...It walks through stock options, RSUs, vesting, cliffs, refresh grants, and exercise mechanics so readers understand both terminology and outcomes. Tax topics are covered at a practical level—AMT, 83(b), and how different equity types interact with taxes over time—so people can ask better questions of professionals. The guide emphasizes negotiating and evaluating offers, including dilution, liquidation preferences, and how to compare cash versus equity across companies and stages. It aims to reduce anxiety and confusion by presenting examples, rules of thumb, and trade-offs without legalese. ...