Not every business owner is a good fit for this approach. This page helps you determine if stewardship and capital continuity advisory aligns with your values, situation, and goals.
Be honest with yourself. The goal isn't to "pass" a test. It's to determine if this thinking fits where you are. If it doesn't, that's fine. There are many good advisors for different stages and approaches.
The Ideal Fit
This approach fits founders and second-generation builders who meet most of these criteria:
Financial Profile
- Incorporated business with retained earnings or capital that materially exceeds personal lifestyle needs
- Typically $500k+ in retained earnings, though the key question is: "Does your capital exceed what you need for lifestyle?"
- Business is profitable and stable (not in early-stage operational cash crisis)
- Have moved beyond "survival mode" and are thinking about what happens after accumulation
Life Stage
- Ages 45–65 (though age is less important than stage)
- Still active and sharp, but have "won" the accumulation phase
- Thinking about next generation, legacy, or what happens after you
- Feel unease (not urgency) about taxes, structure, and continuity
Mindset & Values
- Want to think in systems, not products
- Value tax efficiency and structure as much as (or more than) raw returns
- Think in decades, not quarters
- Want to understand the "why" behind recommendations, not just execute
- Are ready to coordinate with existing professionals (CPA, lawyer, notary) rather than replace them
- Feel they've outgrown standard retail advice
Questions You're Asking
If you're asking yourself these questions, this approach might fit:
- "What am I really building now?"
- "How do I pass this on without breaking my kids?"
- "How do I stop fighting the system and start engineering around it?"
- "Who can talk about this without bullshit?"
- "How do I think in generations, not just years?"
- "How do I teach responsibility without creating entitlement?"
Who This Is NOT For
This approach is likely not a good fit if:
Stage Mismatch
- Early-stage startups needing operational cash (focus should be on building the business, not optimizing corporate investments)
- Businesses in crisis or turnaround mode (stability first, then optimization)
- Capital is still primarily needed for lifestyle or business operations
- Accumulation phase is still the primary focus
Value Mismatch
- Maximum short-term returns are the primary goal (we focus on structure, tax efficiency, and continuity)
- Prefer to delegate without understanding the reasoning (this approach requires engagement)
- Want product recommendations without context (we focus on systems integration)
- Looking for someone to replace existing professionals (we coordinate, not replace)
Approach Mismatch
- Want performance guarantees or promises to beat the market (we focus on structure and efficiency)
- Looking for family counseling or therapy (we help design governance systems, not provide therapy)
- Want someone to handle everything independently (we orchestrate with your existing team)
- Prefer transactional relationships (this is a long-term, integrated approach)
If this doesn't fit, that's okay. There are many good advisors for different stages, approaches, and preferences. The goal is to find the right fit, not to force a match.
The Unspoken Questions
Dynasty builders often have questions they don't voice directly. If these resonate, this approach might fit:
About Identity
- "I've built this. What am I building now?"
- "How do I transition from builder to steward?"
- "What happens when I'm not in the room?"
About Legacy
- "How do I pass this on without breaking my kids?"
- "How do I teach responsibility without creating entitlement?"
- "How do I allow divergence without abandonment?"
About Systems
- "How do I stop fighting the system and start engineering around it?"
- "Who can talk about this without bullshit?"
- "How do I coordinate everything without chaos?"
Self-Assessment Questions
These questions help you self-assess. There are no right or wrong answers. They're filters, not tests.
1. Time Horizon
How do you think about your corporate investments?
- Short-term (1-3 years): Optimizing for current needs and liquidity
- Medium-term (3-10 years): Balancing current and future needs
- Long-term (10+ years): Building for next generation and legacy
If you think in decades, this approach likely fits better.
2. Advisor Approach
How do you prefer to work with advisors?
- Delegate: I prefer to delegate and not get into details
- Understand: I want to understand the reasoning behind recommendations
- Deep: I want deep explanations and want to understand the "why"
This approach requires engagement and understanding. If you prefer to delegate without context, it may not fit.
3. Priorities
What matters most to you in wealth management?
- Returns: Maximum returns and beating the market
- Balance: Balancing returns with tax efficiency and structure
- Structure: Tax efficiency, structure, and continuity matter more than raw returns
If structure and continuity matter more than raw returns, this approach likely fits.
4. Coordination
How do you want to work with your existing professionals?
- Replace: I want one advisor to handle everything
- Separate: I keep advisors separate and coordinate myself
- Coordinate: I want someone to coordinate with my existing team
This approach emphasizes coordination with existing professionals, not replacement.
Next Steps
If this thinking fits where you are, the next step is clarity. Start with assessment and understanding.
Option 1: Technical Foundation
Download the Owner's Tax-Smart Investing Playbook to understand the technical foundation of corporate investing, tax efficiency, and structure.
Option 2: Alignment Call
Schedule a 15-minute alignment call to see if this approach fits your situation. This is a diagnostic conversation, not a sales pitch.
Option 3: Learn More
Read more about the approach and process before deciding.