Public beta modeler

Understand the vehicles.
Model the tradeoffs.
See what each path really does.

This is the public quick modeler: one grant, clean assumptions, side-by-side structures, and visual comparisons that make the hard part easier to understand. The native app is where deeper inputs, multiple grants, saved scenarios, and funding workflows belong.

StrikeRates is a technology and information infrastructure platform for private-market equity workflows. StrikeRates is not a broker-dealer, investment advisor, or tax advisor.

Incentive Stock Options: long-term capital gains rates if held 2yr from grant + 1yr from exercise. AMT applies at exercise: 26% on first $244,500 of preference income, 28% above (2026 rates). The paper gain at exercise is a preference item even before you sell.Non-Qualified Stock Options: the spread between your strike and FMV is taxed as ordinary income the moment you exercise.Restricted Stock Units: no exercise decision. Taxed as ordinary income when shares vest and settle.
Future price lens?Set the expected exit multiple to stress-test each structure across downside, base, and upside cases.
1.8x FMV$25 / share
Quick read
Active 90-day window: capital timing matters.
Paper spread now?Modeled from 10,000 vested units at $14 / share.
$120,000
Potential AMT reserve?State lens: California (13.3% top rate).
$18,378 – $49,560
Self-fund capital?Exercise cost plus the modeled tax range if you carry the risk yourself.
$38,378 – $69,560
Future share lens?The downside, base, and upside comparisons all use this same future lens. Adjust the slider above.
$25
Key tradeoffs

Pick the decision you care about most

Visual compare

How the vehicles stack up

Base case uses a future share price of $25.
exercise

Protect The Equity

liquidity

Pull Cash Forward

forward agreement

Forward agreement

Highest modeled value
Recourse: None

Trade part of the future upside for capital relief today without giving up the whole position.

Need now
$0
Cash today
$25,809
Base-case value
$168,914
Base keep
100%
Why pick it

Buying time when upside still matters more than max immediate liquidity.

Main risk

You ease the near-term cash pressure, but you pre-sell a chunk of the future gain.

Execution
Approval: Medium
Timing: 1-3 weeks
Outcome path

What this vehicle does as the share price changes

Downside
$18 / share
$138,717
Base
$25 / share
$168,914
Upside
$34 / share
$206,639
Modeled outcomes
Downside
$18 / share
$138,717
Base
$25 / share
$168,914
Upside
$34 / share
$206,639
Modeled assumptions
  • Uses the potential amt reserve midpoint for today's exercise decision.
  • Retained upside assumes a 37.1% modeled exit tax on appreciation above today's FMV.
  • Models 30% of current after-tax spread paid up front.
  • Employee retains 68% of modeled future spread.
Boundaries

What this estimate includes and what it does not

Deeper modeling belongs in the app
Quick web estimate only. The native app is where multi-grant imports, saved scenarios, and deeper assumptions belong.
ISO outputs model potential AMT reserve bands, not a final AMT or credit calculation.
Former-employee ISO results assume the exercise still qualifies for ISO treatment; some post-termination windows convert to NSO tax treatment.
Future scenarios compare structure economics from standardized assumptions and do not attempt a full custom tax return.
StrikeRates is technology and information infrastructure, not a broker-dealer, investment advisor, or tax advisor.
Modeler FAQ

Questions people search before they decide

What does the StrikeRates modeler compare?

The quick web modeler compares self-funding, non-recourse financing, recourse financing, forward structures, direct secondary sales, tender offers, and RSU liquidity paths using one set of assumptions.

Is this an ISO AMT calculator or an NSO exercise calculator?

It covers both. ISO scenarios model a potential AMT reserve band, while NSO and RSU scenarios use a simplified current-tax lens so employees can compare structures on a consistent basis.

How is the web modeler different from the app?

The public modeler is a fast estimate for one grant. The native app is where multiple grants, deeper inputs, saved scenarios, and funding workflows belong.

StrikeRates is a technology and information infrastructure platform for private-market equity workflows. StrikeRates is not a broker-dealer, investment advisor, or tax advisor. StrikeRates does not execute securities transactions or take transaction-based compensation.