SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic
Should Big IPOs Change Your Retirement Plan?
For the first time in years, some of the most talked-about private companies of the past decade are reaching the public markets. SpaceX has already gone public, and reports indicate Anthropic and OpenAI have filed to do the same. Once a company lists, ordinary investors can buy in through a normal brokerage account – which raises a natural question for anyone saving for retirement: should you be trying to get a piece of this?
In this 30-minute session, Parkwoods Chief Investment Officer Bob French, CFA, looks at what these IPOs mean for a retirement investor – and why the more useful question is not “how do I get in?” but “does any of this change my plan?”
We discuss:
- Why the first-day “pop” that dominates the coverage is a short-term event – and what tends to happen to those gains afterward
- What decades of research suggest about how newly public companies, as a group, perform in the years after they list
- Why Parkwoods generally does not buy IPOs in client portfolios, and the evidence-based reasoning behind it
The goal is simple: to help you feel steadier about these headlines, and clearer about why sitting still is often the soundest decision.
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About the Presenter
Bob French, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Parkwoods Wealth Partners
With nearly two decades of experience in investment management and financial planning, Bob brings extensive expertise to his role at Parkwoods Wealth Partners, where he empowers clients to achieve their retirement goals through clear, evidence-based strategies.
Prior to joining Parkwoods, Bob served as Managing Principal at McLean Asset Management and Retirement Researcher, where he led investment strategy, developed analytical tools, and oversaw the creation of educational content focused on retirement planning.
Before McLean, he was the Director of Analytics and Content at inStream Solutions, where he was responsible for designing and building the analytics engine behind the company’s innovative financial planning platform. His previous experience also includes a role at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he developed analytical tools and provided educational support to financial advisors.
Bob is deeply committed to simplifying complex financial concepts, making investment strategy accessible and actionable for clients. His investment philosophy emphasizes clarity, transparency, and rigorous analysis, equipping clients with the confidence to make informed financial decisions.
Bob earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2010 and regularly hosts webinars and authors articles aimed at enhancing financial literacy and retirement planning education.
At Parkwoods, Bob is dedicated to helping clients navigate their financial journeys with confidence and clarity, enabling them to concentrate on what truly matters in their lives.
