Broker Check

Business Owners
& Entrepeneurs

How we help <br/>business owners

How we help
business owners

Our mission is to replace your financial anxiety with relaxed confidence by developing a financial plan we can grow and protect your wealth for years to come.

General Business Owner Frequently asked questions

  • A strong plan should coordinate personal wealth with business goals and include tax planning, retirement income, investment strategy, risk management, insurance, employee benefits, business valuation, exit planning, estate planning, and succession. It should integrate both short-term needs such as cash flow and long-term outcomes, including how income will continue after the business is sold or transferred.

  • Your compensation should sustain your lifestyle while maintaining business cash flow, helping reduce tax burdens, and meeting IRS reasonable compensation rules. The right strategy varies based on entity type, profitability, growth goals, retirement contributions, and tax brackets.

  • It depends on income and growth goals. SEP IRAs and SIMPLE plans work for smaller teams. Solo 401(k)s are ideal for high earners with no employees. Defined Benefit and Cash Balance plans maximize contributions and tax deductions for owners needing larger write-offs. The right choice considers employees, tax strategy, and exit timing.

  • Yes, most business retirement plans are employer-sponsored and allow tax-advantaged savings for the owner and team. Contributions may be deductible and reduce taxable income.

  • Popular strategies include Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, converting taxable accounts to tax-free buckets, using tax-free life insurance loans, maximizing HSAs, and building portfolios designed to reduce capital gains exposure.

Exit Planning FAQs for Business Owners

  • Exit planning is a coordinated financial, legal, and operational strategy that prepares a business owner to transition out of ownership — whether through sale, succession, merger, or wind-down. It focuses on maximizing company value, reducing tax impact, protecting legacy, creating retirement income, and ensuring continuity for employees, clients, and family.

  • Ideally, exit planning begins 3–10 years before transition, allowing time to clean financials, strengthen leadership, reduce owner dependency, increase recurring revenue, and optimize taxes. Early planning increases negotiation leverage and reduces forced-sale risks.

  • Most owners are reactive instead of proactive. Common mistakes include undervaluation, poor documentation, not preparing leadership, waiting until burnout to sell, and failing to optimize taxes. Without planning, owners often accept lower offers due to urgency.

  • Options include selling to family, key employees, co-owners, strategic buyers, competitors, private equity, or through an ESOP. Each offers different tax outcomes, cultural impact, control, and payout schedules.

  • Valuation specialists evaluate financial performance, cash flow, recurring revenue, customer concentration, tangible assets, and risk exposure. Market multiples, industry growth, and competitive advantage also influence price.

Glossary of Important
Financial, Business, Tax, Legal, and Exit Planning Terms

01Accounts Payable (AP)

Money owed by a business to suppliers.

02Accounts Receivable (AR)

Money owed to a business by customers.

03Accrual Accounting

Method recording income/expenses when incurred, not paid.

04Active Income

Earnings from work performed or business activity.

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Our Case Studies

Mark, Age 62

Construction Company Owner Selling to a Strategic Buyer

Company: Commercial Roofing & Restoration
Annual Revenue: $18 Million

Situation 

Mark built a highly profitable roofing company over 35 years. The business provided strong income but carried high customer concentration risk (three accounts represented 60% of revenue). Mark originally planned to simply retire and close the business. His goal: reduce personal taxes and ensure lifetime income.


Challenges

  • Without planning, liquidation would generate minimal value.
  • He was unaware of capital gains exposure (approx. 23.8%).
  • No succession team in place.
  • Business heavily owner-dependent.


Strategic Exit Plan

The financial advisor engaged:

  • Value improvement consultants to diversify the customer base.
  • Business attorney to restructure into two entities—operations and real estate.
  • Tax advisor to implement Section 1202 QSBS Planning for a portion of the company stock and cost segregation on business real estate.


Exit Strategy Used

  • Sold to a strategic buyer in the same industry looking to expand.
  • Retained real estate personally and leased it for income.
  • Completed a structured installment sale over 7 years to spread taxes.


Outcome

  • Sale price: $14.2M, vs. $6M projected without improvements.
  • Lease income: $220K per year to supplement retirement.
  • Taxes reduced by approx. $1.8M through installment sale + depreciation strategy.
  • Mark transitioned out in 18 months with no operational disruption.


Result

Mark secured a lifetime retirement income, protected the business legacy, and passed the real estate asset to his children with step-up basis.

Dr. Lisa, Age 55

Case Study #2 — Medical Practice Owner Using a Sale to Private Equity

Company: Regional Outpatient Surgery & Wellness Centers
Annual Revenue: $54 Million

Situation

Dr. Lisa ran three locations with multiple surgeons. A private equity group approached unsolicited. She wanted to exit clinical duties but maintain some passive ownership.


Challenges

  • Complex partnership structure.
  • Significant malpractice risk concerns.
  • She wanted to avoid being paid entirely in cash (which triggers full tax event).


Strategic Exit Plan

The planning team recommended:


  • Sale of 70% of the business to private equity while retaining 30% for a secondary sale later.
  • Establishing an asset protection trust for high-risk personal wealth.
  • A deferred compensation plan for remaining doctors to retain talent.


Exit Strategy Used

  • Private equity roll-up structure.
  • Earn-out agreement tied to performance for 3 years.
  • Funding the trust using part of the upfront payment.


Outcome

  • Upfront payout: $19M.
  • Secondary exit projected: $12M when roll-up sells in 5–7 years.
  • Deferred comp resulted in $800K in cumulative tax deferral.
  • Future sale remains taxed at long-term capital gains, not income.


Result

Dr. Lisa retired from surgery, retained passive investment income, and protected assets from lawsuit exposure while positioning heirs to inherit efficiently.

Expert Guide for business owners

The Small Expert Guide: Financial and Exit Planning for Construction Business Owners

The Unique Financial Challenges for Business Owners

You want to grow and stabilize cash flow and need a plan to exit the business someday.

Build a Solid Financial Foundation

One of the biggest drags on value is blurry financials. Keep clean separation of business vs. personal expenses.

Strategic Retirement Planning

Without a plan, the market, the economy, or your health may decide for you.

Tax and Exit Strategy Fundamentals

Your exit strategy should influence your entity choice.

Get Started today

Take the first step toward financial clarity and strategic growth with a personalized approach.

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