Everyone is busy. Business owners are no exception. In fact, according to a recent market study conducted by the Principal Financial Group®, 47% of business owners indicate with the day to day challenges of running a business, they're either too busy, not sure where to start, or it's not 'top of mind,' to financially prepare for the future.
Like many Americans, business owners live in the here and now. They respond to what's at hand, what they know, what they enjoy. That focus can be successful for short-term business success, but may leave the business owner without proper plans for the long term.
Having a holistic and long-range view is critical to ensuring a business and its owner are properly protected — regardless of what happens. A couple of areas owners should look at include succession or transition planning, as well as protecting against unexpected events such as premature death and disability.
Help business owners pause and look at the big picture
Business owners need your help taking action with their financial strategies. In my experience, advisors have the most success when they stop pushing product and instead listen to clients' concerns. They then can recommend financial solutions that help fill a gap or deal with a pain point/area of concern. It can be a journey and an evolution, but results in the client being more engaged and inclined to take action.
