Having a continuity partner in your practice is important to ensure continued service, staff involvement in the transition, and financial protection for your family in the event you are unable to participate in the business. Without one, you run the risk of creating service disruptions, staff confusion, and unnecessary family stress. Plus, in the event of permanent disability or death when there isn't a continuity agreement in place, fiduciary accounts are stripped of fees and converted to brokerage accounts immediately. In short order, your revenue stream may significantly decline. Ultimately, for an independent advisor, this disruption of income often results in diminished client retention and a business fire sale.

Threats to the success of a small business are ever-present. Yet many financial advisors haven’t developed an adequate plan for managing business risk. They find out the hard way, through personal experience, exactly why they need one. That’s what happened to me.

Business risk is anything that threatens the continued success of your practice, and it can assume many forms. Unfortunately, many business owners overlook the potential risks that can derail a long-standing business. Why? Generally because they don’t understand the risk, don’t feel the risk is severe, or don’t believe it will happen. But what if it does?

With the holidays behind us, it’s a good time to explore why we spend money. Heading into year-end, the stock markets were plummeting, wiping out most, if not all, 2018 gains from our equity-based savings accounts. Yet when I walked into my groovy neighborhood gift shop to buy a holiday hostess present, people were lined up for their Curio Spice Aegean Sea salt and Somerville greeting cards for $4.50 a pop. What gives?

Are you thinking of buying or selling your practice? If so, you are also likely thinking of the material difference that taxes will make in the value of your assets or revenue stream. While you never want the “tax tail wagging the deal dog,” some forethought to the tax implications can help you transact a deal that aligns with your expected net values.