Apple Employees
Planning for people whose compensation arrives in AAPL
A large share of our clients work at Apple or have retired from it, so we spend a lot of our time on the same questions: what to do with each RSU vest, whether to hold ESPP shares, how to fill the 401(k) past the normal limit, and how to stop the tax bill from being a surprise every April.
We have worked with people at every stage, from a first grant to a retirement funded largely by Apple stock, and we are happy to meet virtually or in person in Orange County or the Bay Area.
What is specific about planning at Apple
A predictable vest calendar
Apple’s grants vest on a fixed schedule, which makes the tax and selling plan easier to build in advance. We map the year’s vests against your salary to find the withholding gap, then set a selling policy for each vest date so the position stays inside a concentration ceiling.
A rich discount with a lookback
Apple’s plan offers a discount off the lower of the offering-date or purchase-date price. That is a strong return on the day you buy; the decision is whether to keep the shares afterward, which usually turns on how much AAPL you already hold.
Getting the most from the Apple 401(k) at Fidelity
We read your plan’s current rules with you: how the match works, whether after-tax contributions and in-plan Roth conversions are available, and how to reach the full IRS limit if they are. That is the mega-backdoor Roth, and where a plan allows it, it can add tens of thousands a year of tax-free savings. We also help you choose between the plan’s target-date funds and building your own mix.
Timing a departure or retirement
Unvested grants are forfeited when you leave, so the timing of a departure relative to a vest date matters. We model the tax year you would create by leaving before or after a large vest and plan the first year of income from the shares you keep.
Questions we answer most often
When can I retire, and how much income do I need? How do I diversify out of Apple stock without a huge tax bill? Am I withholding enough on my RSUs? Should I hold my ESPP shares or sell at purchase? How do I contribute the annual IRS maximum, including after-tax if my plan allows it? Which target-date fund, if any, is right for me? How should my Apple stock fit into my overall portfolio? How do the RSUs and ESPP affect my estimated taxes and my California return?
Plan features change from year to year, so we confirm the current details in your benefits portal before we build anything around them.
RSU Tax Withholding Gap Calculator
Enter your salary and this year’s vests. See whether the 22% Apple withholds covers your bracket, the shortfall in dollars, and what to set aside per paycheck.
ESPP Calculator
What the Apple ESPP discount is really worth, and whether to sell at purchase or hold for qualifying treatment.
Mega Backdoor Roth Calculator
How much after-tax room your 401(k) has this year on top of the regular limit.
Concentrated Stock Planner
How fast to sell down a large AAPL position and what it costs in tax, year by year.
Working at Apple and want a plan for your vests?
Bring your grant summary and last year’s W-2. The first conversation is a free 15-minute call, and you will leave knowing whether your withholding is short and how concentrated you are.
Schedule a CallTangent Retirement Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc. Plan features described are based on publicly available information and client experience and may change; confirm current terms in your benefits portal.