This is an archive of articles from our past newsletters.
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The only thing that we can rely on to be constant is change. The political environment is forcing rapid change like we’ve never seen before. No question, technology continues to evolve in a way that forces us to embrace it or simply get left behind. Demographics are changing with a record number of Boomers who [...]
Looking forward is easy to do, especially when you are dreaming of your next step to amp up the business. However, say the words “succession planning” and suddenly looking forward stops as many believe “we aren’t there yet,” or “I’m done, my estate plan in buttoned up.” To many, the phrase succession planning reflects the [...]
Probably nothing, unless you plan to die soon! I happened to be with a client with whom I have worked since 1991, on the day President Trump was elected. That led us to examine the political climate over the past 26 years. We reminded ourselves that the 1980’s had been a Republican era (but Democrats [...]
“But I love all my kids equally and I want to treat them fairly!” exclaimed Ted, the exasperated business owner who was trying to figure out his estate plan. This sentiment is voiced over and over by my dealer clients leading to many discussions on ‘why equal is not fair’! It’s easy to relate to [...]
Developing a successor is paramount to sustainable business success. It requires empowering your successor to step up to the challenge, while holding them accountable to strategic goals. For a period of time there are multiple hands on the baton. If this delicate transition is not done properly there can be a demotivating tug of war [...]
Being in the family business is no easy task. You are juggling expectations amongst your loved ones from two different spectrum – family and business– as well as preconceived notions from managers, employees and vendors that you are likely enabled, under-qualified, and of course, grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. No matter [...]
The inflation-adjusted 2016 estate and gift tax exemption limits are set at $5.45 million per individual or $10.9 million per couple. This means that if you are a single business owner, you can leave up to $5.45 million to heirs and pay no federal estate or gift tax. Likewise, if you are married you can [...]
Most people believe that succession planning is synonymous with estate planning; wills, trusts, estate tax, life insurance, franchisor/manufacturer approval or gifts to family members. No doubt estate planning is an important component of succession planning. However, for anyone who has struggled with family squabbles, successor development, retaining and recruiting top talent, and unreasonable strategic partners [...]
Before you can get comfortable, you first need to define your exit strategy. This means being able to define what your exit will look like and the range of options are broad and include: Complete cold turkey break from operations Exiting day-to-day management but continuing to have operational final say Entrepreneur’s retirement: participate when you [...]
Identifying and developing successor candidates can be a challenging endeavor, especially when evaluating family member and key manager successor candidates. The difference between a family member employee and a key manager can be compared to an ongoing rivalry between 2 current NFL quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Their routes to the NFL couldn’t have [...]