In Short
For business owners, personal and corporate finances are intertwined. The highest-impact planning areas are usually succession (how you eventually exit), protection (key person and buy-sell funding), and corporate tax (salary vs. dividend, holding companies, the lifetime capital gains exemption). Starting early — years before an exit — preserves the most options.
Why Business Owners Need Specialized Financial Planning
As a business owner, your personal and business finances are deeply connected. Decisions about how to structure your compensation, protect your business, and plan your exit all carry significant financial and tax implications. A licensed advisor with business planning expertise can help you navigate these decisions effectively.
Core Business Planning Areas
Business Succession Planning
Plan the eventual transfer of your ownership — to a family member, key employee, or third-party buyer — while managing tax and continuity.
Key Person Insurance
Protect the business from the financial impact of losing a key owner, partner, or employee through targeted insurance strategies.
Buy-Sell Agreement Funding
Insurance-funded buy-sell agreements protect business partners and ensure ownership transitions are properly financed.
Corporate Tax Planning
Salary vs. dividend decisions, holding companies, the lifetime capital gains exemption, and other corporate tax strategies.
Corporate Investment Planning
Invest retained earnings inside your corporation tax-efficiently using investment structures and insurance-based strategies.
Corporate-Owned Life Insurance
Use your corporation to own policies that can serve estate, retirement, and tax planning purposes simultaneously.
Business Succession Planning
Every business owner should have a succession plan — whether they intend to sell, pass the business to family, or wind it down. Succession planning addresses ownership transfer, business valuation, tax minimization on the sale, and continuity of operations. The earlier you start, the more options you have. Our guides on succession planning and business valuation basics are a good place to begin.
A Note for Licensed Advisors
If you are an experienced licensed advisor, we periodically explore confidential partnership opportunities. Learn more on our Advisor Opportunity page.