The NASPP Blog is on vacation this week, but to tide you over while we are out, here are some stock plan haiku submitted by Andrew Schwartz of Computershare (in response to last week’s blog entry, “Stock Plan Haiku“):

Like flowing rivers
Cascade myriad tax forms
From stock purchase plans

Avalanche of white
Paper hills bury workers
Total confusion

Proceeds cost basis
Dividend reinvestment
Lot after lot

Search offering dates
Missing fair market values
Take a wild guess now

Go pick a number
Gain or loss it’s all the same
Just add it all up

Forget wash sale loss
Sure looks like a gain to me
File return get beer

The NASPP Blog will return next week.  Happy New Year!

– Barbara

A while ago, I read an article about creating successful PowerPoint presentations that included the line “Think haiku, not epic poetry.” I’m not sure I agree entirely with the author’s points about PowerPoint (I’ve sat through a lot of PowerPoint presentations that adhered to the “six to eight words per slide” rule that, frankly, were all marketing fluff and no substance), but it did get me thinking.  Could employees be educated about stock compensation in a haiku?

So, for something a little lighter this holiday season, I offer some examples of stock compensation education in the form of haiku:

Please don’t wait until
The very last minute to
Exercise options.

No shares in account
You sold them; now they are gone.
Shhh—you can buy more.

Cost basis on your
1099-B is wrong.
Don’t overpay tax.

Please retain this form
You will need it at tax time.
Lose it–be sorry.

ESPPs are
The best thing since sliced bread
Don’t miss enrollment.

Now it’s your turn–email your haiku on stock plan topics to me at bbaksa@naspp.com.

I hope you all have a great holiday season!

– Barbara