At Rockbridge, we understand that your business represents both a significant financial asset and a personal legacy. As a fee-only financial advisory firm based in Syracuse, NY, our business succession planning services provide objective guidance to ensure your business transitions smoothly according to your vision.
Our comprehensive succession planning process begins with understanding your goals—whether transferring to family members, selling to key employees, or pursuing an external sale. We recognize that each business owner has unique objectives that extend beyond maximizing financial value to include preserving company culture, ensuring employee security, and establishing a lasting legacy.
Business valuation forms the foundation of effective succession planning. We employ multiple valuation methodologies to establish a defensible business value, essential for structuring fair transfers, securing appropriate funding, and minimizing potential disputes among stakeholders. This objective valuation process is particularly valuable when navigating family dynamics in intergenerational transfers.
We specialize in designing and implementing buy-sell agreements that clearly define transfer terms, establish triggering events, and lock in valuation methods. These agreements provide critical protection against unforeseen circumstances while creating a roadmap for planned transitions that all parties understand and accept.
Tax considerations significantly impact succession outcomes. Our planning integrates business transfer strategies with personal estate planning to minimize tax burdens through techniques such as installment sales, self-canceling installment notes, grantor retained annuity trusts, and family limited partnerships when appropriate for your situation.
For family business transfers, we address both financial and emotional aspects, helping balance fair treatment of all family members with the practical requirements of business continuity. This often involves creating equalization strategies for non-participating heirs while ensuring qualified successors have proper authority.
As a fee-only advisor, our recommendations are never influenced by commissions or product sales. This transparent compensation structure eliminates conflicts of interest and ensures our guidance is solely focused on optimizing your succession outcomes. We believe this fiduciary relationship is essential when making decisions that impact both your business legacy and family’s financial future.
