Joining an early-stage startup is risky: toiling for long hours at below market rates for a company that has a minuscule chance of hitting it big. To lure talented employees away from public companies and comfortable jobs, startup founders often have to dole out stock options. These options give early employees a chance to buy stock at an early (low) price in the hopes that the stock will gain value in the future. The options typically “vest,” or transfer ownership, over the course of years. READ MORE