Silicon Valley's Elite Financial Advisers Navigate a New Era of Tech Wealth

Silicon Valley's wealth advisers are experiencing a surge in activity from high-net-worth clients expecting significant liquidity events in 2026. Employees and early investors at major tech companies including SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are anticipating substantial financial windfalls, prompting their wealth managers to develop sophisticated strategies for managing this unprecedented concentration of wealth.

According to Ashley Velategui, head of wealth strategies at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, and Brittany Boals Moeller, who heads Goldman Sachs' West Coast wealth management division, the current pace and scale of wealth creation in tech is accelerating beyond historical norms. Velategui, who has advised high-net-worth individuals in the Bay Area for nearly two decades, notes that the definition of wealth itself has shifted. Where ultra-high-net-worth individuals once meant those with $25 million to $30 million, her average client today ranges between $20 million and $100 million. Clients are increasingly establishing family offices—private companies that manage family wealth and assets—much earlier than in previous generations, with some allocating $25 million solely for family office formation.

Wealth advisers emphasize strategic planning over impulsive spending. Rather than immediately purchasing luxury items like yachts or exotic cars, most tech clients are taking measured approaches to their newfound wealth. Velategui encourages clients to first determine their "core wealth" threshold for financial independence and to recognize the risks of holding concentrated positions in single stocks. The volatile nature of tech valuations means portfolios heavily weighted toward one company can shift dramatically in value.

Navigating post-IPO lockup periods presents another complexity. Typically lasting 180 days, these periods prevent early investors and employees from immediately selling shares to protect market stability. Some companies employ staged or phased lockup arrangements, which introduce additional complexity requiring careful management. Wealth managers are counseling clients to exercise caution during these windows as liquidity opportunities emerge.

Tax minimization remains a primary focus for wealth advisers helping clients preserve gains. To avoid substantial tax liabilities when selling shares, advisers are employing sophisticated financial instruments including variable prepaid forwards, short box spreads, and borrowed money against brokerage positions. Variable prepaid forwards, which involve entering contracts with financial institutions to receive upfront tax-deferred payments in exchange for future share transfer, have become increasingly popular in the tech community, though these strategies carry inherent risks and potential tax scrutiny.