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Retirement Planning Services

Financial Planning for Business Owners

Specialized financial planning that envisions a business owner’s future, personally and professionally.

Let’s Meet

Home » Services » Financial Planning for Business Owners

Financial Planning for Business Owners

Retirement Planning Services

Specialized financial planning that envisions a business owner’s future, personally and professionally.

Let’s Meet

How Financial Planning is Different for Business Owners

Business owners require a financial planner who understands and can coordinate competing aspects of their lives including:

Capitalizing the business for growth and sustainability
Addressing Family and Personal Financial Requirements
Managing the Competing Interests of Family and Employees
Developing Business Perpetuation Strategies
Balancing Inheritances for Children Working Inside and
Outside the Business

Financial planning for a business owner is vastly more complex than the plans for a retiring corporate executive, who need not consider business values, his children’s employment in the entity, and the fates of his colleagues when retiring.

Financial plans must consider the unique circumstances, challenges, responsibilities, and financial risks that come with owning a business.

The Role and Responsibilities of a Business Owner

A business owner juggles three distinct roles: Owner, Manager, and Parent, often with conflicting demands. They recognize that no matter how large the business, there is never enough capital to satisfy all of the constituents.

Key responsibilities include:

Developing a long-term growth strategy.
Providing opportunities for family members.
Ensuring employee welfare.
Securing personal retirement resources.
Selecting the right exit strategy, whether selling, transitioning, or retiring.
Coordinating financial planning across capital, cash flow, tax, and retirement.

Winthrop Partners knows the financial planning hurdles and opportunities you and your business may encounter during the growth, transition, and the post-transition phases. We’ll work with you to build a comprehensive financial plan that considers everything from tax and risk management, to business succession and retirement.

How Financial Planning is Different for Business Owners

Business owners require a financial planner who understands and can coordinate competing aspects of their lives including:

Personal finances
Family employment
Inheritance issues
Business perpetuation strategies

Financial plans must consider the unique circumstances, challenges, responsibilities, and financial risks that come with owning a business.

The Role and Responsibilities of a Business Owner

Key responsibilities include:

Developing a long-term growth strategy.
Providing opportunities for family members.
Ensuring employee welfare.
Securing personal retirement resources.
Selecting the right exit strategy, whether selling, transitioning, or retiring.
Coordinating financial planning across capital, cash flow, tax, and retirement.

How to Approach Financial Planning at the Different Stages of your Business

Business Growth Phase

BIGGEST FINANCIAL CONCERN: Diversifying while growing business.

The financial decisions an owner makes during the business growth stage can be complex and overwhelming. Since success depends on effective leadership, strategic decision-making, and the ability to adapt to the changing circumstances, these priorities can become frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming– requiring your funds and attention while leaving little opportunity to plan for your company’s financial future and securing your own.

Winthrop Partners will help with:

A comprehensive personal financial plan that outlines your goals, projections, and strategies
Budgeting & personal cash flow management
Investment & growth planning
Personal financial forecasting
Benchmark and performance analysis
Capital allocation & due diligence
Debt management
Contingency planning
Tax planning
Estimating the value of your business
Retirement planning

The Transition Phase

BIGGEST FINANCIAL CONCERN: Estimating your business’s varying values under a variety of circumstances and determining your transition approach while preparing for retirement.

By now, you and your business depend little on outside debt, are cash flow positive, have accumulated wealth inside and outside of your business, and are committed to your company and its employees. Even if you plan on working past the age of 65, it’s important to start getting your investments, tax planning, and estate planning aligned with your retirement goals.

Winthrop Partners will help with:

Personal budgeting & cash flow management
Investment & growth planning
Benchmark and performance analysis
Financial forecasting
Contingency planning
Identifying and coordinating proactive corporate finance, tax, and accounting advisors
Reviewing your Social Security and Medicare options
Retirement planning
Estate planning

THE TRANSITION PHASE

BIGGEST FINANCIAL CONCERN: Estimating your business’s varying values under a variety of circumstances and determining your transition approach while preparing for retirement.

Winthrop Partners will help with:

Personal budgeting & cash flow management
Investment & growth planning
Benchmark and performance analysis
Financial forecasting
Contingency planning
Identifying and coordinating proactive corporate finance, tax, and accounting advisors
Reviewing your Social Security and Medicare options
Retirement planning
Estate planning

The Post Transition (Retirement) Phase

BIGGEST FINANCIAL CONCERN: Maintaining the wealth you’ve established throughout your career.

After transitioning into the retirement phase of your career, it’s time to start reaping the benefits of your hard work. Though you’ve diligently worked to secure a financial plan that aligns with your goals, it’s important to closely monitor your investments, diversify your portfolio, and minimize taxes long-term.

Winthrop Partners will help with:

Budgeting & cash flow management
Optimizing your 401k or Roth IRA options
Maximizing your Social Security benefits
Strategically diversifying your retirement portfolio to meet your needs
Tax planning
Estate planning

How we Help Business Owners with their Financial Planning

By taking a comprehensive look at your business planning, taxes, investments, and retirement needs, Winthrop Partners can help you define your goals, make informed decisions, and build the future you envision.

Let’s Meet

Budgeting & Cash Flow Management

Developing a detailed budget for ongoing operations.
Monitoring cash flow to ensure there’s enough liquidity.
Preparing for seasonal fluctuations in revenue.

Financial Forecasting

Creating financial projections for the future.
Forecasting sales, expenses, and profits.
Identifying potential financial challenges and opportunities.

Tax Planning

Understanding tax obligations and options.
Exploring tax deductions and credits for small businesses.
Strategically planning for tax payments.

Debt Management

Managing business loans and lines of credit.
Optimizing debt structures and payment terms.

Investment & Growth Planning

Evaluating opportunities for business expansion.
Identifying areas for investment in technology or other assets.
Weighing the risks and benefits of growth strategies.

Contingency Planning

Developing plans for unexpected events or economic downturns.
Building an emergency fund for business resilience.

Retirement Planning

As you build your company are you giving adequate consideration to your own retirement plans?
Have you maximized ERISA, Top Hat and other savings strategies?
Do you have enough money set aside for retirement if the business collapsed or if you decide to transfer the company to family members or employees at a reduced value

Estate Planning

Ensuring a smooth transition of assets in case of the owner’s death or incapacitation.
Minimizing estate taxes and other financial implications.
Balancing bequests between children working inside and outside the business.

Exit Strategy Planning

Determining the goals and objectives of your exit.
Developing strategies that might meet these objectives.
Reviewing these strategies pros and cons from Human Resource, tax, finance and other perspectives.
Choosing the strategy that achieves your objectives.

CUSTOMIZED FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

Business owners invest a lot to ensure their companies thrive. Contact Winthrop Partners to work with advisors that understand your unique vision for your business and while protecting your personal wealth.

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Types of Business Owners We Help

We help all types of physicians, including high-risk specialties who have high costs associated with malpractice premiums and lawsuits.

We can help:

Sole Proprietors
Partners
Family Business Owners
Entrepreneurs
Franchise Owners
Real Estate Investors

Financial Planning for Business Owners FAQ

▼ What is the minimum value of assets required to work with Winthrop Partners?

Generally, Winthrop Partners is ideal for individuals and families who have a minimum of $250,000.00 in investable assets.

▼ What are Winthrop Partners’ Investment Management fees?

Generally, we charge a fixed fee of 1% of AUM for our planning and Investment Management services. This fee may be reduced for accounts with large amounts of assets under management. For Investment Planning Services, we also offer a subscription fee for accounts that do not meet our minimums.

▼ What are Winthrop Partners’ certifications?

Winthrop Partners and its individual team members are members of CFP Board, NAPFA, Fee-Only Network, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), ChFCs, CFPs and MD Preferred Advisors.

We are staffed with individuals who have earned the following graduate degrees MBA, CPA, and JD who provide a full-service wealth management and financial planning firm to satisfy the diverse needs of all our clients.

▼ What are the benefits of working with a fee-only advisor?

The benefits of having a fee-only advisor include transparency, no hidden charges, and no undisclosed conflicts of interest to sell a certain product line or company offering. We receive no incentive from third parties to entice us to invest in their funds. Fee-only advisors work solely on their client’s behalf.

▼ What are the benefits of working with a financial advisor to manage your investments?

There are several benefits to working with a financial advisor for your investment management. Winthrop Partners provides professional guidance, experienced advice, and reassurance to give the client peace of mind and motivation to save. All your investments are consolidated into one plan.

▼ What makes Winthrop Partners different from other advisors when it comes to investment management?

As professionals our job is to help you make informed financial decisions using the full complement of resources at our disposal. Every step involves interaction between our team, the client, and outside professionals if needed.

Empathy: We take time to actively listen, understand, and confirm what we hear.
Fiduciary: We put you before us. We negotiate for you, not against you.
Experience: Over 150 years of combined experience.
Fee-only: We receive one clearly aligned fee and accept no commissions or other third-party fees that could sway our recommendations.
Execution: We are goal-based planners, trying to achieve your goals with the least amount of risk.

▼ How often will we meet to discuss the health of my portfolio?

We are available to meet with you as frequently as you desire! In the early stages of the relationship when a higher degree of financial planning may be involved, weekly or monthly meetings might be appropriate. When issues or changes in circumstances arise, we are here to help you assess the impact of these changes on your goals and to make any changes to your financial plan to keep you on track to achieving your goals. Once the relationship is established, most clients elect an informal quarterly telephonic update with a formal annual review, however shorter-term check-ins are always welcome.

▼ How often will you provide a report of my portfolio?

We provide annual reports of a client’s portfolio that are available anytime upon request.

▼ How can I access my reporting on my investment accounts?

Clients have online access through our custodian, Raymond James’s online portal, and can retrieve real-time investment holding reports and retirement plans at any time.

▼ Where are your offices?

We have locations in Doylestown, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Buffalo, NY; and Miami, FL.

Our Offices

Eastern Pennsylvania

Winthrop Partners

100 Mechanics Street, 1st Fl

Doylestown, PA 18901

Western Pennsylvania

Winthrop Partners

101 E. Swissvale Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Winthrop Partners

960 Penn Avenue, Suite 1001

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Western New York

Winthrop Partners

295 Main Street, Suite 840

Buffalo, NY 14203

Southern Florida

Winthrop Partners

8200 NW 41st St, STE 318

Doral, FL 33166

▼ How can I set-up a consultation?

Schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our fee-only investment advisors. We will create a custom investment plan based on your financial goals and personal desires.

Disclosures:

The views, opinions, and content presented are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to reflect a current or past recommendation; investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice of any kind; or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or investment services. Nothing presented should be considered to be an offer to provide any product or service in any jurisdiction that would be unlawful under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of some or all of the principal amount invested. Past performance of a security or financial product does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, and risk tolerances carefully before investing. The Firm has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided, but it cannot be guaranteed.

Ready to find out more?

Set up a free consultation to learn about our financial planning for business owners and how to take the first steps toward achieving your business and personal financial goals.

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