Profile
Profile: Mid-60s couple preparing to sell their family-owned professional services business.
Stage of Life: Empty nesters planning retirement and wealth transfer.
Primary Concern: Reducing taxes, protecting new wealth, and wanting to ensure long-term family security.
The Challenge
After 40 years of building a thriving business, this couple was approaching one of the biggest transitions of
their lives — selling their company and stepping into retirement.
They were proud of what they’d built, but also anxious about what came next. Their questions reflected what many
business owners face:
- How do we structure the sale to minimize taxes?
- How will this liquidity event change our Social Security and Medicare plans?
- How do we protect this wealth from liability or cyber threats?
- What’s the best way to pass this legacy to our children and local charities?
They didn’t just need help selling their business — they needed a coordinated plan for the rest of their lives.
Our Approach
Our Virtual Family Office guided them through a multi-year, step-by-step plan that aligned their business, tax,
and estate strategies into one cohesive roadmap.
1. Business Sale Planning
We coordinated with their CPA and a third-party valuator to help ensure an accurate company valuation and
determine the most tax-efficient structure for the sale.
2. Tax & Retirement Strategy
We analyzed their pre-tax accounts, converted select IRAs to Roth IRAs before the Required Minimum Distribution
(RMD) age, and created an annual Roth-conversion schedule.
We also reviewed beneficiary designations to help reduce potential tax burdens for their children.
3. Charitable & Legacy Planning
Before age 70½, we helped them establish a Donor-Advised Fund, using appreciated stock to front-load several years
of charitable gifts.
Later, we transitioned to Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to continue their giving in a tax-advantaged
way.
4. Risk & Insurance Oversight
With new liquidity came new exposure. We collaborated with insurance specialists to review personal liability
coverage and update life policies for multigenerational planning.
5. Cybersecurity & Identity Protection
We connected them with a trusted cybersecurity firm for ongoing monitoring, credit freezes, and IRS Identity
Protection PINs — reinforcing that modern wealth protection extends beyond investments.
6. Estate & Family Planning
Working alongside their attorney, we updated estate documents, established an intra-family loan for one child
during a high-interest environment, and confirmed annual gifting plans that reduced their projected estate tax
exposure.
The Outcome
With their sale complete and new wealth structured efficiently, the couple transitioned into retirement with
clarity and confidence.
They now enjoy a sustainable income plan, an integrated charitable strategy, and peace of mind knowing their
estate is positioned to benefit their family and community for generations.
Our ongoing role includes annual reviews, Roth conversion analysis, and discussions about funding 529 plans for
future grandchildren — because their story, like every client’s, continues to evolve.
Key Takeaways
- Begin planning 12–24 months before a business sale to capture more options.
- Integrate tax, estate, and charitable strategies early — they work best when coordinated.
- Protect new wealth with both insurance and cybersecurity measures.
