Laid Off from Tech?
10 Financial Decisions to Make Before Your Next Role
A layoff doesn’t just change your income; it creates a short window to make decisions that can impact your finances for years.
If your compensation included stock options, RSUs, or bonuses, the next 30–90 days may carry more weight than it initially seems.
This checklist highlights the key decisions to think through before your next role, especially around equity, taxes, and cash flow.
Inside the Checklist:
- Equity timelines and option deadlines
- Whether exercising options makes sense
- RSUs and overall company exposure
- Cash runway and liquidity
- Severance structure and income timing
- Healthcare coverage options
- 401(k) and retirement account decisions
- Tax opportunities in a lower-income year
- Spending adjustments during transition
- How to avoid rushed, costly decisions
Why It Matters
These decisions are connected.
The timing of one decision can influence another. A choice around equity may affect your taxes. Tax decisions can shape your investment flexibility. And all of it ties back to how long your current resources need to last.
Many people focus on replacing income as quickly as possible. What often gets overlooked is how much flexibility exists in the months between roles, and how those decisions can carry forward long after your next job begins.
Using a structured checklist can help you:
- Clarify which decisions are time-sensitive and which can wait
- Understand how equity, taxes, and cash flow interact
- Avoid rushed decisions made under pressure
- Approach this transition with more intention and perspective
Fill out the form below to download your free checklist!