If you’ve worked for a private company long term, odds are you’re hoping to cash in your vested stock options when the firm finally “goes IPO.”

There’s nothing wrong with that. Who doesn’t dream of reaping an options windfall and using it to retire early, buy a house, travel around the world or any number of options that come with financial independence?

But when it comes to stock option planning, most employees are on their own. In most circumstances, employers are legally forbidden from providing one-on-one options advice for employees.

And if you make the wrong decisions, you could be hit with a huge stock options exercise tax bill, often eating away 50% or more of your proceeds. That’s why many savvy employees with stock options turn to a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor, working in partnership with your tax advisor, to develop a stock option taxation and exercise strategy plan to make the most of your stock option windfall.