Well --- sadly --- these are ORDINARY INCOME and you'll pay taxes at the current rate on the date you exercise. No long term ANYTHING on Options.
Remember too -- that when you exercise --- let's say 100 grand worth... that will RAISE your rate on all of your other salary. Be prepared to be hit with a whopper tax bill.
Back in the day --- We had massive Microsoft options.... we'd sell (they had 10 year expiration dates - so about 1996 you were forced to sell or let the option expire) what we had to... the next year - we'd sell to pay the taxes. While at the time you're whining about it - it's not a bad problem to have.
