Karoline Gore is a guest blogger who has provided content in the past for my blog including Managing Millennials: Effective Leadership For This Generation. Karoline did research into retirement, specifically for business owners, and keys to preparing and making the most of retirement.
Please comment or provide feedback to Karoline and I. Enjoy and learn from her ideas:
Develop And Implement A Succession Plan
One of the major decisions business owners will have to face upon retiring is whether to carry on trading, cease activity or sell their business to new owners. Most of them opt for continued trading whether it is by passing it on in the family or selling the business. This is because small business owners spend many years not only building their business from the ground but also building their business’ brand and reputation. In addition, keeping the business open means it can become one of your residual income streams in retirement; a key component to consider when it comes to the time to retire.
In this case, you must envision and create a succession plan for your business in your absence. This means considering who will run the business and take over the day to day trading. It also means nailing down the financial side of it; how would the profits be split and the tax consequences if any. You will also need to consult with a lawyer if you plan on passing on ownership or to draft a contract for profit sharing arrangements post-retirement. If you prefer to include employees as an owner, consider implementing an employee stock option. Finally, if you plan on not passing on ownership but installing a manager instead, you will need to outline their role (including boundaries) and define to what extent will they be able to make decisions. Will you fully step back or be retained in a consulting role? It is not uncommon for small business owners to still play a small part in major decisions even after retiring, especially in family-owned businesses.
Create A Financial Safety Net
Another step and measure of your readiness for retirement is your financial standing. As a business owner, your residual streams of income will differ. For instance, there are no company-sponsored employee pensions which means a self-employed 401k or Simplified Employee Pension IRA can be a good alternative. For those who plan to sell their business, there are the proceeds of your business to count on. However, given the volatility of the market business values can fluctuate. This also applies to any plans of using profits from the business post-retirement to fund your lifestyle. There is a certain amount of uncertainty that is attached to the business performance and its future. This is why it is always recommended to establish personal savings and investments beyond your business income.
Create Other Income Streams Apart From Your Business
One of the most common recommendations for those preparing for retirement is to create income streams to fund your lifestyle after leaving the workforce. For a medium or small business owner, their go-to income stream throughout their working career would be the profits from their business. However, depending on your succession plan, counting on this as an income stream going forward may be called into question. As a result, it is always a wise decision to invest in other ways such as stocks and financial instruments, real estate or any retirement savings plan you may have implemented mid-career in addition to your social security benefits. Small business owners can also take advantage of a Roth IRA to supplement their savings.
Map Out What Post Retirement Support Looks Like
Finally, it's time to look forward to what post-retirement looks like for you as a business owner. Having the right support team in place can make the transition seamless and smooth. A part of that support team consists of choosing who will help you step back from the business and when that will happen. Having a gradual transition is always good to allow for any training needed. If you intend to sell, take the time to obtain independent valuations and approach potential buyers to secure not just the best deal but the simplest handover. For employees, you will also want to make sure there is clear communication with them about the change process and the new chain of command when you do leave.
Being a business owner can be all consuming and it is no surprise that retirement is one of the last things on the minds of business owners. However, it is a necessary step we all must take at some point. So, although you are not bound by the national retirement age, taking the steps to prepare for retirement is still recommended. By implementing these plans, you will feel much more confident and a step closer to a great retirement.
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