We own around 9500 shares in the company my wife works for. This time last year the stock was running around $32 per share. Today it closed at $66. On paper the value of our stock is about $627,000. However, as we know only too well from recent experience selling some of it, taxes and fees add up and whatever we sell is added to her total income for the year and taxed again. Judging by the sharp increase in price per share after her company released a product last spring, we'll likely see the stock jump to the mid $80 range or higher by winter unless some great catastrophe befalls her company. By then she'll have received 2500 more shares, which have fully vested the following year. Selling stock is great for small to medium purchases and vacations but you really have to watch your ass when doing so or you can find yourself suddenly in the next higher tax bracket come the following April. The best course in our case is to hold onto it, for now, and pay close attention to daily share value.