Global RSU Playbook

Your RSUs built
your wealth.
Now protect it.

A guide to navigating concentration risk, regulatory exposure, and inheritance traps — built for Indian tech professionals with global equity.

Questions worth asking — key risks every RSU holder should think about

Four risks you may be
underestimating

Your heirs could lose 40 cents on every dollar held in US stocks.

40%

Estate Tax

The Trigger

Any US-sited stock held by an Indian resident above $60,000 — taxed at 40% upon death.

The Trap

Spousal exemption only applies to US citizens. Indian residents do not qualify.

The Solution

GIFT City fund wrappers are not US-sited assets — eliminating this exposure entirely.

Your heirs could lose 40 cents on every dollar held in US stocks.

40%

Estate Tax

The Trigger

Any US-sited stock held by an Indian resident above $60,000 — taxed at 40% upon death.

The Trap

Spousal exemption only applies to US citizens. Indian residents do not qualify.

The Solution

GIFT City fund wrappers are not US-sited assets — eliminating this exposure entirely.

Diversification Strategies

There is no
one-size-fits-all strategy.

But diversification is
non-negotiable.

Staggered Sale

Sell RSUs systematically — 25% per quarter — spread across years. Defers capital gains. Eliminates regret.

If the stock rises, you still hold some.
If it falls, you already sold well.

100%

75%

50%

25%

Qtr 1

Qtr 2

Qtr 3

Qtr 4

Sell 25% of vested RSUs every quarter, defer the capital gains across years.

Core–Satellite Strategy

Retain a fixed conviction allocation in your company stock. Diversify the rest across global markets via professionally managed funds.

Core: 30–40%
Employer stock. High conviction holding.

Satellite: 60–70%
Diversified global fund managers.

Strategy Backtests · 2021 to 2026

Discipline beats prediction
in every scenario.

−39.4%

+39.3%

+2.9%

HoldPosition

StaggeredSale

Core-Satellite

−60%−40%−20%0%+20%+40%+60%

−39.4%

+39.3%

+2.9%

HoldPosition

StaggeredSale

Core-Satellite

Systematic transfer turned a −39.4% loss into a +39.3% gain.

Reinvestment Routes

Not all
diversification vehicles
are created equal.

	GIFT City AIF Funds	UCITs and other non-US Funds
Diversification
Professionally Managed
Estate Tax Protection
Tax efficiency	*	*

Solution	Diversification	Professionally Managed	Estate Tax Protection	Tax Efficiency
Direct Investing in US stocks
US Based ETFs and Funds
UCITs and other non-US Funds				*
GIFT City AIF Funds				*

* Ionic's GIFT City Funds are structured to offer LTCG benefits like domestic funds, while other offshore funds may have tax implications on the basis of underlying sale/purchase of securities.

Targeted Opportunities via GIFT City

The Complete Global Basket

INNOVATION01

Global Innovation Fund

~30 best-in-class tech stocks focused on disruptive structural trends.

Liquidity

Fortnightly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception absolute
return as of Feb 2026

7.71%

diversified by theme

EMERGING MARKETS02

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Capture the EM re-rating with low-correlation diversification beyond India.

Liquidity

Monthly

after 2 yr lock-in

Min. Invest

$150,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

22.6%

anchored by macro

MACRO03

Global Macro Fund

Structural investing beyond market noise. “Picks and shovels” across disruptive themes.

Liquidity

Monthly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

23.2%

INNOVATION

Global Innovation Fund

~30 best-in-class tech stocks focused on disruptive structural trends.

Liquidity

Fortnightly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception absolute
return as of Feb 2026

7.71%

diversified by theme

EMERGING MARKETS

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Capture the EM re-rating with low-correlation diversification beyond India.

Liquidity

Monthly

after 2 yr lock-in

Min. Invest

$150,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

22.6%

anchored by macro

MACRO

Global Macro Fund

Structural investing beyond market noise. “Picks and shovels” across disruptive themes.

Liquidity

Monthly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

23.2%

Speak to an advisor about portfolio allocation

Structured via GIFT City IFSC · No US estate tax exposure

RSU FAQs

Questions we hear from tech employees

Your RSU Wealth

Tax: What Your Form 16 Does Not Cover

Regulatory Compliance: The Filings You May Have Missed

US Estate Tax: The Risk No One Warned You About

Working with Ionic Wealth

Ready to Act?

Move from intention
to execution.

Our advisors specialise in RSU wealth management for Indian HNIs — strategy, compliance, and fund placement.

Discover More on AppUpgrade your journey of wealth creation

Ionic ExclusivesExplore interesting investment opportunitiesKnow More

Accredited InvestorBecome an accredited investor and start Investing with lower ticket sizeKnow More

Legal

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclaimer

Regulatory Disclosure

ODR Portal

Emailhello@ionic.in

Phone022 4000 3600

Socials

Download the Ionic Wealth App

AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Distributor

Angel One Wealth Limited (AOWL)

ARN AOWL - 293044

CIN AOWL - U66190MH2023PLC411784

Angel One Investment Services Private Limited (AOISPL)

ARN AOISPL - 306165

CIN AOISPL - U66190MH2024PTC426203

SEBI Registered Research Analyst Number- INH000020305

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

Registered Office: 601, 6th Floor, Ackruti Star, Central Road, MIDC, Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400 093

#NoOneDoesItAlone

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Blog

Global RSU Playbook

Your RSUs built
your wealth.
Now protect it.

A guide to navigating concentration risk, regulatory exposure, and inheritance traps — built for Indian tech professionals with global equity.

Four risks you may be
underestimating

Your heirs could lose 40 cents on every dollar held in US stocks.

40%

Estate Tax

The Trigger

Any US-sited stock held by an Indian resident above $60,000 — taxed at 40% upon death.

The Trap

Spousal exemption only applies to US citizens. Indian residents do not qualify.

The Solution

GIFT City fund wrappers are not US-sited assets — eliminating this exposure entirely.

Your heirs could lose 40 cents on every dollar held in US stocks.

40%

Estate Tax

The Trigger

Any US-sited stock held by an Indian resident above $60,000 — taxed at 40% upon death.

The Trap

Spousal exemption only applies to US citizens. Indian residents do not qualify.

The Solution

GIFT City fund wrappers are not US-sited assets — eliminating this exposure entirely.

Diversification Strategies

There is no
one-size-fits-all strategy.

But diversification is
non-negotiable.

Staggered Sale

Sell RSUs systematically — 25% per quarter — spread across years. Defers capital gains. Eliminates regret.

If the stock rises, you still hold some.
If it falls, you already sold well.

100%

75%

50%

25%

Qtr 1

Qtr 2

Qtr 3

Qtr 4

Sell 25% of vested RSUs every quarter, defer the capital gains across years.

Core–Satellite Strategy

Retain a fixed conviction allocation in your company stock. Diversify the rest across global markets via professionally managed funds.

Core: 30–40%
Employer stock. High conviction holding.

Satellite: 60–70%
Diversified global fund managers.

Strategy Backtests · 2021 to 2026

Discipline beats prediction
in every scenario.

−39.4%

+39.3%

+2.9%

HoldPosition

StaggeredSale

Core-Satellite

−60%−40%−20%0%+20%+40%+60%

−39.4%

+39.3%

+2.9%

HoldPosition

StaggeredSale

Core-Satellite

Systematic transfer turned a −39.4% loss into a +39.3% gain.

Reinvestment Routes

Not all
diversification vehicles
are created equal.

	GIFT City AIF Funds	UCITs and other non-US Funds
Diversification
Professionally Managed
Estate Tax Protection
Tax efficiency	*	*

Solution	Diversification	Professionally Managed	Estate Tax Protection	Tax Efficiency
Direct Investing in US stocks
US Based ETFs and Funds
UCITs and other non-US Funds				*
GIFT City AIF Funds				*

* Ionic's GIFT City Funds are structured to offer LTCG benefits like domestic funds, while other offshore funds may have tax implications on the basis of underlying sale/purchase of securities.

Targeted Opportunities via GIFT City

The Complete Global Basket

INNOVATION01

Global Innovation Fund

~30 best-in-class tech stocks focused on disruptive structural trends.

Liquidity

Fortnightly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception absolute
return as of Feb 2026

7.71%

diversified by theme

EMERGING MARKETS02

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Capture the EM re-rating with low-correlation diversification beyond India.

Liquidity

Monthly

after 2 yr lock-in

Min. Invest

$150,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

22.6%

anchored by macro

MACRO03

Global Macro Fund

Structural investing beyond market noise. “Picks and shovels” across disruptive themes.

Liquidity

Monthly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

23.2%

INNOVATION

Global Innovation Fund

~30 best-in-class tech stocks focused on disruptive structural trends.

Liquidity

Fortnightly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception absolute
return as of Feb 2026

7.71%

diversified by theme

EMERGING MARKETS

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Capture the EM re-rating with low-correlation diversification beyond India.

Liquidity

Monthly

after 2 yr lock-in

Min. Invest

$150,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

22.6%

anchored by macro

MACRO

Global Macro Fund

Structural investing beyond market noise. “Picks and shovels” across disruptive themes.

Liquidity

Monthly

Min. Invest

$100,000

ReturnsiSince inception annualised
return as of Feb 2026

23.2%

Speak to an advisor about portfolio allocation

Structured via GIFT City IFSC · No US estate tax exposure

RSU FAQs

Questions we hear from tech employees

Your RSU Wealth

Tax: What Your Form 16 Does Not Cover

Regulatory Compliance: The Filings You May Have Missed

US Estate Tax: The Risk No One Warned You About

Working with Ionic Wealth

Ready to Act?

Move from intention
to execution.

Our advisors specialise in RSU wealth management for Indian HNIs — strategy, compliance, and fund placement.

Discover More on AppUpgrade your journey of wealth creation

Ionic ExclusivesExplore interesting investment opportunitiesKnow More

Accredited InvestorBecome an accredited investor and start Investing with lower ticket sizeKnow More

Legal

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclaimer

Regulatory Disclosure

ODR Portal

Emailhello@ionic.in

Phone022 4000 3600

Socials

Download the Ionic Wealth App

AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Distributor

Angel One Wealth Limited (AOWL)

ARN AOWL - 293044

CIN AOWL - U66190MH2023PLC411784

Angel One Investment Services Private Limited (AOISPL)

ARN AOISPL - 306165

CIN AOISPL - U66190MH2024PTC426203

SEBI Registered Research Analyst Number- INH000020305

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

Registered Office: 601, 6th Floor, Ackruti Star, Central Road, MIDC, Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400 093

#NoOneDoesItAlone

Your RSUs builtyour wealth.Now protect it.

Four risks you may beunderestimating

Staggered Sale

Core–Satellite Strategy

Global Innovation Fund

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Global Macro Fund

Global Innovation Fund

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Global Macro Fund

Move from intentionto execution.

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclaimer

Regulatory Disclosure

ODR Portal

Your RSUs builtyour wealth.Now protect it.

Four risks you may beunderestimating

Staggered Sale

Core–Satellite Strategy

Global Innovation Fund

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Global Macro Fund

Global Innovation Fund

Global Emerging Market Ex‑India Fund

Global Macro Fund

Move from intentionto execution.

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclaimer

Regulatory Disclosure

ODR Portal

Your RSUs built
your wealth.
Now protect it.

Four risks you may be
underestimating

Move from intention
to execution.

Your RSUs built
your wealth.
Now protect it.

Four risks you may be
underestimating

Move from intention
to execution.