I don’t know. Do you like free money? Then yah – you should probably participate in your company’s ESPP.
ESPP stands for Employee Stock Purchase Program. It allows employees to buy their company stock at a discount.
An ESPP works like this:
- Each pay period your company deposits part of your paycheck into a separate brokerage account.
- Every 6 months, your company uses that money to purchase company stock at a discount (usually at least 15%).
So for instance, every 6 months you give your company $8500 and they give you back $10,000 worth of stock.
It’s like exchanging $85 for a Benjamin Franklin. (Only ESPP’s and grandparents will give you that type of deal!)
And after the stock is purchased, then you SELL! SELL! SELL!
You just made a 6-month, risk-free 15% return. Take the money and run!
Your company stock is going gangbusters? Mazel tov!!! All those unvested RSU’s will be worth a lot more once they vest.
But in the meantime, don’t roll the dice with your guaranteed 15% return. Sell the stock the same day it’s purchased and put it in one of your financial buckets.
All ESPP’s max out at $25,000 for the year. So that’s a guaranteed $3750 you can make every year.
So max out your ESPP contribution immediately! I mean, unless you don’t like free money.