[pfarrell]

In this case, the company had gone public, so they could have sold. Bolt is a wholly different story. I think the employees back in 2000 had one window where they could sell where the stock was at a high value. Many of them passed it up, expecting it to go to 70.

In 2015, I talked to ESO fund for some fintech options I had where I couldn’t cover the tax when I quit (stock wasn’t public). I was very satisfied with my dealings with them. Ultimately, they pulled out on the deal. That was a pretty strong signal because, low and behold, that pre-ipo stock tanked in a month too. Luckily, the lessons I’d learned from the earlier stories helped me to walk away from those options. It was a tough, but ultimately good decision.

[adrr]

It's all luck and timing. The company I couldn't sell the shares to cover my tax bill was acquired for nine figures a year later and I had all my stock because I couldn't sell it.