Financial life design for founders and early employees
What founders and early employees like you are really wondering.
Pre-exit
Should I exercise my options now or wait?
The answer depends on what you own, what it costs to exercise, the tax bill it could create, and what you think may happen next. We help you see the tradeoffs before you put a meaningful amount of cash into a company that is still private.
Taking money off the table
If I have a chance to sell some shares, how much should I sell?
There is a real tension between staying invested in the upside and turning some of that value into something permanent. We help you decide how much risk still makes sense and what selling some shares could make possible outside the company.
Paper wealth
How much of my company stock should I treat like real money?
A big number on a cap table can change how wealthy you feel long before it changes what you can spend. We help you separate the value on paper from the money you can count on, so the rest of your life is not built around an exit that has not happened yet.
After the exit
If this goes well, what does it change about my life?
A liquidity event can create more options than answers. Keep working? Take time off? Buy the house? Start something new? We help you understand what the money can support so you can make those choices without guessing.
Before liquidity
What should I be doing before an IPO, acquisition, or tender offer?
Some of the most valuable planning has to happen before the money is liquid. Taxes, QSBS, charitable giving, trusts, and diversification can all look very different depending on when you act. We help you get ahead of those decisions while you still have choices.
Concentration
How do I diversify without creating a huge tax bill?
When one stock represents a large part of your wealth, doing nothing is still a decision. We help you weigh the tax cost of selling against the risk of staying concentrated and build a plan for moving out of the position over time.
Most financial advisors are generalists. We built Mana around the complexity of startup equity, tech compensation, and liquidity events.
Design a life you love.
Your equity
How do I turn company equity into wealth I can use?
Your biggest asset may be tied up in one company, with tax rules, vesting schedules, and liquidity decisions attached. We help you make smart choices about exercising, selling, and diversifying so the value you’ve built can support the rest of your life.
Your wealth
How do I make sure one big outcome becomes lasting wealth?
An IPO, acquisition, or secondary sale can change your balance sheet quickly. The decisions around taxes, investing, and how much to keep concentrated matter long after the event. We build the plan before the money moves.
Your life
What do I want all of this work to make possible?
Maybe it’s time off, a home, starting something new, working because you want to, or simply having more choice. We help you understand what your money can support and build your financial life around what matters next.
We’re paid by you. That’s it.
We’re proud to be fiduciaries, which means no commissions. No hidden fees. We’re required to act in your best interest. See our FAQs for more detail.
“As my career and business has evolved, they've consistently adapted my financial plan to fit my changing situation to optimize saving in multiple buckets as well as retirement and tax planning—all while ensuring I am living the fullest life now.”
Client testimonials received via Wealthtender. Testimonials were provided by current Mana clients and may not be representative of the experiences of other clients. The clients were not compensated, nor are there material conflicts of interest that would affect the given testimonials. You can view a complete list of all reviews here.
The first conversation is free. And different.
We look forward to getting to know you. Our 20-minute fit meeting starts by learning about your situation, who you are today, what you’re worried about, what you value most. You leave with clarity, not a sales deck.