Skip to content

Who We Help

Financial Planning for Business Owners

Owning a business changes how personal and corporate finances interact, from how income is drawn to what happens to the business if an owner becomes unable to work. This page outlines planning topics that business owners in North Vancouver commonly explore with an advisor.

Common planning priorities

Protecting income without an employer safety net

Business owners generally do not have employer-provided disability or life insurance to fall back on, meaning any gap in coverage is entirely their own responsibility to address. Personal disability and life insurance can help replace income and support ongoing personal and business obligations if the owner becomes seriously ill, injured, or passes away. The appropriate amount and structure often depends on how dependent the business is on the owner's day-to-day involvement.

Planning for business continuity

If a business has multiple owners or partners, questions often arise about what happens to each owner's share if one becomes unable to work or passes away. Buy-sell agreements funded by life insurance are one tool some businesses use to help provide funds for a smooth transition, though the specific structure depends on the business's legal and ownership arrangement and should involve legal and accounting professionals.

Balancing personal and corporate savings

Incorporated business owners often have choices about how and when to draw income versus retaining earnings in the corporation, which affects both personal savings capacity and how retirement funds accumulate. Some owners use corporately owned life insurance or investment strategies as part of a broader approach to managing retained earnings, though this involves tax considerations that should be reviewed with an accountant alongside a financial advisor.

Preparing for eventual transition or sale

Whether a business will eventually be sold, passed to family, or wound down, thinking about this outcome well in advance generally allows for more options. Considerations include how the owner's income and retirement savings will look after stepping away, and what role, if any, insurance or investment planning plays in supporting that transition.

Questions worth asking an advisor

  • What happens to my income if I become unable to work in my business?
  • Do I need a buy-sell agreement with my business partners?
  • How should I think about drawing salary versus dividends?
  • What is corporately owned life insurance and when might it be relevant?
  • How do I start planning for eventually stepping away from the business?
  • What financial strategies should business owners consider?

Information on this website is general in nature and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not financial, insurance, investment, tax, or legal advice, and it does not constitute an offer or solicitation. Any strategy discussed should be reviewed against your own circumstances before you act.

Sam can help you explore financial and insurance considerations and coordinate conversations with your accountant or lawyer where appropriate. Tax advice and legal advice remain with those qualified professionals.

Answers

Questions from business owners

Straightforward answers, with the context that matters before any decision.

North Vancouver, BC

Let's start with a conversation.

A short, no-pressure conversation is the easiest way to understand your options and decide what makes sense next.