<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                     FORM OF CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.

                     SERVICE-BASED RSU AWARD STATEMENT FOR:

                                 [EMPLOYEE NAME]

Congratulations! The following summarizes your Calamos Service-Based RSU Award:

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS ("RSUS")

     TOTAL NUMBER OF RSUS
     GRANTED

VESTING SCHEDULE

     GRANT DATE                IPO First Trading Date:  October  , 2004

     VESTING SCHEDULE          A portion of your Restricted Stock Units vest on
                               each of the following dates:

                               -    33 1/3% on January 1, 2006

                               -    33 1/3% on January 1, 2007

                               -    33 1/3% on January 1, 2008

Your restricted stock units were issued from the Calamos Asset Management, Inc.
Incentive Compensation Plan. This restricted stock units award is governed by
the terms and conditions of this Service-Based RSU Award Statement, which
includes the accompanying Terms of the Service-Based RSU Awards and the
Incentive Compensation Plan. You will receive a copy of the Incentive
Compensation Plan Summary Description, and a copy of the plan document.

THIS SERVICE-BASED RSU STATEMENT, INCLUDING THE ACCOMPANYING TERMS OF THE
SERVICE-BASED RSU AWARDS, CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.

<PAGE>

                         CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.

                      TERMS OF THE SERVICE-BASED RSU AWARDS

TYPE(S) OF AWARD:       Restricted stock units ("RSUs").

                        When vested, each RSU entitles the holder to receive one
                        (1) share of Class A common stock of Calamos Asset
                        Management, Inc. ("CLMS").

VESTING:                The date(s) upon which the RSUs vest are set forth on
                        the Award Statement.

                        In the event of termination of employment due to death
                        or disability, a portion (or all) of the unvested RSUs
                        will vest as of the date of such termination of
                        employment. The portion that will vest will be
                        determined as follows: the vesting of those RSUs
                        scheduled to vest on the next following vesting date
                        will be accelerated to the date of such termination of
                        employment.

                        Upon a Change in Control, the RSUs will become fully
                        vested.

DELIVERY OF SHARES:     No exercise price or other amount is required to be paid
                        with respect to RSUs. Subject to applicable tax
                        withholding (see below), one (1) share of CLMS Class A
                        common stock will be delivered for each vested RSU,
                        unless receipt has been deferred by you under an
                        applicable deferred compensation plan.

EFFECT OF TERMINATION   Except as provided above for termination due to death or
OF EMPLOYMENT           disability, no further vesting will occur after
                        termination of employment, and all unvested RSUs will be
                        forfeited and/or cancelled.


FEDERAL INCOME TAX      The following discussion is a summary of certain current
CONSIDERATIONS:         U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to RSUs.
                        This discussion does not purport to be complete, and
                        does not cover, among other things, foreign, state and
                        local tax treatment.

                        No income is recognized upon receipt of an award of
                        RSUs. Upon vesting, income equal to the fair market
                        value of shares of Class A common issued is recognized.
                        The capital gain or loss holding period for the shares
                        received under an award will begin when ordinary income
                        is recognized, and any subsequent capital gain or loss
                        will be measured by the difference between the ordinary
                        income recognized and the amount received upon sale or
                        exchange of the shares.

TRANSFERABILITY:        No RSU granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred,
                        pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
                        hypothecated, otherwise than by will or by the laws of
                        descent and distribution.

VOTING RIGHTS:          Since RSUs do not represent actual shares, no voting
                        rights arise upon receipt of RSUs and you are not deemed
                        to be the owner of any

<PAGE>

                        shares covered by the RSUs until such shares are
                        delivered to you.

DIVIDENDS:              Notwithstanding the above, in addition to the shares of
                        Class A common stock to be delivered upon the vesting of
                        the RSUs, you will also be entitled to receive a cash
                        payment in an amount equal to each cash dividend you
                        would have received during the period from the grant
                        date of the RSUs to the date such RSUs became vested as
                        if the RSUs were shares of Class A common stock held by
                        you on the record date for the payment of such dividend,
                        unless receipt of such cash payment has been deferred by
                        you under an applicable deferred compensation plan.

TAX WITHHOLDING:        Prior to delivery of shares and/or payment of cash with
                        respect to the RSUs, there will be deducted or withheld,
                        first from any cash and then from shares to be
                        delivered, such aggregate amount of cash and/or number
                        of shares having a fair market value equal to the amount
                        sufficient to satisfy the minimum statutory Federal,
                        state and local tax (including the FICA and Medicare tax
                        obligation) withholding required by law with respect to
                        such payment of cash and/or distribution of shares made
                        under or as a result of the Plan. The Committee may
                        permit the remittance of cash or for other arrangements
                        for payment of such taxes.