How performance awards work
Follow the journey of a typical award.
Accept your award
(if you're required to).
Wait for the award to vest (adjusted for performance)
Your award pays out after taxes are withheld.
The payout is now yours.
Receiving a performance award from your company is a big deal—congratulations! Performance awards are a form of equity compensation that pays out in shares or cash after a specified vesting (or waiting) period, including any adjustments based on performance goals.
Accepting your award and opening your account
To accept your award, go to Fidelity NetBenefits. If you're registering for the first time, you'll be asked to create a username and password and certify your account if you need to.
Tracking your award value
The value of your award may be based on your company's share price or on a specific amount of cash. Go to NetBenefits to see how much your award could be worth. Your company may adjust this value, depending on individual and/or corporate performance goals.
Receiving your payout
Your award pays out after the vesting date—go to NetBenefits to find out when that happens. The company may adjust the final payout based on the achievement of performance goals.
Managing your payout
Your cash or shares will pay out to your account. To sell your shares easily and link your bank account to access cash, go to NetBenefits.
Understanding your taxes
Your award is considered taxable when it pays out, and your company may withhold a portion of the payout to cover taxes due. If your award pays out as shares, you may have additional taxes when you sell your shares, depending on your country's tax laws. Use Fidelity's tax-planning resources to learn more about taxes.
Your Stock Plan Resource Center
The Stock Plan Resource Center provides the help and education you need to understand how your equity compensation works, including taxes, and selling and managing shares.