SpaceX engineer planning ahead for the IPO

Depending on how it goes, his equity could be worth mid‑7 or low‑8 figures… before taxes.

Here’s what we talked about:

1. Bank losses before the IPO

We’re layering long/short extensions around his current index fund exposure to systematically harvest capital losses now.

Those losses can be carried forward and used to offset gains when he eventually sells SpaceX shares.

2. Reduce the tax drag on his high salary

We’re adding tax‑aware hedge fund exposure that diversifies the portfolio and realizes ordinary deductions.

For a high‑earning engineer, that can significantly reduce the tax hit from W‑2 income, which directly increases how much of each dollar he actually keeps.

3. Start building tax‑free income streams

We’re adding tax‑aware real estate exposure that can pass through tax‑free distributions each month.

He gets the income, depreciation benefits, and 1031 strategy without dealing with tenants, toilets, or property management.

Everyone I talk to says the same thing after a big exit or IPO:

“I wish I’d met you a year ago”

Once the deal is done and the tax year is locked in, most of the best planning opportunities are gone.

If you (or someone you know) has an upcoming liquidity event and is staring at a potential 7–8 figure tax bill, don’t wait until it’s too late.