“Picking up nickels in front of a steamroller” is an old saying in the investment world to describe a strategy that has small, positive, and fairly regular returns, with the occasional huge risk that can wipe you out. Tax planning around your investments gets half of the saying right, in that tax planning is like picking up nickels, which can generate small, positive, and fairly regular returns – if you do it right.

A guide to key considerations for Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) obligations when exercising incentive stock options.