Sometimes, the amount you've saved doesn't seem to match the shares in your account right away. This is normal! This guide explains why and shows you how to track everything in the Optio Employee Portal.
1. How Share Purchases Work in an ESSP
Your savings are collected over a set period (usually monthly over a quarter). The company then uses the total amount to buy shares on your behalf after the savings period ends.
- Savings Period: You save a fixed amount from your salary each month (e.g., October, November, December).
- Purchase Event: After the period, the company takes the total saved amount (e.g., from Q4) and purchases shares. This purchase often happens after the company publishes its quarterly financial results.
- Share Allocation: Once the purchase is complete, the shares are transferred to your depository (e.g., VPS) or broker account. This final transfer can also take a few days.
This process means there is a natural delay between when you save the money and when the shares appear in your account.
2. How to Check Your Savings and Purchases in the Portal
The Optio Employee Portal gives you a full history of your savings and share purchases. Here’s how to find it:
- Log in to the Optio Employee Portal.
- Navigate to the "Orders" section.
- Click on "Schedule of Savings".
Here you will find a detailed list showing:
- How much you saved each month.
- The total amount invested each quarter.
- The number of shares purchased and the date of the transaction.
3. Common Reasons for Discrepancies (and How to Solve Them)
If things still don't look right, here are the most common reasons:
- You sold shares directly from your broker account: The Optio portal shows the shares we have delivered to your account. If you sell shares directly from your personal broker (e.g., Nordnet, DNB), the Optio portal will not be updated with that sale. Your broker account is the ultimate source of truth for your current holdings.
- You recently changed your savings amount: Changes to your monthly savings will be reflected in the nextsavings period. The "Schedule of Savings" will show exactly how much was deducted each month.
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You updated your bank/broker account details recently: We collect account information before a purchase event to ensure a smooth transfer. If you update your details after this data has been sent to the broker, the shares for that specific quarter might be sent to your old account.
- What to do: Please contact the provider of your old account to arrange a transfer of the shares to your new one.
- Company Contribution/Bonus Shares: Remember to factor in any company contributions, like "bonus shares" (e.g., 1 bonus share for every 2 purchased). These are often delivered at a specific time and will be visible in your transaction history.
4. Still Have Questions?
If you have reviewed your "Schedule of Savings" and checked the points above but still have questions, please contact our support team at support@optioincentives.com.
To help us resolve your issue quickly, please include:
- A screenshot of your "Schedule of Savings" from the portal.
- A screenshot of your external broker/depository account history showing the share discrepancy.
This will allow us to compare the records and find a solution for you faster.