Tag: business wealth

The Disadvantages of Starting Your Investment for Retirement Later

by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Uncategorized

By Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

Understanding the Implications of Delay

A person in a suit and tie sitting in a chair AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Introduction

Investing for retirement is a crucial aspect of financial planning.  However, many individuals delay this important decision, often due to various life circumstances, lack of knowledge, or financial constraints. While it might seem manageable at first, starting your investment for retirement later can have several significant disadvantages. This document aims to elucidate these drawbacks and highlight the importance of early retirement planning.

Reduced Compounding Benefits

One of the most substantial disadvantages of delaying retirement investments is the loss of compounding benefits. Compounding is the process where the earnings on your investments generate their own earnings over time. The earlier you start investing, the more time you allow your money to grow exponentially. For instance, if you start investing $5,000 annually at the age of 25 with an average return of 7%, by the age of 65, you could have approximately $1.2 million. However, if you start the same investment at 35, you would only have around $540,000 by the same age. The ten-year delay results in a significant reduction in your retirement fund due to the missed compounding opportunities.

Higher Contribution Requirements

To compensate for lost time, individuals starting their retirement investments later must contribute significantly more money to achieve the same retirement goal as those who started earlier. This increased financial burden can strain your current budget and limit your ability to enjoy financial flexibility. For example, a person starting at 25 may need to invest $200 per month to reach a $1 million target by retirement, while someone starting at 45 might need to invest over $1,000 per month to reach the same goal. The higher contribution requirements can be daunting and challenging to maintain.

Increased Market Risk Exposure

Investors who begin saving for retirement later in life often need to take on higher-risk investments to catch up on their retirement savings. Higher-risk investments, such as stocks or certain mutual funds, can offer greater returns but also come with increased volatility. If the market experiences a downturn, those nearing retirement age may not have sufficient time to recover their losses. This heightened market risk exposure can jeopardize your retirement security and force you to adjust your retirement plans.

Shorter Investment Horizon

The investment horizon refers to the length of time an individual has to invest before needing to access their funds. Starting your retirement investments later reduces your investment horizon, limiting your ability to maximize returns. A shorter investment horizon often necessitates a more conservative investment strategy, which may not yield as high returns as a longer-term strategy. Consequently, your retirement fund may fall short of your expectations and needs, requiring additional measures such as working longer or adjusting your lifestyle.

Increased Reliance on External Support

Delaying retirement investments can lead to increased reliance on external support systems, such as social security benefits, pensions, or family assistance. These support systems may not always be reliable or sufficient to cover your retirement expenses. Additionally, relying on family for financial support can create a burden and strain relationships. By starting your investments earlier, you ensure greater financial independence and reduce the need for external aid during retirement.

Psychological and Emotional Stress

The realization of insufficient retirement savings can lead to significant psychological and emotional stress. As retirement approaches, the pressure to save more and the fear of financial insecurity can take a toll on your mental health. This stress can affect your overall well-being and quality of life, both before and during retirement. Early investment planning allows you to build a more secure and confident financial future, reducing the anxiety associated with retirement planning.

Missed Opportunities for Tax Advantages

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Many retirement investment accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, offer tax advantages that can enhance your savings. By starting your investments later, you miss out on years of potential tax-deferred or tax-free growth. Additionally, contributions to these accounts may reduce your taxable income, providing immediate financial benefits. Early investment in tax-advantaged accounts can significantly boost your retirement savings and provide long-term tax benefits.

Conclusion

The decision to delay retirement investments can have far-reaching consequences that affect your financial security, lifestyle, and overall well-being. Reduced compounding benefits, higher contribution requirements, increased market risk exposure, and a shorter investment horizon are just a few of the disadvantages of starting your retirement investments later. To ensure a comfortable and secure retirement, it is essential to begin planning and investing as early as possible. By doing so, you can take full advantage of compounding, minimize financial strain, and build a robust retirement fund that supports your desired lifestyle.

In summary, the earlier you start investing for retirement, the better positioned you will be to enjoy a financially stable and fulfilling retirement. Take proactive steps today to secure your future and avoid the pitfalls of delayed retirement planning.

LEARN ABOUT THE JFK Era-Tax Free Benefits for business owners- Free Report download!

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You Saw It Coming And I Saw It Coming, We Both Saw It Coming…But we still bought it!…

by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Uncategorized

After fifty years of running a tremendously successful planning firm, WORKING ONLY eighty days a year, I can make this statement with full confidence!  

Every business owner deserves success and financial independence when they give all they must to build a business.  NO issue here.  If done correctly they will enjoy financial independence and an abundance of leisure time which I call “your beach”.   

What gets in the way of preventing a business owner from becoming financially independent and finding their “own beach”, are two things:   

First Reason: The business owner has their hands in everything. Nothing gets by them.    They work eighty hours a week and wonder why they have no time for themself or families.   They believe you must work “hard” (to them that means anything that keeps them busy).   While they are doing insubstantial work, they are neglecting the important work (The Business and Financial Key Elements to Their Business).   

Second Reason:  Archaic and falsehood beliefs that business owners “bought into”, such as.  

  • Your inventory and your receivables are like money in the bank,  
  • You must work hard in the early years so you can slow down in the later years 
  • Take every dime you have and invest it in your business 
  •  You need to invest in your business in order to grow 
  •  Every business needs time to grow 
  •  You can’t grow fast 
  •  Borrow as much as you can 
  •  It’s a lot of money, but it’s a write off 
  •  When you go into business you initially spend more money than you want to 
  •  You need to invest in your business   
  • Plow all your profits back into the business   
  • You don’t need to give your key people additional benefits 
  • “It’s easier for me to do it, I’ll do it the right way” attitude 
  • If I train someone to do it, they may leave me and start their own business 
  • You don’t need a business valuation just use a simple formula 
  • I have all the systems in my head, we don’t need a document 
  • I’m not worried about leaving the business, they will figure it out 

Falsehoods, and archaic business principals   do more to destroy businesses than a bad economy.   If you don’t fix this situation, no matter how hard you work; YOU WILL NEVER GET TO YOUR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND “YOUR BEACH”.   It’s that simple!  

But the good news is that you can correct these problems by using a technique that has worked for me and my business clients for over fifty years.    It’s called the “ONE PAGE BLUEPRINT SOLUTION”, and it only takes TWO HOURS A MONTH (two lunch breaks) to implement and correct the two major reasons why business owners can’t become financially independent and find their “own beach.”    

To help you learn more on how you can eradicate the two reasons, I am offering a free copy of my eBook called, “Unlocking Your Business DNA”, (Cracking the code to a better business, bigger profits and more time on the beach).   THIS BOOK WILL help you understand the principals discussed.  Limited supply.  To receive your FREE EBOOK, CLICK.

* Book can be purchased on Amazon; Kindle and Paperback. All profits go to Wounded Warrier Project.

**Full Steam Ahead (title; You Saw It Coming)

Finally, A Way To Work On Your Business Without Giving Up Working In Your Business!

Featured by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Business Growth and Transition, Buy and Sell Agreements, Income from your business, Inside Sale, Selling Your Business, Value drivers

Give Me Two Hours A Month, And Your Problems Are Solved!

In my book, “Unlocking Your Business DNA”[1], I discuss a system called, “The One Page Blueprint Solution”, or “OPBS”.    This system is designed to help business owners solve specific problems in their business, effectively, efficiently and without giving up time to work in their business.  It is a way to finally have business owners “work on their businesses” and solve business issues important for the success of their business.    

The OPBS does many things, among them:

  1. Prepares the owner for the planning session in advance.
  2. Organizes what needs to be discussed.
  3. The business owners control the agenda discussed. 
  4. Covers the elements which need focus. 
  5. Allows owners to work at their own pace.
  6. Creates brevity in your planning, leaving more time to work in your business. 
  7. Planning time is 1-3 hours a month which 60% of the time involves a self-study review. 
  8. Issues get resolved very quickly.  
  9. Many other benefits…

I use 15-20 key areas that I feel most business owners need to address if they wish to maximize their business growth and create the highest potential value for their business.  Here are two of 15 as examples of what is needed in the planning. 

This is an example of two of the many areas of planning.  I work with about 15-20 areas.  Not every company needs to fix all the areas, however, over time without reviews, areas of planning which were up to date at one time, can lose their effectiveness when not fine-tuned.

The Sale of Your Business to The Outside: 

  1. This could be in two months or thirty years; it is different for each business. In this planning session there are several areas the business owner needs to focus on. 
    1. Systemized business
    1. Put business in growth mode
    1. Delegate to middle management and upper management
    1. Lock the key group into the company
    1. Attract several potential buyers 
    1. Receive maximum cash for the sale
    1. Prepare to leave when you want to leave (maybe stay only if you want to stay)
    1. Plan to do something the rest of your life
    1. If you start early, you can control the whole process
  2. Tools needed: 
    1. Value Drivers
    1. Systemizing the business
    1. Golden Handcuffs for management and stay documents, (disclosure, competition, non-compete)
    1. Controlled Auction for the sale
  • #Sale of your Business from Inside the business or to your family! 
  • Make sure the new owners can run the company without you 
  • Lock in non-owners’ managers
  • Delegate your responsibilities to management
  • Due diligence to make sure you don’t end up with the business after the sale
  • Put business in growth mode
  • Guarantee income stream from the sale
  • Minimize taxes to you
  • Minimize taxes to the seller
  • Have a lifetime plan
  • Teach employee to be employers

Tools needed:

  1. Market Value Drivers 
  2. Systemizing the business
  3. Golden handcuffs for management team 
  4. Well Designed transition Plan

With the help of “zoom”, phone conferences, and the cloud, we can discuss an array of topics without parties leaving their offices.  Our designed meetings are previewed before our discussions so questions can be prepared about the subject matter.  (This creates a great give and take of the subject) 

It is my opinion that business owners should review all the key areas of their business periodically to make sure they stay “a fine-tuned machine” and maximize their future potential value of growth.  

If you wish to participate in a one-minute business assessment, to see how ‘fined tuned” you are; 

 LESS THAN A MINUTE SURVEY

Trust me: (it takes one- minute to do).  I will send you a FREE report card and summary of where you may want to focus for your business efficiency.  ALSO, along with the completion of the survey, I will send you a copy of my newly published book: “Unlocking Your Business DNA”.

[1] You can purchase this book at Amazon-kindle and paperback. Profits go to “Wounded Warrior Foundation”

Why Would Anyone Want To Buy Your Business At The Price That You Set?

by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Buy and Sell Agreements, Company Wealth, Income from your business, Strategies of growing business, Value drivers, Working On Your Business

The present value of the cash flow is a way of pricing out your company.  A high certainty that the company will produce steady, predictable cash flow.  Cash flow is king! Predictability only creates more value.   

 A buyer is willing to pay your price  if you have a plethora of tangible and intangible assets and systems that function like a Swiss watch.  

 A  “Swiss Watch” of a company needs to produce the consistent cash flow without you.  As an owner you want to sell your business and move on.  In many cases, a purchaser may want the owner to stay on and run the company for  a period of time.  However, if your company is able to produce a cash flow without you, it not only allows you to get your price, but allows you to get out of dodge.   

It is worth your while to put together a talented management team, that can not only keep the cash flow consistent, but has the ability to keep the cash flow machine working even if you are not there.  Your key management team may be the most important element of your business.   

 Whether buyers are strategic buyers, or financial buyers, they will be looking for value drivers.  From the beginning of your business ownership, these are the things you need to start working on.   

Partial list:   

  • Key management group 
  • Loyal client base with diversification (most of your firms revenue should come from more than 10% of the clients)  
  • Efficient production and manufacturing facilities 
  • Leading edge products or services 
  • Supplier network 
  • Intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, trade name) 
  • Steady, predictable solid profits and cash flow 
  • Proven growth record 
  • Effective workforce in place 
  • Transferable franchise or license 
  • Key location or territory 
  • Barriers to entry for a startup 
  • Research and product development team  
  • Company name 
  • Exclusive territory  
  • Above industry average financial ratios 
  • Systematized business processes/documented so continuing success is not dependent on any particular person (including the owner) 

 

These are the areas of your business you need to develop and maximize in order to demonstrate the potential for steady predictable growth in the future.   

 Since the price you will be asking for your business is relevant to your successful retirement (to fill the retirement gap), you will want to spend the time in the areas which will increase the value of your business.  Usually, they will be Industry-Specific Business Benchmarks.   

 Knowing how your competitors are using their resources and the efficiency which they are utilizing them can give you ideas about the strategies being used, and strategies you can compare to your methods.   If you are utilizing your resources better than your competitions, you will be able to negotiate a better price for your business.  

 

 

The Four Life Changes Of A Business Owner!

by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Buy and Sell Agreements, Company Wealth, Income from your business, Passive Ownership, Selling Your Business, Working On Your Business

What is it that you think about the most as a business owner?   Chances are they are one of four things:

  • What if I don’t want to stay in business and I want to drop out?
  • What if I get sick, disabled, or die?
  • What if my key person (s) decides to leave me?
  •  What if I can’t increase and improve my cash flow (life blood of the business), or the economy crashes?  

Besides running the day to day of the business, and the stress that goes with this, the four items listed above are probably the biggest stressful thoughts business owners have.   Let’s break them down.

Why the typical business owner thinks about these issues, is because they know they put a lot of sweat, tears, money, time  into their business.  They have most of their wealth in the business,  and know that they have no way of extracting that wealth when these events happen!

What if I don’t’ want to do this any longer and just want to drop out? 

Think about it!  The business owner has most of their wealth and time tied into this business.  In most cases it is very difficult to just stop doing what they are doing, lock the front door and leave the responsibility, wealth and reputation behind.  They still need their wealth in the business to maintain their life style.

Business owners are human beings and sometimes they just get tired of doing what they are doing, they burn out.   Sometimes they feel they are trapped and living a life of desperation.  They are making a nice living, and seeking to make a great life  for themselves and their families.  Chances are when they started the business they were only looking for a place to go, a position, a paycheck, and with a little luck a dream. The stress of running a business can take its toll on the businessman and the family.

They need the wealth they have invested, but don’t have a way of selling the business at a reasonable price.   Can the business be sold to an outsider?  Or, is there someone inside the company who will buy the business?  If so, do they have the money?  Is there someone who would run the business while the owner keeps their hands in the business?  Or, do they liquidate it?   Many times, even if a business owner sells their business, they find that after the taxes and expenses there’s not enough capital at a guaranteed rate of return to produce the income needed to keep the business owner and their family in the lifestyle they been used to. Because of this factor, more stress is added to the business owner and their future income. Continue reading “The Four Life Changes Of A Business Owner!” →

Will You Go Broke Selling Your Business?

by YOUR BUSINESS WORTH, posted in Company Wealth, Income from your business, Passive Ownership

If I sell my business today, pay my taxes, brokers and professional advisors, and  “I then invest the remainder conservatively, will I still be able to enjoy my current lifestyle?” Most business owners have asked themselves this question. After building a successful business, they wonder if they will net enough cash from its sale to maintain their standard of living. Often, after calculating the potential returns of investing the sale proceeds, they realize they can make more money by holding onto the business and becoming “passive” owners.

Continue reading “Will You Go Broke Selling Your Business?” →