Build a Future Beyond Your Business
You've put years into building your business. We help you prepare for what comes next, connecting a future sale or succession with your personal finances and the life you want afterward.
Build a Future Beyond Your Business
You've put years into building your business. We help you prepare for what comes next, connecting a future sale or succession with your personal finances and the life you want afterward.
Build a Future Beyond Your Business
You've put years into building your business. We help you prepare for what comes next, connecting a future sale or succession with your personal finances and the life you want afterward.
Your Business Is Part of Your Life. Leaving It Is, Too.
For years, your business has shaped your income, your schedule, and much of your identity. Deciding how to step away raises questions that a sale price alone can't answer.
How much would you need to support your next chapter? What would a transition mean for your family? We help you consider those questions early and connect your personal plan with the professionals involved in your business transition.
Your Business Is Part of Your Life. Leaving It Is, Too.
For years, your business has shaped your income, your schedule, and much of your identity. Deciding how to step away raises questions that a sale price alone can't answer.
How much would you need to support your next chapter? What would a transition mean for your family? We help you consider those questions early and connect your personal plan with the professionals involved in your business transition.
Your Business Is Part of Your Life. Leaving It Is, Too.
For years, your business has shaped your income, your schedule, and much of your identity. Deciding how to step away raises questions that a sale price alone can't answer.
How much would you need to support your next chapter? What would a transition mean for your family? We help you consider those questions early and connect your personal plan with the professionals involved in your business transition.
Connect the Transition With Your Personal Plan
We help you consider what needs to happen before, during, and after a change in ownership.
Define Life After the Business
We start with what you want your time and financial life to look like. Retirement, a new venture, family responsibilities, and personal interests all help shape what you need from a transition.
Understand What You Need From an Exit
If a business exit will help fund your retirement, we start with what that retirement needs to support. We compare your spending goals with assets outside the business and possible transition proceeds to identify gaps and decisions ahead.
Compare the Financial Tradeoffs
Different transition paths can change when you receive money, how much remains at risk, and how long you stay involved. We help you evaluate those implications alongside your other advisors.
Bring Taxes Into the Conversation Early
The timing and structure of a transition can affect what you have available afterward. We connect the potential tax effects with your personal financial plan and coordinate with your tax and legal professionals before key decisions are made.
Connect the Transition With Your Family's Legacy
Whether family members will inherit business interests or share in the wealth from a sale, those decisions belong in your estate plan. We help connect the transition with your wishes for your spouse, children, and future generations.
Plan for Wealth Outside the Business
After a transition, wealth that was tied to your business may need a new role. We help develop an investment approach for available proceeds that reflects your spending needs, comfort with risk, and longer-term goals.
Connect the Transition With Your Personal Plan
We help you consider what needs to happen before, during, and after a change in ownership.
Define Life After the Business
We start with what you want your time and financial life to look like. Retirement, a new venture, family responsibilities, and personal interests all help shape what you need from a transition.
Understand What You Need From an Exit
If a business exit will help fund your retirement, we start with what that retirement needs to support. We compare your spending goals with assets outside the business and possible transition proceeds to identify gaps and decisions ahead.
Compare the Financial Tradeoffs
Different transition paths can change when you receive money, how much remains at risk, and how long you stay involved. We help you evaluate those implications alongside your other advisors.
Bring Taxes Into the Conversation Early
The timing and structure of a transition can affect what you have available afterward. We connect the potential tax effects with your personal financial plan and coordinate with your tax and legal professionals before key decisions are made.
Connect the Transition With Your Family's Legacy
Whether family members will inherit business interests or share in the wealth from a sale, those decisions belong in your estate plan. We help connect the transition with your wishes for your spouse, children, and future generations.
Plan for Wealth Outside the Business
After a transition, wealth that was tied to your business may need a new role. We help develop an investment approach for available proceeds that reflects your spending needs, comfort with risk, and longer-term goals.
Connect the Transition With Your Personal Plan
We help you consider what needs to happen before, during, and after a change in ownership.
Define Life After the Business
We start with what you want your time and financial life to look like. Retirement, a new venture, family responsibilities, and personal interests all help shape what you need from a transition.
Understand What You Need From an Exit
If a business exit will help fund your retirement, we start with what that retirement needs to support. We compare your spending goals with assets outside the business and possible transition proceeds to identify gaps and decisions ahead.
Compare the Financial Tradeoffs
Different transition paths can change when you receive money, how much remains at risk, and how long you stay involved. We help you evaluate those implications alongside your other advisors.
Bring Taxes Into the Conversation Early
The timing and structure of a transition can affect what you have available afterward. We connect the potential tax effects with your personal financial plan and coordinate with your tax and legal professionals before key decisions are made.
Connect the Transition With Your Family's Legacy
Whether family members will inherit business interests or share in the wealth from a sale, those decisions belong in your estate plan. We help connect the transition with your wishes for your spouse, children, and future generations.
Plan for Wealth Outside the Business
After a transition, wealth that was tied to your business may need a new role. We help develop an investment approach for available proceeds that reflects your spending needs, comfort with risk, and longer-term goals.
An illustrative planning situation
An Offer Arrives. Would It Support Your Next Chapter?
A potential buyer approaches you with an offer. The headline number is encouraging, but some payments would come later and depend on future business results. You're beginning to picture stepping away.
Before treating that offer as your retirement plan, there are a few questions to work through:
What might be available after taxes, debt, and transaction costs?
How much would you receive at closing, and what would depend on later payments?
Could your household plans still work if those later payments were smaller or delayed?
We help explore the personal financial implications while your transaction advisors evaluate the deal itself. You can assess the opportunity with a clearer view of what it would need to support.
Hypothetical example for illustration only. The appropriate approach depends on individual circumstances.
An illustrative planning situation
An Offer Arrives. Would It Support Your Next Chapter?
A potential buyer approaches you with an offer. The headline number is encouraging, but some payments would come later and depend on future business results. You're beginning to picture stepping away.
Before treating that offer as your retirement plan, there are a few questions to work through:
What might be available after taxes, debt, and transaction costs?
How much would you receive at closing, and what would depend on later payments?
Could your household plans still work if those later payments were smaller or delayed?
We help explore the personal financial implications while your transaction advisors evaluate the deal itself. You can assess the opportunity with a clearer view of what it would need to support.
Hypothetical example for illustration only. The appropriate approach depends on individual circumstances.
An illustrative planning situation
An Offer Arrives. Would It Support Your Next Chapter?
A potential buyer approaches you with an offer. The headline number is encouraging, but some payments would come later and depend on future business results. You're beginning to picture stepping away.
Before treating that offer as your retirement plan, there are a few questions to work through:
What might be available after taxes, debt, and transaction costs?
How much would you receive at closing, and what would depend on later payments?
Could your household plans still work if those later payments were smaller or delayed?
We help explore the personal financial implications while your transaction advisors evaluate the deal itself. You can assess the opportunity with a clearer view of what it would need to support.
Hypothetical example for illustration only. The appropriate approach depends on individual circumstances.
More Than One Way to Step Away
Your next chapter may involve a sale, a family transition, or a gradual change in your role. Each path brings different planning decisions.
Planning for a Future Sale
You want to understand what a sale could make possible. We help connect possible proceeds and timing with your personal financial needs, so your goals help inform the conversation.
Passing the Business to Family
You want the business to continue while taking care of the people closest to you. We help explore the financial implications for you and your family, including those who aren't involved in the business.
Preparing to Step Back Gradually
You may want fewer responsibilities without leaving all at once. We help consider how changes in your role, income, and ownership could affect your household finances and future options.
More Than One Way to Step Away
Your next chapter may involve a sale, a family transition, or a gradual change in your role. Each path brings different planning decisions.
Planning for a Future Sale
You want to understand what a sale could make possible. We help connect possible proceeds and timing with your personal financial needs, so your goals help inform the conversation.
Passing the Business to Family
You want the business to continue while taking care of the people closest to you. We help explore the financial implications for you and your family, including those who aren't involved in the business.
Preparing to Step Back Gradually
You may want fewer responsibilities without leaving all at once. We help consider how changes in your role, income, and ownership could affect your household finances and future options.
More Than One Way to Step Away
Your next chapter may involve a sale, a family transition, or a gradual change in your role. Each path brings different planning decisions.
Planning for a Future Sale
You want to understand what a sale could make possible. We help connect possible proceeds and timing with your personal financial needs, so your goals help inform the conversation.
Passing the Business to Family
You want the business to continue while taking care of the people closest to you. We help explore the financial implications for you and your family, including those who aren't involved in the business.
Preparing to Step Back Gradually
You may want fewer responsibilities without leaving all at once. We help consider how changes in your role, income, and ownership could affect your household finances and future options.
Guidance That Understands Both Sides of Ownership
Partners and lead financial planners Bill Mulvahill and Morgan Ranstrom are Certified Exit Planning Advisors and CFP® professionals. Bill also brings CPA credentials and a Master of Business Taxation. Morgan's experience includes growing up in a family business and navigating a business exit.
We bring that perspective to the personal decisions surrounding a transition: what your family needs, what your wealth can support, and how your next chapter fits together.
Guidance That Understands Both Sides of Ownership
Partners and lead financial planners Bill Mulvahill and Morgan Ranstrom are Certified Exit Planning Advisors and CFP® professionals. Bill also brings CPA credentials and a Master of Business Taxation. Morgan's experience includes growing up in a family business and navigating a business exit.
We bring that perspective to the personal decisions surrounding a transition: what your family needs, what your wealth can support, and how your next chapter fits together.
Guidance That Understands Both Sides of Ownership
Partners and lead financial planners Bill Mulvahill and Morgan Ranstrom are Certified Exit Planning Advisors and CFP® professionals. Bill also brings CPA credentials and a Master of Business Taxation. Morgan's experience includes growing up in a family business and navigating a business exit.
We bring that perspective to the personal decisions surrounding a transition: what your family needs, what your wealth can support, and how your next chapter fits together.
Start Planning While You Still Have Choices
You don't need a final exit date to begin understanding your options.
Get Clear on Your Starting Point
We learn about your business interests, personal finances, family priorities, and possible timeline. Together, we identify the questions that could shape your transition.
Connect the Plans and People
We help evaluate the personal financial implications and coordinate with the tax, legal, and other professionals involved in the transition.
Carry the Plan Into Your Next Chapter
As the transition takes shape, we help update your income and investment planning for the assets available and the life you're moving toward.
Start Planning While You Still Have Choices
You don't need a final exit date to begin understanding your options.
Get Clear on Your Starting Point
We learn about your business interests, personal finances, family priorities, and possible timeline. Together, we identify the questions that could shape your transition.
Connect the Plans and People
We help evaluate the personal financial implications and coordinate with the tax, legal, and other professionals involved in the transition.
Carry the Plan Into Your Next Chapter
As the transition takes shape, we help update your income and investment planning for the assets available and the life you're moving toward.
Start Planning While You Still Have Choices
You don't need a final exit date to begin understanding your options.
Get Clear on Your Starting Point
We learn about your business interests, personal finances, family priorities, and possible timeline. Together, we identify the questions that could shape your transition.
Connect the Plans and People
We help evaluate the personal financial implications and coordinate with the tax, legal, and other professionals involved in the transition.
Carry the Plan Into Your Next Chapter
As the transition takes shape, we help update your income and investment planning for the assets available and the life you're moving toward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about business exit and succession planning.
When should I start planning for a business exit?
Start while you still have time to consider different paths. Even if a sale or succession is years away, understanding your personal financial needs can help guide decisions about the business today.
Can you help if I don't know how I want to leave?
Yes. We can start with what you want your life to look like and explore the personal financial implications of different possibilities. You don't need to arrive with a buyer, successor, or fixed retirement date.
How do you help me understand whether a sale would be enough?
We consider possible after-tax proceeds alongside your other assets, spending, and future goals. We can explore different assumptions, including payment timing, to help show what your plan would depend on.
What if one child wants the business and another doesn't?
We help you consider your own financial needs and what you want for each family member. We then coordinate the financial questions with your attorney and other advisors as you explore ownership and inheritance arrangements.
How does your role fit with my CPA, attorney, or business broker?
Our focus here is connecting the transition with your personal financial plan. We coordinate with the professionals handling tax, legal, valuation, or transaction work and clarify responsibilities as part of the engagement.
How does Trailhead charge for this work?
We offer flat-fee engagements for business owners based on scope and complexity. Wealth management fees are based on assets we manage. We'll explain the proposed arrangement and how the planning work fits within it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about business exit and succession planning.
When should I start planning for a business exit?
Start while you still have time to consider different paths. Even if a sale or succession is years away, understanding your personal financial needs can help guide decisions about the business today.
Can you help if I don't know how I want to leave?
Yes. We can start with what you want your life to look like and explore the personal financial implications of different possibilities. You don't need to arrive with a buyer, successor, or fixed retirement date.
How do you help me understand whether a sale would be enough?
We consider possible after-tax proceeds alongside your other assets, spending, and future goals. We can explore different assumptions, including payment timing, to help show what your plan would depend on.
What if one child wants the business and another doesn't?
We help you consider your own financial needs and what you want for each family member. We then coordinate the financial questions with your attorney and other advisors as you explore ownership and inheritance arrangements.
How does your role fit with my CPA, attorney, or business broker?
Our focus here is connecting the transition with your personal financial plan. We coordinate with the professionals handling tax, legal, valuation, or transaction work and clarify responsibilities as part of the engagement.
How does Trailhead charge for this work?
We offer flat-fee engagements for business owners based on scope and complexity. Wealth management fees are based on assets we manage. We'll explain the proposed arrangement and how the planning work fits within it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about business exit and succession planning.
When should I start planning for a business exit?
Start while you still have time to consider different paths. Even if a sale or succession is years away, understanding your personal financial needs can help guide decisions about the business today.
Can you help if I don't know how I want to leave?
Yes. We can start with what you want your life to look like and explore the personal financial implications of different possibilities. You don't need to arrive with a buyer, successor, or fixed retirement date.
How do you help me understand whether a sale would be enough?
We consider possible after-tax proceeds alongside your other assets, spending, and future goals. We can explore different assumptions, including payment timing, to help show what your plan would depend on.
What if one child wants the business and another doesn't?
We help you consider your own financial needs and what you want for each family member. We then coordinate the financial questions with your attorney and other advisors as you explore ownership and inheritance arrangements.
How does your role fit with my CPA, attorney, or business broker?
Our focus here is connecting the transition with your personal financial plan. We coordinate with the professionals handling tax, legal, valuation, or transaction work and clarify responsibilities as part of the engagement.
How does Trailhead charge for this work?
We offer flat-fee engagements for business owners based on scope and complexity. Wealth management fees are based on assets we manage. We'll explain the proposed arrangement and how the planning work fits within it.
Keep Exploring
How Much Cash Should a Business Keep on Hand?
Three to six months of operating expenses is the usual answer. When your business needs more, and when it needs a real cash strategy.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Top Ten Tax Planning Strategies for Small Business Owners
Entity structure, the QBI deduction, retirement plans, depreciation. Ten places owners most often leave money on the table.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Keep Exploring
How Much Cash Should a Business Keep on Hand?
Three to six months of operating expenses is the usual answer. When your business needs more, and when it needs a real cash strategy.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Top Ten Tax Planning Strategies for Small Business Owners
Entity structure, the QBI deduction, retirement plans, depreciation. Ten places owners most often leave money on the table.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Keep Exploring
How Much Cash Should a Business Keep on Hand?
Three to six months of operating expenses is the usual answer. When your business needs more, and when it needs a real cash strategy.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Top Ten Tax Planning Strategies for Small Business Owners
Entity structure, the QBI deduction, retirement plans, depreciation. Ten places owners most often leave money on the table.
Bill Mulvahill, CPA CFP® CEPA MBT
Let's Talk About Life Beyond the Business
Whether you're considering an offer or just beginning to imagine a change, let's talk about what you want your next chapter to look like and what it may take to get there.
Let's Talk About Life Beyond the Business
Whether you're considering an offer or just beginning to imagine a change, let's talk about what you want your next chapter to look like and what it may take to get there.
Let's Talk About Life Beyond the Business
Whether you're considering an offer or just beginning to imagine a change, let's talk about what you want your next chapter to look like and what it may take to get there.