[bluGill]

It is invalid to consider stocks, bonus, and other incentives in your calculations. Companies take them away all the time.

You have salary, and that is it. Fringe benefits (insurance, 401k match...) is a useful thing to get and part of the picture, but the company can change them to your negative when they feel like it.

stocks and bonus are nice, but you dare not count on them until after you get them. People who do otherwise find themselves broke when expected money doesn't come in.

[acchow]

Actually, a company can't take away granted RSU's that are still vesting. That's a signed agreement.

They can, however, reduce your salary at will.

[bluGill]

True, but there is no reason to believe that those stocks will be worth anything when they vest.

[acchow]

Sure, but they can also reduce your salary at any time. So it's a bit unfair to consider salary any "more real" than vesting RSUs.

I just mean your claim "stocks and bonus are nice, but you dare not count on them until after you get them" is false because you can't "count on" salary coming either.

[danielpatrick]

Elaborate?