Your opportunity as a financial professional

Only 30% of small-business owners have a succession plan in place,1 so there’s a huge untapped market for helping such clients with their business transitions.

When a business transitions successfully, it's good for the community and for the business's employees. Your role in maintaining that goodwill could enhance your professional reputation

Review our white paper, which includes a case study of a business succession plan.
A smiling financial professional looks confident because of his growing book of business.

The value of business succession planning

A pie chart representing that 70% of small business currently lack a succession plan.

of small businesses currently lack a succession plan.

Succession planning often overlaps with retirement income strategies, offering you an opportunity to strengthen your relationships with business-owner clients and expand your role as a trusted financial professional.

Small-business owners face the dual challenges of day-to-day operations and trying to grow the business, leaving many unprepared for an intentional exit.

Your involvement in succession planning can position you as a valued resource for the next generation of owners, potentially leading to future opportunities.

The importance of owner readiness

70% of surveyed owners reported deeply regretting selling their company.2 A well-planned transition can significantly improve an owner’s readiness to let go and move forward confidently.

Today, many small-business owners are postponing retirement — or avoiding it altogether (35%) — primarily because they’re worried they haven’t saved enough for the income they’ll need in retirement (57%) or because they enjoy working (44%).2

The stakes are high: Over the next 10 years, 73% of business owners ages 43 and older plan to exit their businesses,3 but most are unprepared.3 Shockingly, only 15% have reviewed their exit options with an advisor.4

Why turn to Nationwide® as a trusted resource?

Experienced financial professionals surround themselves with go-to specialists. You can turn to Nationwide for personalized guidance and easy-to-use tools and resources to walk you through the succession planning process. With the support of the Nationwide Retirement Institute®, we offer:

Access to consultants

Collaborate with Nationwide’s credentialed specialists to gain insights tailored to your clients.

Business valuation services

Nationwide’s consultants can help you determine the value of your client’s business — a crucial step in a business transition.

Support for your clients

Access resources that can help you walk your clients through the process of transitioning their business.

For more information about business succession planning and owner readiness, review our many resources.
[1] "PwC's 2023 US Family Business Survey," pwc.com (May 16, 2023).
[2] "Nationwide Economic Pressures Survey Report: Business Owner Insights," by Edelman DxI for Nationwide (May 2024).
[3] "Preserving a legacy: The importance of succession planning," Forbes & Company (July 2024).
[4] "2023 National State of Owner Readiness Report," Exit Planning Institute.