Tech Clients

Preservation of wealth after an IPO, acquisition, merger, or other liquidity event is a challenge, to say the least.

The water coolers and watering holes of Silicon Valley are full of tales of IPO lottery winners who wound up back where they started within a few years of vesting.

Our firm is uniquely qualified to help people in the tech community make smart financial decisions by explaining the benefits and tradeoffs of various choices you face as part of a rapidly growing company. Based on our 20 years of experience working with executives and individual contributors in startups and dozens of interviews with people on various rungs of the tech ladder, it’s clear that following a few simple principles can be invaluable for preserving wealth. The key to a successful future is to plan accordingly and take the necessary action at each stage.

The Four Phases of Tech Executives & Employees Experiencing a Liquidity Event

Phase 1: Laying the Foundation (2-40 Years Pre-IPO/Liquidity Event)—Educate yourself about basic equity awards and legal rights in anticipation of a possible liquidity event.

Phase 2: Ramping Up (0-24 Months Pre-IPO/Liquidity Event)—Have a plan in place BEFORE the event.

Phase 3: Realizing the Dream (1-24 Months After IPO/Liquidity Event)—Take (smart) action.

Phase 4: What’s Next? (2-40 Years After IPO/Liquidity Event)—Realize your goals, which may or may not include staying in the game, and enjoy the rest of your life.

Having an eye on the big picture throughout all four phases of a liquidity event can bring tech community members a more successful financial future.

Read our white paper “Preserving the Wealth of Successful High-Tech Executives.”