Strategic Planning for Business Owners

In this essential episode, host Steven Young, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS and Senior Member of the Business Transition Consultants team, reveals why most Middle-market business owners face a unique financial dilemma that most professionals never encounter: the challenge of managing two deeply intertwined financial identities simultaneously. On one hand, they’re business leaders responsible for corporate strategy, growth, and sustainability. On the other, they’re individuals with personal financial goals, family obligations, and retirement aspirations. This dual financial identity creates complexities that require specialized approaches to wealth management.

Are you among the 70-80% of business owners whose companies will never successfully sell? In this essential episode, host Steven Young, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS and Senior Member of the Business Transition Consultants team, reveals why most business exits fail and introduces the Value Acceleration Methodology. Drawing from hundreds of successful transitions, Steven exposes the critical disconnect between owner expectations and market realities that traps entrepreneurs in businesses they can no longer grow or enjoy, and shows how to integrate business enhancement, personal financial planning, and exit option development into a comprehensive process that creates value whether you plan to exit next year or in twenty years.

This episode of "Strategic Planning for Business Owners" tackles the unique challenges facing middle-market business owners who must constantly balance two intertwined financial realities. Host Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS and senior member of the Business Transition Consultant team, guides listeners through the complexities of managing a business where 70-90% of their net worth is typically tied to a single, illiquid asset. This podcast offers practical solutions to the "concentration conundrum" that creates both tremendous opportunity and significant risk for business owners. Drawing from decades of experience working with hundreds of successful entrepreneurs, Steven shares proven strategies for establishing clear financial boundaries, building personal wealth independence, enhancing business transferability, and assembling the right advisory team. Whether you're planning your exit strategy, struggling with business-personal financial boundaries, or simply wanting to make more informed decisions that benefit both your company and your life, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help you achieve business success and personal financial freedom simultaneously.

In this insightful episode of Strategic Planning for Business Owners, host Steve Young, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS, welcomes Kim Ledger, Senior Vice President of Complex Assets for Ren, Inc., and Jordan Richardson, Strategic Growth Advisor at Ren, to explore Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). Kim and Jordan explain how business owners can strategically use DAFs during business transitions and liquidity events to maximize their philanthropic impact and tax benefits. The discussion covers essential topics, including the timing of charitable contributions before a business sale, how to gift complex assets like private company shares, and the key differences between DAFs and private foundations. The guests share practical insights on contribution limits, eligible assets, and how business owners can potentially grow their charitable impact through strategic investment in DAF assets. Whether planning a business exit or simply looking to optimize your charitable giving strategy, this episode offers valuable guidance on leveraging DAFs effectively.

The decision to exit a business is often very personal and complex for its owner. In order to ensure personal, family and business goals are achieved, a thorough plan should be put into place. Planning appropriately can be an essential component for protecting and preserving the value of an owner’s company for him or herself and heirs. Financial advisors and planners are an essential resource to business owners and their families looking to engage in detailed planning prior to, during and after a major liquidity event.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at UBS Wealth Management, and Thomas Burt, Senior Vice President–Investments at UBS talk about Captive Insurance Companies - what they are, how they work and who should consider one. For years, savvy business owners have been taking advantage of the many wealth enhancement benefits “captives” provide; namely better risk/loss management, cost savings on insurance premiums, asset accumulation and tax efficiency. With ever increasing P&C costs, now might be right the time to consider setting up your captive insurance company. Tune it to learn more.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management, and Randy Hooper, partner in Katz, Sapper & Miller’s Business Advisory Group speak to the changing trends in the transportation business and their impacts on M&A in the industry. Listen in as the conversation looks at how the industry has changed from pre-COVID to today. With the pandemic came uncertainty. However, soon after the start of COVID, the world saw just how crucial transportation was to the overall economy. When the world shutdown, transportation did not. According to Hooper, 80% of our nations freight is being brought in on a truck, this really showcased that the transportation industry is reliable and stable, which changed the dynamics for a new group of investors to enter the market. Stay tuned to learn more…

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management, and Chris Blees, CPA/ABV, CM&AA at BiggsKofford CPAs, talk about business valuations with key factors that maximize value. Valuations are an important topic in transitioning a company as it is the center of any deal. There may be other reasons why a valuation would be needed such as a life changing event. The valuation experts are purposed with giving an opinion of value that is used for a theoretical purpose. However, a valuation used for real buyers in the marketplace may vary and can dictate different outcomes depending on the buyer’s motives. Even with looking at the same data, variations and range can be quite substantial. Every business owner should understand the value and the metrics of their company. This episode also reveals factors that can add to or detract from the perceptions of value differently for owners vs. buyer when it comes time to sell.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management, and Terry O’Neil, Partner, CPA, CVA at Katz, Sapper, and Miller discuss the special niche of M&A transaction in the Veterinary profession. Terry is nationally known for his work and contribution in this field with over 3 decades of commitment to veterinarians. The conversation focuses on the ‘nuts and bolts’ for Animal Hospital consolidation. Terry addresses the demand surge once COVID hit with the skyrocketing of pet ownership which presented the challenge of staff shortages and much more. Fast forwarding to 2023, nearly 50% of the small animal facilities are now owned by private equity firms which can support these businesses with buying power, marketing, and back-office support. Most veterinarians get into the business because they care about animals and owners’ wellbeing alike. However, when it comes time to take a look at an offer for transitioning, a key factor is to surround yourself with smart and experienced people to help keep the priority on technological progression, employee retention, and customer satisfaction.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management, and Brian Heaton, Partner at Krieg DeVault, LLP have a conversation regarding general trends in the M&A activity and succession planning with a particular focus on the healthcare sector. Brian also provides insight into the evolutionary role Private Equity is playing in the medical practice sector. Inherent in most medical practices deals is the prevalence of many equity stakeholders. Brian and Steve discuss how important it is for each partner to have a clear set of personal objectives tied to their well-defined financial goals so that they can communicate amongst themselves to establish consensus with respect to deal expectations. Listen and learn how having the right team of advisors to facilitate communication between buyer and seller is paramount and will help position the practice for post-transaction growth and longevity, creating a successful outcome for all parties.

In this episode Steven Young, UBS Wealth Management and Sr. Vice President, discusses non-financial considerations that can affect M&A transition outcomes. Moreover, how both parties (sellers and buyers) can feel like the conclusion is mutually beneficial. Steve speaks with David Barrett, Executive Partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP. They discuss hang-ups and how to avoid the biggest obstacle – the element of surprise. As well as, how important it is to be clear on expectations. They speak to the Do’s and Don’ts, what to look for, and pitfalls for a deal from the letter of intent, purchase agreements, and life after the sale. They also stress how the structure of a transaction can affect how smoothly the sales goes which can include things like how sellers can protect their employees. Having an experienced team around you to help is essential. Their advice… be organized and be ready.

In the episode, Steve Young, Senior Vice President at UBS Wealth Management conducts a panel discussion with Michael Rudolph, Managing Director of KPMS Corporate Finance, Matt Keefe, Managing Directors at Edgepoint Capital Advisors and Terrel Bressler, Managing Director at Prairie Capital Advisors on the topic of Private Equity and growth for closely held, middle market companies.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS, speaks with Justin Waring, Investment Strategist with the UBS Chief Investment Office, about concentration risks associated with closely held businesses.

In this episode, Steven Young, Senior Vice President at UBS, speaks with Leif Springer, Senior Vice Retirement Plan Consultant with UBS Institutional Consulting Group, about retirement plans for owners and their employees. Topics discussed include 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans, cash balance plans, pooled employer plans and non-qualified deferred comp plans

In this episode Steven Young, Senior Vice President, UBS Wealth Management and leader of the Business Transition Consultants discuss the how owners can use Captive Insurance Companies to protect and grow wealth with his guest, Michael Hyzdu, Senior Vice President, UBS Wealth Management, and leader 3 Point Wealth Advisors. Mike discusses what a captive insurance company is, who should consider one and how to leverage a captive to grow wealth.

In this episode Steven Young, Senior Vice President UBS Wealth Management and leader of the Business Transition Consultants speaks with his guest, Matthew Green, Senior Vice President UBS Private Wealth Management, and co-leader of the Indianapolis Team focusing on foundations and endowments. Together they present a unique look at how foundations and endowments are managed at UBS and the key differentiators that separates Matt's team from their competition.

In this episode Steven Young, Senior Vice President, UBS Wealth Management and leader of the Business Transition Consultants discuss trends in middle market M&A with John Lavin, Vice President of Lincoln International. John addresses four major concerns owners should consider when deciding to go to market: 1) navigating complexity, 2) value and terms, 3) continuation of operations and creating alternatives.

In this episode Steven Young, SVP UBS Wealth Management and leader of the Young Business Transition Consultants, discusses the key aspects of ESOPs with Nick Francia, SVP of the UBS Capital ESOP Group and Tim Jamison, Director of Prairie Capital Advisors.

In this episode Steven Young, Senior Vice President UBS Wealth Management and leader of the Young Business Transition Consultants speaks with Tom Zucker, President of Edgepoint regarding preemptive offers and how owners should respond to them.

In this episode Steve Young, Senior Vice President - Wealth Management and Leora Zach, Executive Director of Global Banking discuss the current state of the M & A market for middle market companies. Topics include steps owners of closely held companies should take to prepare personally and financially to exit their companies, ways to transfer ownership and how to access our boutique network of investment bankers.