Financial Advisor for Equity Compensation
Model your ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, and QSBS in one place — then match with a vetted advisor who actually specializes in equity.
Most general-purpose financial advisors do not model equity compensation with any real depth. They ask what your salary is, what your 401(k) balance is, and what your goals are — and they stop there. Equity compensation, especially for founders and early operators, is a different problem. It combines options mechanics, AMT exposure, holding-period rules, concentration risk, and QSBS timing. Frame is built for that problem, and our SecureMatch™ marketplace connects you with advisors who work on it every day.
What an equity compensation advisor actually does
An advisor who specializes in equity compensation does more than pick funds. They coordinate the tax, cash-flow, and estate implications of every exercise, sale, and holding decision — and they do it before the calendar year closes.
- Model ISO exercises against AMT to avoid a surprise tax bill
- Time NSO exercises around ordinary-income and payroll-tax withholding
- Coordinate RSU vesting with estimated taxes and diversification
- Track QSBS eligibility and the 5-year (or tiered) holding clock
- Plan secondary sales, tender offers, and 10b5-1 trading windows
- Design charitable and trust structures ahead of a liquidity event
Why generalists miss equity comp
The typical wealth advisor was trained on retirement, insurance, and public-market investing. Equity comp sits at the intersection of tax law and securities law, and the numbers move fast — a single exercise decision can change your tax bill by six figures. Founders and operators need advisors whose day job is this exact problem.
How Frame matches you
SecureMatch™ pairs you privately with vetted RIAs, CPAs, and attorneys based on your equity profile — company stage, grant types, planned liquidity, residency, and QSBS status. Your identity stays anonymous until you choose to share it, so you can compare advisors without a pipeline of cold outreach.
Frequently asked questions
What does a financial advisor for equity compensation cost?
Fee structures vary. Some advisors charge a flat annual fee for equity planning ($5K–$25K), some charge a percentage of assets managed, and some bill hourly for scoped projects. Frame surfaces fee structure up front so you can compare on an apples-to-apples basis.
Do I need an equity comp advisor if I already have an accountant?
Often yes. Accountants file returns; equity comp advisors design the decisions that end up on the return. The best outcomes usually involve both, coordinated ahead of the tax year rather than after it.
When is the right time to hire one?
Before your first meaningful equity event: an ISO exercise, a tender offer, an IPO lockup, or a signed term sheet. Planning done after the wire hits usually costs more and recovers less.
Is Frame itself an advisor?
FrameAI Advisory LLC is an SEC-registered RIA. Frame the platform provides modeling and educational tools; personalized advice is delivered through the advisors you match with in the marketplace.