04/28/2026
With companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic expected to go public, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for IPOs — and for employees with stock options and equity on the line. 📈
One thing we always tell clients: you only get one shot at this. The planning you do (or don't do) around a liquidity event can meaningfully affect how much of your equity becomes lasting wealth.
Our Kristin McKenna, CFP® put together a pre-IPO financial planning checklist for Forbes that covers what employees should be thinking about before their company goes public:
💡 Understanding your equity type and what it means for taxes
⌛ Exercise timing and AMT exposure
💲 Cash flow planning for the costs of exercising and timing of tax payments
🔒 Lock-up period strategy
📊 Start building a diversification plan before the window opens
🤝 Assembling your advisory team early
✅ Read the full checklist:
Pre-IPO employees can use this checklist to organize equity, plan exercises and taxes, evaluate tender offers, diversify concentrated stock and prepare for an IPO.
