[dawhizkid]

That is not true. You keep whatever you vest (i.e. typically stay at a company at least 1 year). That is the same for stock options.

Typically companies that offer RSUs have achieved scale (your Ubers and Stripes of the world), so yes the upside is lower, but the "pros" are that it's more obvious to you what the value of the grants are and you don't have any cost to exercise them like with options. These companies know that because they are less liquid vs public cos that candidates are right to discount them, which is why they usually offer more than what you'd otherwise receive from a Google or FB.

[joshe]

Sorry have to delete these, not comfortable with these comments sitting on the internet forever.

[dragonwriter]

> Nope, the "stock units" that you "vest" will expire after a few years.

When they vest, you either get (1) actual shares, (2) the cash equivalent (I think that option may only be available for publicly traded stock), or (3) at your option, retain the RSU for conversion at a later date.

Unconverted deferred vested RSUs might expire (and vested stock options definitely expire), but—unlike options—there’s almost never a reason not to convert an RSU (deferring for later conversion may make sense, but it's essentially always better to convert before expiration.)

[joshe]

Sorry have to delete these, not comfortable with these comments sitting on the internet forever.