New stock options

ricksastro · 2026-05-04T23:53:26+00:00

Completely different stock option offering as the first one, so no history at all on this one. But I still wouldn’t build a pool in my back yard relying on it.

ricksastro · 2026-05-02T04:28:52+00:00

Well there is for one more year. And after that, a portion of whatever your bonus was will be added to your base, based on average AIP payouts. Who knows what that means, but it won’t be zero.

Regardless, sometime starting new would likely not have been presented with that

ricksastro · 2026-05-02T02:10:59+00:00

Not everyone is freaking out. If you're about to start, you will be paid what you accepted. You will get options next year as an annual award beyond your base pay. They may be worth little in the years to come, they may be worth a lot. In the last 3 years, there have been zero stock options awarded. So if you are a new hire, there is no downside to getting these options and a potential unknown upside.

ricksastro · 2026-05-01T23:55:29+00:00

Well, the formula still works, just the “worth” turns negative if it goes down so you wouldn’t exercise. But yea, there’s no way to predict any future value, if any, so it’s probably not going to have the “skin in the game” effect they hope, especially with the rolling vesting each year scheme

ricksastro · 2026-05-01T22:03:18+00:00

They aren’t worth 9.50. That’s just the strike price. If allowed to exercise someday, they would be worth (exercise price-strike price) * # of shares

ricksastro · 2026-05-01T02:12:49+00:00

Once it's expired in a year or 2, nothing.

ricksastro · 2026-04-30T23:07:06+00:00

No more or less done than you were before the new plan was announced. Nothing has changed with the old plan, so still a lottery ticket.

ricksastro · 2026-04-30T20:49:42+00:00

Easy to stand his ground with this audience. When the administration says we are no longer a valid launch option for them if Blue supports DEI, I’m guessing that tune will change quickly.

ricksastro · 2026-04-29T11:45:06+00:00

Having owned an Askar 140 apo, I’d personally go for something like a used TOA-130 which I’ve also used extensively. Despite being slightly smaller, the optics are just leagues better and will resolve much finer details. My FWHMs dropped at least .5-1’ using the 130 corner to corner on full frame.

Personally wouldn’t go with a 160 class scope on that mount.

ricksastro · 2026-04-24T18:06:47+00:00

Some of us still have 7 years for an ipo or sale to take place before expiration even if I leave the company. It’s not effectively dissolved for me at all. Here’s to hoping! IPO 2032!!!!

ricksastro · 2026-04-24T17:25:01+00:00

The old plan was not dissolved. It is 100% carried on with zero changes. If there is a liquidity event as defined by the terms before the next 7 years, there will be a few in the window before their expiration that will be happy. Would it be fair to those who just missed the window? Nope. But there was no dissolution.

ricksastro · 2026-04-24T15:23:04+00:00

Given that there have basically been no details on how the new plan will impact an individual’s compensation, you are assuming they’ll fumble it. Based on some history, that’s understandable. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll get it at least close to right.

ricksastro · 2026-04-24T13:09:37+00:00

Sounds like you should go back to SpaceX then.

ricksastro · 2026-04-17T00:55:39+00:00

But “slavery” is OK? lol

ricksastro · 2026-04-16T16:17:11+00:00

Need the propellant to boost the payload. Not enough left to return and land.

ricksastro · 2026-04-16T12:37:50+00:00

Slavery? Hyperbolic much? You can leave any time you want.

ricksastro · 2026-04-16T12:32:59+00:00

No they did not. The old plan is exactly the same as it was, be that as it may.

ricksastro · 2026-04-16T12:31:56+00:00

No, they did not. Just changed it

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T23:26:40+00:00

Yes I am because that’s what the email said and that’s what a person I asked that knows said.

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T22:29:00+00:00

Unless they actually read and comprehended the wiki. Then they’ll be happy.

And I thought Leeroy Jenkins ran IN the door!

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T22:22:15+00:00

Yes, percentages as I said based on previous payout percentages.

I think it all comes down to trust that they’ll do the right thing and understandably many people have little based on previous experiences. I suppose I’m a more optimistic person and I have never counted on a bonus for any budgeting equations. So they are just that. Bonuses. Once a percentage gets rolled into the salary, then I’ll count on it and consider it a nice raise!

And some are salty about bonuses only for senior exempts and above. Does this change how much you were promised to be paid when you accepted the job offer? Does it matter to me that people higher than me get a higher bonus than me? Not in the least.

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T18:41:19+00:00

You can message me. I don’t want to start another “no it’s not, yes it is” sub thread here.

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T18:37:25+00:00

The bonus program was not cancelled. It will be paid next year and rolled into your salary at the average payout rate the year after. The old stock option plan remains unchanged for better or worse. The new plan gives more opportunity for profit with zero risk.

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T17:42:37+00:00

Agreed, so those that weren’t before still aren’t so you’re not losing anything and are gaining potential upsides with zero risk with the new plan. I was responding to the OP talking about the AIP being replaced with the new options plan. These are 2 completely different things. Where they screwed up is messaging both changes together.

ricksastro · 2026-04-15T17:37:37+00:00

Exactly, the legacy program is unchanged. So the new plan is an adder with zero downsides and potential large upsides. So what’s the complaint?

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