You’ve probably heard more than one pithy statement about planning:

The 17th century Spanish writer Cervantes stated, “To be prepared is half the victory.”

Winston Churchill declared, “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”

Management expert and author Lester R. Bittel wrote, “Good plans shape good decisions.”

While they might sound simplistic, these famous quotations are crucial reminders that, in business as in life, you must plan well — and well in advance — if you want to reach your goals. This may never be truer than when the future of your company or family business is on the line.

Do you remember the headlines?

A little over two years ago, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a $5.25 million settlement with GreatBanc Trust Co., resolving allegations that GreatBanc had violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act in its management of the Sierra Aluminum Co. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

GreatBanc and its insurers agreed to pay almost $500,000 in civil penalties, with the rest of the settlement being paid into the Sierra Aluminum ESOP.

Southard Financial wants you to know what’s at stake.

On August 2, the IRS proposed sweeping new changes in the treatment of valuation discounts — discounts that are used to reduce burdensome estate and gift taxes by transferring valuable property into special entities such as family-owned partnerships or corporations.

If the proposed Section 2704 regulations go into effect as written, high-net-worth families will lose a powerful estate-planning technique that has been used for decades to protect assets that are transferred as gifts or bequests to heirs.

“Individuals and organizations that are good, react quickly to change. Individuals and organizations that are great create change.”

— Robert Kriegel
Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers

At Southard Financial, we get it.

Your company is constantly dealing with change — in the industry, in the marketplace, within your customer base.

Maybe you’re looking to seek out new partners and/or capital for expansion and growth. Perhaps it’s time to add to, or sell off, part of your portfolio. Or this might be the time to acquire a new company, or sell yours.