SpaceX’s Biggest IPO in History and Funding a $117K Life Change

Learn what the AI IPO boom could do to reshape your index funds and how to fund years of grad school with no income. With SpaceX set to debut as the biggest IPO in history — and OpenAI and Anthropic filing to follow — what does this landmark moment in the markets actually mean for your portfolio? Senior news editor Rick VanderKnyff and investing writer Sam Taub join hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola to break down the latest AI IPO news. They discuss what makes SpaceX's offering the largest public offering ever, what the historical track record of IPOs says about buying in at the opening price, and a quietly consequential change to index fund inclusion rules that could leave passive investors with a far bigger stake in mega-cap AI companies than they anticipated. They also explain what direct indexing is and how it could give you more control over what lands in your portfolio. How do you manage your money when you're leaving a career to spend up to three years in graduate school with no income? Sean and Elizabeth tackle a listener's detailed, multi-part question about funding a $117,000 occupational therapy doctorate. They explore whether a Roth IRA conversion could be a smart way to capitalize on low-tax years before graduation, what the new federal student loan borrowing caps under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act mean for graduate students' funding plans, how deferring an existing $17,000 in student debt could play out over time, and what to weigh before earning money on the side while in school. Subscribe to our podcast’s free email newsletter for bonus content and more from our hosts at https://smartmoney-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ Sign up for MoneyNerd, NerdWallet's free weekly newsletter, for tips on watching the 2026 World Cup for free: https://moneynerd-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/ What Is the New Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for Student Loans? https://www.nerdwallet.com/student-loans/learn/what-is-the-new-repayment-assistance-plan-rap-for-student-loans Direct Indexing: What It Is, How It Works https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/learn/direct-indexing Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices