Whether you are growing your business, planning your own retirement runway, or preparing for an eventual exit, the financial decisions you make today determine what you keep tomorrow. We work with small business owners at every stage.
Most advisors focus on the exit. We start with the business you are running right now. The same tax strategy, retirement plan, and cash flow decisions that make your business more profitable also make it more valuable when the time comes to sell.
Solo 401(k), SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or defined benefit plan, each with different contribution limits, tax treatment, and administrative burden. We match the plan to your income pattern, employee count, and long-term goals.
Salary vs. distribution splits, reasonable compensation analysis, S-corp election timing, and quarterly estimated tax planning. Small adjustments compound into meaningful savings over the life of a business.
Operating reserves, line of credit strategy, and separating personal from business liquidity. We help you build a cash management framework so you are not constantly reinvesting everything back into the business.
LLC, S-corp, partnership, or sole proprietorship: the right structure depends on liability, taxes, and your growth plan. We coordinate with your CPA and attorney to make sure the structure still fits.
Estate planning, education funding, investment management, and the life outside the business. Your personal balance sheet needs attention even while the business demands everything.
When can you afford to step back? What does the glide path look like? We model the transition from business income to portfolio income so you can see the runway clearly, whether retirement is 3 years out or 15.
A practical framework for building your retirement runway while you are still running the business. Covers plan selection, contribution strategies, tax coordination, and the transition from business income to portfolio income.
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Research cited by the Exit Planning Institute has suggested that business owners can lose 30-40% of potential value in poorly planned exits due to taxes, deal structure, and preparation gaps.* We coordinate taxes, structure, timing, and post-sale wealth so the liquidity event actually changes your life.
Structuring an asset vs. stock sale, installment agreements, and opportunity zone placement can cost you six figures in avoidable taxes.
Market conditions, business multiples, and your personal timeline rarely align. Getting it right requires years of planning.
Internal transitions, ownership concentration, and family dynamics add layers of planning that most advisors skip.
Your entire net worth is often in the business. The exit is your only chance to diversify and build real resilience.
Stay bonuses, earnouts, and deferred compensation structures determine how much you actually net from the sale.
Letting go of something you built is hard. Smart planning makes the transition to investor, not just the transaction.
Valuation, tax structure, compensation planning, and timing set the foundation. Decisions made years before the sale determine how much you keep.
Asset vs. stock analysis, installment strategies, opportunity zones, and charitable planning. We model every tax consequence so you understand real economics.
Sudden liquidity is its own problem. We guide investment of proceeds, estate restructuring, income replacement, and the transition from operator to investor.
Financial statements capture only a fraction of what buyers pay for. These four intangible capitals often determine whether your business commands a premium or a discount.
The knowledge, skills, and relationships locked in your team. Buyers pay less when key-person risk is high and more when institutional knowledge is documented and distributed.
Revenue concentration, contract quality, and customer lifetime value. A diversified, recurring revenue base with low churn signals a business that runs without the owner.
Brand reputation, industry positioning, and strategic relationships. Acquirers pay premiums for businesses with moats built on trust, reputation, and network effects.
Proprietary systems, processes, IP, and data. Businesses with documented, transferable operating systems are worth multiples more than those running on tribal knowledge.
Score your business across five readiness dimensions. Select the answer that best fits, then rate it 1-6 using the Common Sense Scale. Your overall score maps to an attractiveness band that indicates how prepared your business is for a successful exit.
This questionnaire is modeled from the Exit Planning Institute "Set for Life" framework and is provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, a business valuation, an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation of any kind. Results are self-reported and unverified. Your actual exit readiness depends on factors this tool cannot assess. Consult qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals before making business exit decisions. Full disclosures
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Your results will be emailed to you when you complete the questionnaire. We will not share your information.
Your score highlights where to focus before going to market. A CEPA-certified advisor can help you close the gaps and capture full value.
Discuss Your ResultsThis assessment is an educational planning tool modeled from the Exit Planning Institute "Set for Life" framework and is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPI. It does not estimate business value, generate investment advice, or constitute a recommendation of any kind. Scores are based entirely on self-reported answers and have not been verified. Your actual exit readiness depends on business-specific, legal, tax, and market factors that this tool cannot assess. Consult qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals before making any business exit decisions. FamilyVest is a trade name used by Todd Sensing, an investment adviser representative of Farther Finance Advisors, LLC (CRD #302050), an SEC-registered investment adviser. Full disclosures
Common mistakes in exit planning and how to avoid them with strategic preparation.
Valuation methods, multiples, and how to maximize enterprise value before sale.
Structuring compensation, managing cash flow, and building wealth beyond the business.
Due diligence preparation, financial documentation, and timing your exit for maximum value.
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Retirement plans, tax-efficient compensation, and runway modeling for business owners still in the game.
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