For families who have worked for years, sometimes decades to build meaningful equity in high-growth companies like SpaceX, Anduril, Anthropic, or OpenAI, or who hold crypto tokens approaching major unlocks, the moment of liquidity can feel like a dream come true. Suddenly, concentrated wealth that once existed only on paper (or in a wallet) becomes real. But with that opportunity comes a new set of responsibilities: protecting what you’ve built, providing for your family across generations, and making decisions that honor the patience and risk you’ve already taken.
At DAiM, we approach this moment with the same caretaking mindset we bring to every family we serve. Estate planning isn’t a “later” task it is the foundation. The structures you put in place now will determine not only how much wealth you keep, but how smoothly it supports your loved ones for years to come. Done right, it also creates powerful tax efficiencies that pay dividends long after the IPO or unlock.
Here is a clear, step-by-step guide to help you navigate this transition thoughtfully and responsibly.
The most important first step is to build the right legal and financial structures while you still have time and flexibility. Pre-IPO shares, restricted stock units (RSUs), and crypto tokens with lock-up periods carry unique complexities: valuation challenges, transfer restrictions, and potential tax events that can catch families off guard.
Work with qualified estate planning attorneys and advisors to:
-Establish revocable living trusts or family limited partnerships that can hold equity and digital assets.
-Create vehicles that may help minimize estate taxes, provide creditor protection, and ensure seamless transfer to heirs without the delays and publicity of probate.
-Document ownership clearly (without exposing sensitive details publicly).
These structures don’t just protect your family they often lay the groundwork for smarter tax strategies later. Getting this right early is far easier than trying to unwind or rebuild once shares are liquid and markets are moving.
Pre-IPO work is different from managing publicly traded stock. Lock-up agreements, blackout periods, insider trading rules, and concentrated positions all require advance planning. The same is true for crypto unlocks, where sudden liquidity can coincide with market volatility.
A thoughtful plan addresses:
-How and when shares or tokens can be transferred or gifted.
-Strategies to manage concentration risk without triggering unnecessary taxes.
-Clear instructions for executors or trustees who may not be familiar with venture-backed equity or digital assets.
Families who address these details before the event feel far more in control and far less stressed when the moment arrives.
One of the most personal decisions is how much of your concentrated position to sell versus hold. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but the best plans weigh several factors:
-Your family’s long-term goals and cash-flow needs.
-The company’s outlook and your continued belief in its mission.
-Tax implications of selling now versus later.
Many families choose a measured approach, selling enough to secure their lifestyle and fund diversification while keeping a meaningful stake in the success they helped create. This balance honors both the past and the future.
Once liquidity arrives, share prices can be volatile. Rather than rushing to sell during dips, some families explore borrowing against their holdings as a way to access cash while staying invested. This can preserve upside potential and defer taxes, but it must be done prudently and with full visibility into your overall financial picture.
A professional advisor can help model different scenarios; sell a portion, borrow against another, and hold the rest so your plan aligns with both market realities and your family’s comfort with risk.
After years of waiting for this moment, liquidity itself becomes a precious asset. It is just as important as further appreciation of the original shares. Yet many families, excited by new opportunities, over-allocate to other illiquid investments (private equity, venture funds, or real estate) right when they finally have cash.
A measured diversification plan typically includes:
-High-quality stocks and bonds for stability and income.
-Digital assets where appropriate, managed within your overall risk tolerance.
-Real estate for tangible, income-producing holdings.
-Selective alternative investments chosen with care.
The goal is a resilient, diversified portfolio that supports your family without recreating the same concentration risk you just exited.
When multiple advisors manage pieces of your wealth stocks with one firm, crypto with another, real estate with a third, important connections get missed. Taxes, rebalancing, cash-flow timing, and long-term strategy all suffer.
A Vanguard analysis found that advisors using a “total portfolio approach” (managing all assets together) added ~3% to net returns annually through behavioral coaching, rebalancing, long-term planning, and tax strategies. They outperformed DIY investors by 1.5-4%.
One integrated team with clear visibility across every asset class can:
-Strategize sales in the most tax-efficient way.
-Coordinate estate documents with investment decisions.
-Provide the behavioral coaching families need during emotionally charged wealth transitions.
-Help you avoid the common pitfalls that come with sudden liquidity.
Protecting What Matters Most
The wealth you have created is more than a number on a statement it represents years of dedication, innovation, and belief in a bigger future. Protecting it for your family means getting the fundamentals right early: strong estate structures, a thoughtful liquidity plan, measured diversification, and a single, trusted partner overseeing everything
At DAiM, we specialize in guiding families through exactly these transitions. Whether your wealth comes from pre-IPO equity in groundbreaking companies or from digital assets with upcoming unlocks, we bring the same caretaking approach: clear guidance, integrated planning, and a commitment to your family’s long-term security.
If you are approaching an IPO, unlock, or other liquidity event and want to ensure your family is protected from day one, we invite you to reach out. The earlier we begin the conversation, the more options we can create together.
Your family’s future is worth getting this right. Let’s build the foundation that lasts.
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