AAF Wealth Management > Solutions > Succession Planning

Business Exit and Succession Planning

Exiting a business is rarely straightforward. It requires a careful balance of ambition, legacy, and practicality—and a strategy that considers both the immediate transition and the long-term future. AAF Wealth Management helps bring clarity to this process.

We align your exit strategy with your broader wealth plan, helping to ensure today’s decisions support your long-term financial security. Our team models potential outcomes and designs a plan that reflects your goals, values, and risk tolerance.

As part of the AAFCPAs family of companies, we work closely with CPAs, M&A advisors, estate attorneys, and AAFCPAs’ Business Transaction Advisory practice to create cohesive, tax-efficient strategies. Whether preparing for a sale, planning retirement income, or preserving wealth for future generations, we help position you for what comes next—with confidence.

Our CFP®-Led Approach

By integrating financial planning into every phase of the exit, we help clients protect wealth, reduce risk, and maintain control. Our advisory approach includes:

  1. Establish and Define the Relationship:
    This initial phase involves setting clear expectations and documenting the services to be provided, the responsibilities of both the planner and the client, and how the planner will be compensated.
  2. Gather Client Data and Define Goals:
    Collect all relevant quantitative and qualitative information about the client’s personal and financial situation, including their income, expenses, assets, debts, and risk tolerance. This also includes identifying and selecting the client’s financial goals.
  3. Analyze and Evaluate the Financial Status:
    Analyze the gathered data to assess the client’s current financial position, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and any gaps in the information.
  4. Develop and Present Financial Recommendations:
    Based on the analysis, the CFP® develops and presents comprehensive financial recommendations tailored to the client’s goals and circumstances.
  5. Implement the Financial Plan:
    With the client’s agreement, put the recommendations into action. This may involve collaborating with other professionals, selecting specific financial products, or taking other agreed-upon steps.
  6. Monitor the Plan:
    Regularly review the financial plan and the client’s progress toward their goals. Monitor for any changes in the client’s life or financial situation and make necessary adjustments to the plan to ensure it continues to meet their evolving needs.

Strategic Succession Planning

At AAF Wealth Management, we understand this moment is as much about your personal journey as it is about the business itself. Whether passing the baton to a successor, selling to a third party, or transitioning to new ventures, each path presents its own set of opportunities and challenges. Our approach is built on the belief that every detail matters, from financial intricacies to the personal dynamics at play.

We begin with a candid discussion to uncover your financial needs, goals for succession, and the values that have shaped both your business and family. This helps us understand what’s at stake and ensure your vision is fully realized. Next, we conduct comprehensive business valuations to establish an accurate picture of your company’s worth and design a strategic plan that strengthens its position for whatever the future holds.

Let us work with you to ensure every piece of the puzzle fits together. We can also offer guidance on employee compensation programs, cash flow projections from the exchange and, where appropriate, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), helping to maintain stability and leadership continuity during and after the transition.

 

Long-Term Stability

Succession planning extends beyond interpersonal relationships, which is why we also focus on leadership readiness and business continuity. At AAF Wealth Management, we want to ensure both the people and processes are in place for long-term success. Our approach includes management skills assessments to identify gaps, leadership development to strengthen successors, and governance strategies that provide structure for stability.

The exit strategy we create for you is about both your business and your life after the exit. Our tax planning professionals can help you navigate the complexities of wealth transfer, estate planning, and liquidity, helping to ensure you leave with confidence knowing your legacy is secure and your financial future is sound.

 

Built for What’s Next

At AAF Wealth Management, planning is the foundation of every exit strategy. You will work with a team that understands how to connect your personal financial goals with the realities of transitioning a business. We help clarify timing, structure deals, assess tax exposure, and map out the financial life you envision after the sale.

Through our close collaboration with CPAs, M&A advisors, and estate attorneys at AAFCPAs, you receive integrated guidance that reflects your full financial picture. You remain in control—supported by objective analysis, scenario modeling, and a strategy aligned with your goals.