The Severance Playbook
THE SEVERANCE PLAYBOOK
Everything you need to decide after a layoff, in one place.
A layoff is not one decision. It is several, and they run on different clocks. This series walks through each one on its own, so you can read the piece you need right now or work through the whole set before you sign anything. Start with the overview, then follow the decisions in order.
Start here: I just got laid off. What do I need to decide first?
The overview. The four decisions a layoff actually puts in front of you, why they run on different clocks, and which ones give you days rather than months.
https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/i-just-got-laid-what-do-i-need-decide-first
Should I stay through the transition period or leave now?
Why the retention pay they are offering is not the real question. The head start that everyone who leaves before you gets in the job market, and how to weigh it against the money.https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/should-i-stay-through-transition-period-or-leave-now
Lump sum or salary continuation?
Why continuation is a promise that depends on the company surviving to pay it, how the tax timing differs between the two, and where a conversation with your CPA can save real money.https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/lump-sum-or-salary-continuation
What happens to my unvested equity when I leave?
Why your plan document, not your severance agreement, decides what you keep. The exercise window that quietly costs people the most, and the retirement provision almost nobody checks.https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/what-happens-my-unvested-equity-when-i-leave
Why is my tax bill bigger than I expected?
How severance gets withheld light and then stacks on the rest of your year, why the surprise shows up in April, and when moving the payment into a lower-income year can help.https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/why-my-tax-bill-bigger-i-expected
What do I do with my 401(k) when I leave?
The Rule of 55 one-way door to check before you move anything, the real cost of cashing out, the narrow path for those under 55, and the old loan that can become a tax bill.https://www.riverstonewealthplanners.com/blog/what-do-i-do-my-401k-when-i-leave
How long does my severance actually last, and why should I cut back now?
Why a generous package tempts you to keep spending as before, and why trimming early, while the runway is full, is the calm choice rather than the panicked one later.What is the list of names and ages attached to my agreement?
The federally required document most people flip past, what it actually tells you about the decision that included your job, and where a financial planner's lane ends and an attorney's begins.
Working through a package of your own? This is exactly the kind of decision worth seeing on a screen rather than carrying in your head. We can put your numbers side by side, model the choices, and look at the whole picture together. Start a conversation.
This material was created to provide accurate and reliable information on the subjects covered but should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. It is not intended to provide specific legal, tax or other professional advice. The services of an appropriate professional should be sought regarding your individual situation
