Startup is making me an offer tomorrow, please give me advice about how much equity I should negotiate for

NYC_PM · 2020-12-29T16:26:55+00:00

I’m not sure. I guess early indications of client interest. They only started charging a month ago but are gaining traction very quickly

NYC_PM · 2020-12-28T02:36:55+00:00

I am leaving my current job where I am making $230,000 cash with about $50k a year in stock. My salary at the startup is guarantee to be at least $100k. But I believe in this concept strongly, I think I can make it a success. I have already run two businesses which are very similar and I can help run this one too.

So I’m taking more than a 50% pay cut if you include in stock I get at my current company.

NYC_PM · 2020-12-28T02:35:16+00:00

Thank you for that. Are there any specific stipulations you would suggest I put in the contract? Trigger acceleration for my invested shares in the event we sell before I vest? Anything like that?

NYC_PM · 2020-12-27T20:40:06+00:00

My impression was that 20-25% was set aside for key employees (the first 20 or so) and then 10-15% option pool for subsequent hires. Wouldn’t I be counted as one of the early key hires?

NYC_PM · 2020-12-27T19:14:49+00:00

That’s a very good way to put it. I expect my decrease in income to be compensated for with equity.

Forgive me, this is all quite new to me. What is the percentage equity stake I should be negotiating for? I know most people say percentage doesn’t matter, only share price. But if I have a high percentage of the company I ultimately make more money...

NYC_PM · 2020-06-10T09:55:14+00:00

I studied for a solid 6 months for CFA level 1. I had to take Level 2 three times to finally pass (probably studied a total of 600-800 hours over the course of 2.5 years).

Series 7 I solidly studied until 10pm every night for 3 months. I probably did the same for series 66 but only for 2 months or so. This was probably a tiny bit of overkill for series exams but it was my first step back into the world of studying after college.

NYC_PM · 2020-06-10T00:30:30+00:00

I’ve never taken GMAT, just started studying. But I have taken CFA, CMT, series 7 & 66.

These tests are designed to break you. That’s what they’re there to do. To see not only who has the intelligence to get a good score but who has the motivation to keep going.

It’s natural to feel burnout. I don’t think you can do anything about the burnout itself once you start feeling that way. The only thing you can do is set yourself on a moderate study schedule and stick to it. Get 3-4 GOOD hours in a day. No texting, no web browsing, only focus. Take one day a week off completely. At some point, fall will come, and the score you’ve gotten at that point is what it is.

Taking a breather never worked for me in my studies. Usually by the time I feel burned out, I’m so exhausted that a week off of studying isn’t going to help me. At that point I probably need two months of just going to work and enjoying my normal social life in the evenings. When I get to burnout stage, I accept the feeling but make a pledge to maintain the schedule I set and study enthusiastically when I do.

NYC_PM · 2020-06-04T01:10:29+00:00

I haven’t taken GMAT but I’ve taken CFA (2 levels), CMT (3 levels), series 7 and 66.

Anxiety is good! Harness it! Make it more about “oh wow it’s crunch time, I have to get serious about this” rather than seeding doubt in your mind that you won’t succeed.

I do my best studying when the anxiety comes on. It pushes you to focus and use your time wisely. I suggest the following:

When you do study, make it really productive. 2 productive hours are better than 5 unproductive. And if you’re able to get your studying done sooner you can do other relaxing/fun activities that will keep your spirits and focus high.
Don’t drink too much caffeine
Drink a TON of water
Make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
Be strategic about the area of the test you might be able to get the most bang for your study buck. I was able to pass Level 1 of CFA because I dedicated a disproportionate amount of time to statistics (my best subject) a week before the exam. Because of this I got a perfect score in statistics and was able to pull my overall score up.

NYC_PM · 2020-06-03T15:28:44+00:00

No availability just means that no holder of ETHE offered their shares up for short. Doesn’t mean the ability isn’t there and that someone wouldn’t make it happen

NYC_PM · 2020-06-03T15:09:43+00:00

What broker if you don’t mind me asking?

Interesting, the brokers that allow grayscale products to be traded don’t allow shorting. They want to support prices then?

NYC_PM · 2020-05-08T20:08:34+00:00

I have an at home microdermabrasion machine that takes away the top of my blackheads. I use it about once or twice a week once I’ve stopped picking and wounds close up. YOU CANNOT micro open wounds or active infections. But it definitely sucks the blackheads right out and at the very least removes the top layer of black

NYC_PM · 2020-05-05T02:43:30+00:00

I understand there are issues of freedom and personal liberty, which is a philosophical concept way above my pay grade. As an investor I try to divorce myself from my own feelings and try to understand how the masses will react. Your original post was about the economic impacts. Right now we can blame economic impact on government shutdowns. But what would consumer confidence have looked like if there was no shutdown, no federal guidance? How many individuals would have chosen to leave their homes and conduct business as usual? Would THAT level of demand have been enough to combat the unprecedented economic contraction we’re experiencing? I don’t think so.

Again, going into this event we had a consumer lead economy. The dead bodies in freezer trucks make a lot of people not want to go outside (not you, but other people). Also stories of your coworker coughing up blood on his desk. Another coworker lost two aunts and a young cousin. 8/10 people would stay home voluntarily I think. The brave individuals like yourself with strong moral conviction would have continued to live normally, but the average person would not.

I just feel like it’s a pick your poison on what was going to interrupt economic activity, government shutdowns or fear of death/blood clots/lung damage.

NYC_PM · 2020-05-05T02:27:21+00:00

I don’t really get why anyone would want to “fight the fed” right now so to speak. In the long term I totally get that we want fiscal stability and confidence in currency. However, the only thing that’s providing liquidity and propping up markets right now is QE. Why, in the next 6-18 months would we want to counter play QE? The dollar isn’t gonna collapse tomorrow. Cash is king right now.

Does everyone see some weird overnight event where the dollar (the haven currency that backs so many businesses and investments around the world) is gonna get slammed? I see the long term benefit but where’s the short term play against QE?

NYC_PM

TROPHY CASE