Small businesses are the heart and soul of America’s economy – representing 98+ percent of total employer firms in the country. At the high end, firms with less than 100 employees average up to $7 million in revenue while smaller, closely-held, family-owned business with less than 10 employees tend to average $1 million or less in revenue. At any size, for owners, the business is their purpose and passion in life. It is also their source of income and wealth. And it’s hard work. Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. It requires countless hours and ever-evolving challenges across the ebbs and flows of the marketplace – balancing people, cash flow, tax management, expansion, equipment, and the like.

People today are not looking for the same old retirement where they are forced to worry about monthly spending. They are active, passionate and driven by purpose – at work, at home, and in their communities. They want that active mindset and lifestyle to continue – and to be accelerated – when they decide to stop working and remove the daily commutes and burdens of paycheck dependence. They want a partner who can help them achieve “financial independence” so they can pursue the next exciting chapter of their personal journey on their own terms.

In the words of Coach John Wooden, “The most important thing in the world is family and love.” That is why our clients take the time to not simply manage wealth for themselves but to plan the most effective ways to transfer it to the next generation through estate plans and trusts, tax strategies, investments, insurance, real estate, business succession planning, and the like. Doing so can position their children and grandchildren to achieve financial security and confidence earlier in life – and allow them to focus their time on pursuing their passions and purpose in life. This requires multi-generational planning, as the next generation will also have to understand the dynamics of the estate plan and have a plan for the new money that will be transferred to them.

There is no question that divorce is a stressful time for everyone involved. This is especially true when trying to understand and make sense of the complete financial picture – from understanding total assets to sizing up marital debt. Additional anxiety is created when the individuals involved in a divorce begin to think about what’s next for them – from day-to-day living to managing the financial needs of their children and grandchildren to retirement and estate planning. For many people, it can be a lonely time – especially in divorces after the age of 50. That is why financial planning is essential at this critical time in life – as it will help set a new foundation to empower people for what’s next in life.

Many people who have worked for long periods of time with public companies find themselves with large, concentrated stock positions. Given the stock market’s amazing run over the past 10 years, that one stock can represent a large percentage of their net worth. They realize that selling the stock will create significant capital gains. They also realize that holding the stock during a market downturn will diminish the stock’s value and take time (sometimes years) to rebuild – an especially challenging scenario for those nearing or already in retirement.