Frequently Asked Questions
Business Succession
What is involved in business succession planning?
Business succession is a collaborative process between you and your trusted professionals (CPA, attorney, financial services professional, etc.). We will all work together to draft documents, discover tax efficiencies, and create an investment plan. We’ll also help you answer questions like: Will my employees and their families be in good hands after I leave? Will the business be a profitable sale? Our goal is to guide decisions you’ll need to make to move the business forward, so you can turn the business into a legacy and source of retirement income for you.
What types of businesses do you work with on succession planning?
We work with a range of mostly family- or privately-owned small- to medium-sized businesses. Businesses we typically help include medical/dental practices, construction, tech startups, and retail stores.
Are you certified family business specialists?
Yes. All financial services professionals on our team are certified family business specialists.
Financial Advising
When should you consult a financial services professional?
Any major life event, such as buying first home, getting married, and having a baby are all reasons to seek help from a professional advisor in order to protect your family. Then, you can start to seriously look at savings goals and what your retirement might look like. A professional advisor will help you see the whole picture of your financial life including: taxes, social security, cash flow, disability insurance, life insurance, debt management, college savings, and more.
How much does it cost to talk to a financial services professional?
The initial consultation is free. A financial services professional shouldn’t charge anything until you both determine it’s a good fit as a relationship on both sides.
Retirement Planning
What’s the difference between 401k and IRA retirement plans?
A 401k is an employer-based retirement savings plan that usually includes a funding match. And IRA offers more flexibility on where to invest your funds and give your more control over costs. A 401k and traditional IRA are taxed at a later date (like when you withdrawal funds), while a Roth IRA is taxed when the investment is made (now).
What is the average retirement nest egg in Pennsylvania?
According to the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), Pennsylvania’s retirement savings balances are slightly higher than the national average. The average defined contribution account (eg, an IRA or 401k plan) in Pennsylvania has close to $41,000 in savings.
Consultations
Can I talk to someone for free?
The initial consultation is free. A financial services professional shouldn’t charge anything until you both determine it’s a good fit as a relationship on both sides.
What can I do if I’m not happy with my current financial professional?
Maybe your advisor hasn’t met your needs, has communicated poorly, or you just feel like you don’t have a good relationship with them. It happens. You can always find another financial professional who might be a better fit for you. And any professional financial firm will help you transfer your assets and will make it a hassle-free process.
What is the initial consultation like?
During the first meeting, we’ll want to get to know you, your goals, and challenges you’re facing now or could face in the future. We want to understand your unique situation and will not make any assumptions because everyone’s story is different.