A Unified Team to
Manage it All
At Mercer Advisors, our planners, tax specialists, and investment professionals have seen OpenAI’s employee stock compensation structure up close. We build coordinated plans across your PPUs and RSUs, tax exposure, and long-term goals, before the IPO window opens and decisions get forced.
Specialized Planning for OpenAI Equity Holders
- PPU Tax Analysis: Determine whether your PPU history qualifies you for long-term capital gains treatment.
- Double-Trigger RSU Cash Flow Planning: Map your tax exposure early to avoid liquidity surprised when it’s time to sell.
- IPO Lockup Exit Strategy: Build a diversification roadmap that spreads tax exposure across years, not months.
- Downside Scenario Modeling: Define your minimum acceptable outcome and anchor your strategy to that threshold.
- Concentrated Position Review: Evaluate ways to help reduce single-stock risk without a large tax event in year one.
- International and Cross-Border Planning: Plan for where you live now and where you might want to be later.
- Estate and Gifting Strategies: Move wealth efficiently before the IPO changes the calculus.
- Liquidity Concierge: Real-time guidance when the IPO window opens and timing becomes critical.
Why OpenAI Equity Is Different
PPUs Don’t Follow Standard Equity Tax Rules
Whether you owe ordinary income or qualify for long-term capital gains depends on your grant date, 83(b) elections, and plan documents. The after-tax difference can be substantial.
Your RSUs May Vest Before You Can Sell
Double-trigger vesting means taxes come due at IPO even if a 90-to-180-day lockup blocks the sale. That gap requires advance planning, not a last-minute call to your accountant.
Cross-Border Planning Adds Complexity
If you’re not a US citizen or plan to live abroad, your strategy needs structures like QDOTs and portability reviews. Some US-friendly vehicles don’t travel well across borders.
Mercer Advisors offers the strength of a large national firm with the personal touch you expect from a local office.
A Family Office for Your Family
We’ve adapted the sophisticated, time-tested strategies used by ultra-high-net-worth individuals to help more families take control of their financial future.
A unified in-house team
of planners, investors, accountants, and estate strategists that designs — and executes — your financial plan.
A hand-picked advisor
who is focused on serving you, not on finding new clients.
An institutional-grade portfolio
personalized to you and managed by a team of 100+ investment professionals, not just one advisor.
A boutique fiduciary with national strength
that combines intimate service and sophisticated capability, and only acts in your best interest.
Our Core Solutions
Financial Planning
Investment Management
Tax Planning & Preparation
Estate Planning
Insurance Solutions
Trustee Services
TRUST WE HAVE EARNED
#1 RIA in 2025 Barron’s Top 100 RIAs Ranking
Best Overall Financial Advisory Firm for High-Net-Worth Individuals 2026 by The Wall Street Journal Buy Side
5 Star Ranking on Newsweek America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms 2026
Winner of 2025 Wealthies RIA Client Initiative for Advisor Matching Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
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PPUs are synthetic equity tied to OpenAI’s value at a liquidity event. RSUs are a promise of actual shares, subject to vesting. Tax treatment, access timing, and planning approach differ for each. Most OpenAI employees need a coordinated plan.
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Likely yes. Double-trigger RSUs become taxable as ordinary income at vest, even if a 90-to-180-day lockup blocks the sale. Without liquid assets set aside, you could face a tax cash shortfall. This is a planning problem to solve before IPO.
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Yes, significantly. Some investment vehicles don’t travel across borders. Married to a non-U.S. citizen? Standard estate tools may not apply without structures like a QDOT. U.S. exit tax rules need mapping against your destination country in advance.
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We believe in simple, transparent fees. As a fee-based fiduciary, we can remain focused on doing what’s best for you.
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A fiduciary is legally obligated to act in your best interest, placing your needs above their own. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), Mercer Advisors upholds this fiduciary duty, our recommendations are based on what we believe is in your best financial interest.
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Mercer Advisors offers flexible engagement options to meet your preferences. While we have 100+ offices nationwide, we also provide virtual services, allowing you to collaborate with your advisory team remotely.
