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Unlock Your Coding Potential: Where You Can Learn How To Code

03.21.2023 by admin // Leave a Comment

While it may seem scary to get started, there are many easy, low cost ways to start learning how to code. Learning how to code can open up a world of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. It can help you develop skills in problem-solving, logic, and creativity, and can lead to a career in a variety of industries. There are many resources available for learning to code, including online tutorials, coding bootcamps, and college courses. The key to success is to find the approach that works best for you and to stay motivated and dedicated to the learning process. In this guide, we will explore some of the best places to learn how to code. We will also provide tips and resources to help you get started on your coding journey.

Learn How To Code Through Online Courses

There are many online courses and tutorials available that can help you learn how to code. This is a great option to start with because you can do it from home, it is cheaper, and you can start with a few introductory classes that help you determine which route you want to go. Depending which online courses you select, you have the option to go at your own pace and schedule or attend at a set time with other classmates.

A few options to start include LinkedIn Learning Programming Languages Courses, Coursera’s Coding for Beginners, and Grow With Google.

While this is one of the cheapest options, you also may not be able to expand your network and have connections through the classes to employers.

Learn How To Code Through In-Person Coding Classes

Many extended learning programs through your local school district, community colleges and 4-year colleges offer courses that teach you how to code. There are lots of coding jobs available that don’t require 4-year college degrees. If you learn better through in-person classes, there are plenty of options cheaper than private 4 year college classes.

To find where you can learn how to code through in-person coding classes start by looking at the website for your local school district and local community college. Some schools will also have partnerships with companies looking to hire coding skill sets and you’ll be able to apply for jobs through on campus recruiting and their career center.

Learn How To Code Through Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps are another option to learn how to code. Typically, coding bootcamps last a few months, which is significantly shorter than traditional computer science degree programs.

You can get into the job market faster with a coding bootcamp compared to a traditional CS degree. The curriculum is focused, so if you have your eyes set on a particular job you can choose the coding bootcamp where you’ll learn that particular skill. Bootcamps typically offer hands-on projects and real-world experience that can help you build a portfolio of work. This portfolio can then be used to secure interviews for a full-time job. Bootcamps also offer opportunities to network with other students and industry professionals.

While there are many benefits to coding bootcamps, there are also cons. Coding bootcamps can be expensive, with some programs costing over $10,000. They are also time intensive and require a significant time commitment. It may not be possible to attend a bootcamp with your current work or family commitments.

The quality of coding bootcamps is also not always the same. The quality of education can vary greatly between programs, so it’s important to research and choose a reputable bootcamp with a strong track record of success. Forbes created a list of the best coding bootcamps, and also compares the costs and hiring partners of each bootcamp. While coding bootcamps can be effective for learning specific skills, they may not offer the breadth or depth of education as more traditional four year degrees.

Teach Yourself Through Reading Books And Other Written Materials

Lastly, you can teach yourself coding through reading books and other materials. You can go at your own pace and schedule. This is a good option for those who prefer a more self-directed learning approach and don’t need structure. There are pros and cons to teaching yourself how to code through reading books and other written materials.

Teaching yourself is cost-effective. Books are cheaper than attending a class. Many coding for beginners books on Amazon are around $20 each. And, you can even rent books for free from the library. You can also have flexibility by going at your own pace and schedule and can spend more time on areas you need more practice with.

On the other hand, sometimes lack of guidance from an instructor or mentor can be hard. Like with any self-paced learning, you are only accountable to yourself and sometimes that can result in difficulty staying motivated. Teaching yourself through reading also doesn’t come with hands-on experience which is essential for becoming a programmer. Lastly, coding technologies and best practices are constantly evolving. If you focus only on written materials, they may be outdated.

Where You Can Learn to Code Summary

Learning to code is an essential skill in today’s digital world, whether you’re looking to switch careers or simply want to enhance your technical skills. Fortunately, there are many online resources, courses, and learning platforms available to help you get started. From free coding tutorials to paid courses and interactive coding challenges, our guide covers the best options to suit your needs and budget. Start your coding journey today and unlock your potential as a programmer.

Evaluating Equity Comp: Are Stock Options or RSUs Better?

03.14.2023 by admin // Leave a Comment

Considering a career change or have multiple offers in hand? How do you compare equity compensation? Equity compensation can be a catalyst to growing your net worth. Putting a true dollar value on equity compensation is tough when you’re looking at a private company. When the company is publicly traded though, you can look at the latest stock price and know how much the equity grant is currently worth. However, it’s tough to know how much the equity comp will be worth when it vests. When evaluating different equity compensation at publicly traded companies, which is better stock options or RSUs? In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of stock options and RSUs to help you determine which is the best choice for you.

What are Stock Options?

Stock options are the right to buy a specific number of shares of company stock at a pre-set price following a vesting period. If your pre-set price is $10 and the stock is currently at $50 you pay $10/ share. This is known as the exercise or strike price. When you hit the first vesting period you can exercise your stock options. After you hit that vesting period, you have the right to purchase company stock at that predetermined price whenever you want. It can be that same day, it can be 2 years later – the choice is yours.

To motivate employees to work hard and drive the stock price up a company might grant a large number of options that are significantly below the current market price. Combined with your flexibility to sell any time after they vest, you may have the ability to purchase shares significantly below the current market value. Conversely, if the stock price does not go up significantly, you may not be able to benefit from the equity compensation at up. The stock price could even decline to the point where your equity compensation ends up worthless.

What are Restricted Stock Options (RSUs)?

Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs, are a form of compensation offered by employers to employees. They are company shares that are restricted, meaning that you can’t sell them right away. Instead, you will be given shares that vest over time. When you accept RSUs, they will come with a vesting schedule. Often, you’ll see vesting schedules that span 3 or 4 years. This schedule will show how many shares will vest on which dates. Typically, there will be one day per year and each of those days will be a year apart. On that date you are given those shares at the price of the stock that day. They have no tangible value until the vesting date. If you leave the company before the vesting date that means you walk away from this future compensation.

How Are Stock Options and RSUs Different?

Stock Options and RSUs Redemption

Stock options and RSUs can both have similar vesting schedules. The vesting schedule will depend on what the company offers. Usually, equity compensation is a way to encourage employees to stay at the company. As a result, you’ll often see vesting schedules that span a few years. You may get 1/3 of the equity grant at the end of year 1, 1/3 at the end of year 2 and the last 1/3 at the end of year 3. If you leave the company before your RSUs or stock options vest, you will forfeit the unvested shares.

While they both have vesting schedules, what happens upon vesting is different. When your options vest, nothing happens unless you decide to exercise your option to buy. If you exercise your option to buy, you can initiate an exercise-and-hold transaction (cash for stock), initiate an exercise-and-sell-to-cover transaction or initiate an exercise-and-sell transaction (cashless) depending on your personal situation and goals.

When your RSUs vest, you now have shares of the company you can sell at any time. You are given the shares, and taxed through your paycheck if you sell to cover or have to pay taxes on this additional income at tax time.

Stock Options and RSUs Selling Times

While they both have vesting schedules, stock options and RSUs differ in flexibility to sell. When stock options vest, nothing happens until you decide to exercise your options. You can decide to sell your options that day, or years later. However, your vested options are still tied to your employment with the company. If you decide to leave the company you will likely need to exercise your vested options within 90 days.

With RSUs, when they vest, you have shares of the company you can sell at any time. If you sell within a year it will be taxed as short term gains/ losses. If you sell after a year, the RSUs will be taxed as long term gains / losses.

How Stock Options and RSUs are Taxed Differently

Both stock options and RSUs will not be taxed when you first receive them. But, they will be taxed upon vesting. And, how they are taxed upon vesting is different.

How Stock Options Are Taxed

With stock options, how you are taxed depends on what type of stock options you have. There are two main types of employee stock options – non-qualified stock options (NSOs) and incentive stock options (ISOs). If you have NSOs, you are taxed as ordinary income when you initially exercise the stock for the difference between the current stock price and the price you bought it at. With ISOs, you get taxed when you sell the shares. If you sell the shares after holding less than a year you’ll be subject to short term gains taxes and if you sell the shares after holding longer than a year you’ll be subject to long term capital gains taxes.

How RSUs are Taxed

RSUs are given to you at $0 and they converted to the value of the company stock when they vest. When RSUs vest, that is a taxable event whether you choose to sell that day or not. Therefore, you will be taxed on the full amount at the total fair market value of your stock grant on the vesting date. When you sell your RSUs your taxes will be calculated based on the strike price. The strike price is the price of the shares when they become vested. If the shares were originally $100/ share when you got your RSU grant, but the shares are worth $50/share the day they vest you will be taxed on the $50/share price. Upon vesting, this is when you get to decide if you want to keep the shares or sell them. Whether you decide to keep or sell the shares, it’s recommended to sell enough to cover the ordinary income tax for the shares.

Are RSUs Better than Stock Options?

Ultimately, whether RSUs or stock options are best depend on your personal goals and how much you think the package you were offered will be ultimately worth.

How to Open a Custodial Account at Charles Schwab

03.07.2023 by admin // Leave a Comment

Custodial accounts are a powerful financial tool for parents who want to help their children get started on the path to financial success. It enables parents, or other adults, to open up an account on behalf of a child and start investing on behalf of a child at an early age. There are many benefits to opening a custodial account for a child, including financial education opportunities and tax benefits. But, how do you actually open up a custodial account for a child? In this blog post, we’ll review how to open up a custodial account for a child at Charles Schwab.

What is a Custodial Account?

A custodial account is a financial account that is managed by an adult on behalf of a minor, typically a child under the age of 18 or 21 (depending on the state). The adult who manages the account is known as the custodian, and they have the legal authority to manage the funds and investments in the account until the minor reaches the age of majority. Once the minor reaches the age of majority, the funds in the custodial account are legally theirs to control and use as they see fit.

Custodial accounts can be opened at banks, brokerage firms, or other financial institutions, and can hold a variety of assets such as cash, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The custodian is responsible for making investment decisions on behalf the minor.

How to Open a Custodial Account at Charles Schwab

To open a custodial account at Charles Schwab, you can follow these steps:

Visit the Charles Schwab website and click on the “Open an Account” button.
Select “Brokerage Account” as the account type, then scroll down to “Additional Accounts” at the very bottom of the page
Under the Educational and Custodial box, select “Custodial Account”
This next screen tells you it will take about 10 minutes and you’ll need: U.S. permanent resident address for yourself and the minor, a Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number for yourself and the minor, Employer’s name and mailing address (if applicable) for yourself and the minor.
Fill in your personal information – if you have an account most of your information will already be pre-populated.
Verify your mailing address.
Provide your employment and financials. This will also be pre-populated if you already have an account with Charles Schwab.
Answer the standard financial questions such as do you own 10% or more of a public company.
Provide the minor’s information including name, date of birth and social security number.
Provide the minor’s legal address and phone number – you can click the checkbox up at the top to use the same address and phone number as yours.
Provide the minor’s employment status and financial net worth. There is an option to say “not employed” and you can also can put $0 salary and $0 net worth.
A screen asking about the state and the age of termination will pop up. Based on the state, the age of termination options will change. For example, some states are age 18, some are age 21, some offer both options and some states offer other ages. You are able to select the age here, and it will tell you what year that is.
A screen asks about additional details for the minor, the standard financial questions like if they own 10% of a company.
Select what the source of funds will be for this account and the primary purpose of this account.
Select if you want checks, options trading and if you want to go paperless.
Consent to the terms and conditions and hit submit.
The application for a custodial account has now been submitted and you wait for approval or get started on funding the account.

Keep in mind that specific requirements and procedures may vary depending on the state you reside in and the type of custodial account you want to open.

How Do You Transfer Ownership Of A Custodial Account To The Child?

When the child reaches the age of majority, the custodial account will need to be transferred to the child. The account can be transferred into their name only with custodian consent. To do this transfer, contact Charles Schwab, or the brokerage holding the account.

Have you opened a custodial account for your child? What was your experience like?