Financial Planning for Business Owners

Growing a business is a difficult undertaking today as business owners must confront a myriad of tax laws and regulations while trying to effectively create products or services, manage their employees, develop and cultivate clients, and do so profitably.

Often times business owners are too absorbed in their business to tend to their own financial needs, and they may also overlook key planning considerations that could help their business grow and prosper. Also, the livelihood of a business owner can be damaged when unexpected events occur that adversely affect the bottom line of the business.

Holistic Financial Planning

Our financial planning services are tailored specifically to the needs of business owners, while also recognizing that they are individuals as well. We take a holistic approach, considering both your personal and business financial aspects. By integrating these elements, we can create a comprehensive financial plan that aligns with your objectives. Our business planning service encompasses a wide range of areas, including (but not limited to) the following, in addition to Personal Financial Planning.

Retirement Planning

For many business owners, their business is their primary retirement asset. After many years of building a successful business they expect to convert it to an income for retirement by selling it. If they are relying upon the business as their sole means of retirement, they run the risk that it may not attain the value needed to produce the needed income.

Businesses can fail. Businesses can lose value in certain economic cycles. The timing is not always right to sell a business. Many times the true value of the business lies in the talents and good will of the business owner who won’t be around to run the business after he retires.

Business owners today must prepare for retirement with the same level of diversification recommended for any retirement plan. Business owners have access to a number of qualified and nonqualified retirement plan options that can provide a cornerstone for their retirement income needs.

Employee Benefits

Attracting and retaining top talent is vital for business growth. We can assist you in designing employee benefit packages, including retirement plans, that enhance your workforce's satisfaction and loyalty. 

Tax Optimization

Minimizing taxes is a critical aspect of financial planning for business owners. Our team will work diligently to identify tax-savings opportunities, whether through strategic deductions, credits, or structuring your business for tax efficiency. 

Risk Management

Business ownership often comes with inherent risks. We will evaluate your risk profile and recommend strategies to protect your personal and business assets, helping you achieve financial stability in the face of unforeseen challenges. 

Key Person Protection

One of the more devastating events a small business can suffer is the loss of a key employee, partner, or officer. Often times it’s a key person who brings a special talent to the business and is responsible for much of the success of the business owner. The loss of such a valuable asset could set the business back for a period of time, and at tremendous cost, while the business owner seeks to find a replacement, if one can be found at all.

In financial planning, we are taught that it our most valuable assets – our home, our ability to earn income, our cars – should be insured against an unexpected loss. It’s no different for business owners as the loss of a valuable business asset could imperil the business.

Buying life insurance coverage on a key person makes good business sense. The amount of coverage should be enough to cover the costs of recruiting and paying a replacement, loss of earnings to the company, any redemption of stock or a salary continuation plan arrangement with the surviving family.

Succession Planning

When a business partner dies, the business loses a valuable asset and could suffer in the short term. The long term issue for surviving business owners is whether the business can survive when the partner’s family members show up for their interest in the business.

For the families of business partners, the business interest is often their biggest asset and they become the rightful owner of that interest at the death of the partner. They will want to receive their share of the business, either in direct compensation or through their participation as an active partner in the business.

If the surviving partner does not have the capital to compensate the family for their share, their options are limited and not very attractive. A business succession plan can provide for the orderly transfer of the business interest from the deceased’s family to the business.

Contact us for more information on Business Planning.