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Options
Strategic Flexibility, Backed by a Clear Plan
Options can offer powerful flexibility for investors, but they also come with complexity, risk, and tax consequences that are often misunderstood. Whether you’ve received stock options through your employer or are exploring listed options as part of your portfolio, understanding how they work is key.
At Water Street Wealth Management, I help clients use stock options and other derivatives intentionally, not speculatively. My role is to help you evaluate opportunities, avoid unnecessary risk, and ensure that any options strategy fits into your financial plan.
What Are Stock Options?
Options are financial contracts that give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock at a specific price before a set expiration date. Options are considered derivatives because their value is derived from the price of the underlying asset (usually a stock).
Call Options – Give you the right to buy the stock
Put Options – Give you the right to sell the stock
Options can be used for a variety of purposes, including managing concentrated positions, generating income, or hedging downside risk, but they must be used with a clear plan and full understanding of the potential outcomes.
Without a Strategy, You Could Be Paying More Than Necessary
Taxes can erode your progress if you do not have a plan. Missed deductions, poor timing, or inefficient withdrawals can cost thousands over time. A well-designed tax strategy helps you keep more of what you earn, reduce stress, and make confident financial decisions throughout the year.
How I Support Clients with Options
Equity Compensation Review – Understand ISOs, NSOs, vesting, and exercise decisions
Risk Management – Use options to hedge concentrated stock positions
Covered Call Strategies – Generate income on stocks you already hold
Exit Planning – Coordinate options with long-term liquidation or diversification goals
Tax Considerations – Manage ordinary income, capital gains, or AMT triggers
Options Education – Learn what you own, how it works, and when to take action
I help you understand and apply options only when they make sense as part of a diversified, long-term financial plan.
Let’s Talk About Where Options Fit in Your Plan
Without a clear strategy, options can lead to confusion, unnecessary risk, or costly tax surprises. I help you evaluate whether options make sense for your situation, and if they do, how to use them wisely.
Whether you are managing employer stock options, exploring income strategies like covered calls, or just looking to understand the basics, I’ll help you make informed, confident decisions.
