Equity is illiquid today.
Let's plan for when it isn't.

Equity and liquidity planning is specialized financial planning for individuals whose significant wealth is tied up in illiquid assets — a privately held business, stock options, RSUs, or an equity-concentrated position. Yes, it includes pre-IPO planning. If your company is approaching an IPO, the decisions made before the lockup period expires — around taxes, diversification, and cash flow — are among the most consequential of your financial life. We work with clients before, during, and after liquidity events to ensure every decision is made with the complete financial picture in view.

Pre-IPO planning is the process of preparing financially for a company going public — before the IPO occurs and before lockup restrictions expire. If you hold stock options or equity in a company approaching an IPO, several critical decisions must be made in advance: when and how to exercise options, how to manage tax implications, what to do when the lockup period ends, and how to build a diversification strategy around a concentrated position in a newly public company. At EQ Private Wealth Advisors, we guide clients through every stage of the pre-IPO journey from initial planning through the lockup period and into a long-term post-IPO wealth strategy.

A commission-based advisor is typically paid by the financial products they sell — which can create an incentive to recommend whatever generates the most compensation, under a 'suitability' standard that only requires a recommendation to be appropriate, not optimal.

EQ operates as a fee-based fiduciary practice.

Being a fiduciary means that when we provide investment advice and financial planning, we are legally required to act in your best interest at all times — not merely to recommend options that are "suitable."

"Fee-based" describes our core compensation model: the primary driver of our revenue comes directly from transparent advisory fees paid by our clients for ongoing guidance and portfolio management. To offer comprehensive wealth strategies, any potential compensation structures or custodial relationships are fully disclosed in writing before any engagement begins.

Why it matters: It provides total clarity on how we are compensated, ensuring every strategy, tax plan, and investment recommendation is driven solely by what is right for you and your long-term goals.

Executives and founders often hold a large portion of their net worth in a single company — through RSUs, incentive or non-qualified stock options, or restricted shares. That concentration creates both opportunity and risk. EQ helps you think through the decisions that matter most: when and how to exercise options, how vesting and lockup timelines affect your cash flow and taxes, how to manage the tax impact of RSUs as they vest, and how to build a diversification strategy that reduces single-stock risk without triggering unnecessary tax. We coordinate directly with your CPA so that equity, tax, and investment decisions are made together — with your complete financial picture in view, not in isolation.

Yes — business owner exit planning is one of EQ's core specialties. We work with business owners before, during, and after an exit. Before the event, we help you understand the personal financial implications — after-tax proceeds, retirement income, estate considerations — before you sign anything. During the process, we coordinate with your M&A attorney and CPA to ensure the structure is as tax-efficient as possible. After the close, we help you deploy proceeds thoughtfully, update your estate plan, and build an investment strategy aligned to your new financial reality. We primarily serve businesses with $3 million or more in annual gross revenue across medical practices, manufacturing, professional services, and aerospace and defense sectors.

EQ Private Wealth Advisors is located at 501 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 202, Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274. We primarily serve clients on the Palos Verdes Peninsula — including Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, and Rolling Hills Estates — and the broader South Bay Los Angeles area including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. We also work with clients virtually regardless of location, with the same depth of engagement as our local clients.

Equanimity is the discipline of maintaining calm, composure, and evenness of temper — especially in uncertain or challenging situations. At EQ, it is not just a philosophy; it is a practice. Sound financial decisions require balancing emotion with logic. We do not let bad markets drive reactive decisions, and we do not let good markets breed overconfidence. Our goal is to be the steady, informed voice behind every major decision our clients face — so they can move forward with clarity regardless of what the market or life brings.

At EQ Private Wealth Advisors, we understand every client's situation is different, so we work together in a variety of ways. Depending on what you need, that might mean a full, customized financial plan; an hourly or defined-scope engagement for ad hoc projects and questions; or ongoing management on an asset-based (AUM) fee. Because the right approach depends entirely on your unique situation, we don't publish a flat rate — instead, we get to know what you're looking for and provide a customized quote. The best way to find out what that looks like for you is to schedule a complimentary introductory call.

The first step is a 30-minute introductory call — no obligation, no pitch. We use this conversation to understand your situation, share how EQ works, and determine whether we are the right fit for each other. If we decide to move forward, we begin with a thorough discovery process to map your complete financial picture. To schedule your introductory call, visit our contact page, call our office at 424-394-0800, or email us at contact@eqpwa.com. Virtual meetings are available for clients anywhere in the world.