Succession Planning
Transitioning ownership of a business or estate is never just about numbers — it’s about people, relationships, and legacy. Whether you’re passing on a family business, preparing for retirement, or structuring estate transfers, our CPA team ensures your transition is tax-efficient, legally sound, and designed to protect what you’ve built. With careful planning, you can hand over the reins with confidence.
Why Succession Planning Matters
Too often, succession is left until the last moment — leading to rushed decisions, unnecessary tax burdens, and even family conflict. Without a structured plan, you risk diluting the value of your life’s work or creating uncertainty for employees, investors, and heirs.
Our CPA-backed succession strategies bring clarity and structure to the process. From deciding between gifting or selling equity stakes, to mitigating estate tax exposure, we design a roadmap that balances financial goals with personal intentions. The result: a smooth, predictable transition that safeguards both wealth and legacy.
What's Included
Succession-focused tax planning
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Estate & gift tax strategy tailored to your situation
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Structuring and review of buy-sell agreements
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Valuation support for ownership transfers
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Compliance with federal and state tax requirements
We Help With
Family business transfers across generations
Retirement or ownership exits
Gifting vs. selling equity stakes
Exposure to estate and gift taxes
Uncertainty in leadership and control after transition
Explore More Tax Planning Services
Business valuation works best as part of a larger tax and financial strategy. Explore other services in our Tax Planning category:
- Year-round Tax Strategies — minimize liabilities and maximize savings year-round
- Transaction Support & Due Diligence — tax insights during deals and restructurings
- M&A Tax & Deal Advisory — guidance for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures
- Business Valuation — accurate valuations that drive smart decisions
- International Tax — cross-border expertise for global operations
FAQs: Succession Planning
A CPA helps you avoid overpaying taxes and build a strategy that supports your financial goals. Here’s what you need to know about tax filing, planning, and audit representation —whether you’re in New York or anywhere in the US.
When should I start succession planning?
Ideally, succession planning should begin years before an expected transition. Early planning allows you to minimize taxes, prepare heirs or successors, and avoid rushed, reactive decisions.
What’s the difference between gifting and selling ownership stakes?
Gifting may reduce estate size and leverage lifetime exemptions, but selling can provide liquidity and establish a clear market value. The right approach depends on your financial goals, family dynamics, and tax exposure.
Can succession planning help reduce estate taxes?
Yes. Through strategic gifting, trusts, and entity structuring, we can help you reduce or even eliminate estate tax liabilities, ensuring more of your wealth is preserved for heirs.
Do you only work with family businesses?
No. While family-owned companies are common in succession planning, we also support partnerships, professional firms, and privately held businesses preparing for ownership changes.
How do buy-sell agreements fit into succession planning?
Buy-sell agreements establish clear terms for ownership transitions, helping prevent disputes, ensure fair valuation, and provide funding mechanisms (e.g., insurance). We draft and review these agreements to align with your overall tax and estate plan.
