In the tech world, success can feel like invincibility. You’re part of teams building the future, surrounded by innovation, speed, and optimism. But if the stories of Cisco, Kodak, AOL, and even ExxonMobil have taught us anything, it’s this: no company, no matter how powerful, is immune to change.

Just look at Cisco Systems. At the height of the dot-com boom in 2000, Cisco was the most valuable company in the world. Its technology was foundational to the internet just as AI is now. And yet, after trading at 220 times earnings, Cisco’s stock lost 85% of its value in a single year. Not because the business failed, but because expectations exceeded reality. Two decades later, its stock still hasn’t fully recovered.

Or Kodak, once synonymous with photography. It invented the digital camera, then failed to capitalize on it. Patents were sold off. Bankruptcy followed. And AOL, once the front door to the internet, couldn’t keep up with a world that moved beyond dial-up and closed ecosystems.

Even ExxonMobil, an energy titan, made one strategic misstep, acquiring XTO Energy for $41 billion, and lost nearly half that value due to a glut in natural gas. Today, Exxon faces cuts, write-downs, and restructuring, despite still being a crucial player in the industry.

These weren’t bad companies. They were world-class companies. But valuation, timing, and overconfidence played a role in their investors’ pain.

What This Means for You

You might be reading this during a time of personal transition, possibly a layoff, a reorg, or just watching your company shift dramatically under the weight of AI and automation. That can feel destabilizing, especially if so much of your identity is tied to your job title, your team, or your RSUs.

But here’s what decades in financial advising has taught me:

You are not your stock. And your stock is not your safety.

There’s a difference between building wealth through your company and depending on it entirely. You may be holding equity in a company that’s doing well today, but we’ve seen that story before. The question isn’t “is this a good company?” It’s:

“Is this a secure portfolio for my future?”

From Layoff to Launch Pad

We’ve helped many high-earning tech professionals use a moment like this not as a setback, but as a reset. One that lets them build security that isn’t tied to a single ticker symbol or CEO.

Here’s how we help people like you:

• Analyze concentrated stock positions and offer tailored strategies to unwind or hedge risk.
• Show you how to turn severance and vested equity into a foundation of long-term financial independence.
• Build diversified portfolios that protect against volatility, no matter what sector you came from.
• Help you make tax-smart decisions when exercising options, especially during job changes.

It’s not just about what you’ve earned, it’s about how to protect it.

We’re Not Just Advisors. We’re Advocates.

We’ve spent over 20 years guiding professionals through downturns, layoffs, IPOs, and everything in between. Whether you’re uncertain about your stock’s future, wondering what to do next, or just want a second set of eyes, we’re here.

Because your story doesn’t end with a layoff.
It might be the first chapter of something better.

Let’s talk about how we can help you make safety available to your stock and your future.