Finances can be a touchy topic no matter the conversation—from salary discussions to planning for marriage or talking about debt, many people feel uncomfortable. It can be even more difficult when individuals are getting older and the financial topic is estate planning. Adult children of aging parents may wish to…
The succession plan works for your business in the same way an estate plan works for your personal life. It protects the business, outlining your wishes and plans for it to continue, or sets up a means of passing it to the next owners, whether they are family members or…
It takes time to build a business, and it can take just as long to create a strong succession plan. Many business owners can’t imagine a life without the business they built, so they often postpone planning for their own retirement and the sale or transfer of the business. That…
With an estimated 10,000 Boomers retiring every day, members of this generation who own businesses should already have their succession plans in place. Exit or succession planning is a lot more complicated than most business recognize. It takes a long time if it is to be done properly. A recent…
It may sound whimsical, but the moment you open a business is also the time to start thinking about how you’ll exit the business, whether you intend to sell to a partner, leave the entire business to a family member or sell as soon as you come up with the…
At last, a happy ending for the estate of the late Veronica Shoemaker, a community activist who made service the heart of her life and business. With the conclusion of the estate battle, Mattie Young, the daughter of the late Veronica Shoemaker, will now be able to keep her mother’s…
TOM’S 8 TIPS FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING(1) © Realize that your Exit Strategy is not business as usual. Get knowledgeable guidance e.g. from financial/legal advisors (team approach). Start now. Be realistic about objectives: Is it first and goal to go or is it a goal line defense? Anticipate Buyer’s due diligence. Financial statements…
Estate planning for entrepreneurs is not complete until it includes a succession plan. Individuals who create successful businesses often find it hard to consider handing over the reins. Entrepreneurs would not succeed without their ability to focus all of their energies on their business. It is not easy for this…
TOM’S 9 TAX TIPS AND FACTS RELATED TO SUCCESSION PLANNING(1)© 1. Estate tax, the cruelest tax. You are taxed once on the income you earn. You save some of what you earn and are successful. If you die with “too much”, you are taxed again on your hard earned savings.…
Whether on the evening news or a serial drama, we love to watch the inner workings of family businesses—in large part because of the drama and the high likelihood of failure. The narrative of family dynasties is intriguing. According to the Yakima Herald in "Passing the baton: 6 challenges for…