year, E*TRADE increases withholding from 22% to 37%, creating an intra-year cash flow whipsaw.

Vesting Schedule: Double-trigger RSUs or single-trigger liquidity event shares with quarterly vesting

Brokerage Administration: Carta / Morgan Stanley at Work

Stripe employees with settled RSUs or participating in internal secondary tender offers face tax withholding at 22% statutory rates. Because shares are illiquid outside tender windows, underwithholding is hazardous: you cannot easily sell additional shares later to satisfy your April IRS obligation.

Vesting Schedule: Quarterly vesting with secondary liquidity opportunities prior to IPO

Brokerage Administration: Carta / Shareworks

Databricks pre-IPO equity compensation involves RSUs that trigger tax upon liquidity events or structured tender offers. Knowing your exact supplemental gap ensures you reserve adequate cash when participating in company-sponsored secondary sales.