International Succession Planning Association

"That scattershot old way of doing it, of somebody needing to give away their business and plopping it into somebody's lap, is not productive or healthy."

Sheila Christie, JD, CSP® of Forvis Mazars US, says a real transition takes a minimum of two to three years. Most families plan for two to three months.

Why the timeline matters more than the paperwork: https://lttr.ai/AsinZ

Sheila Christie, JD, CSP® | ISPA Member Spotlight Sheila Christie, JD, CSP®, shares how she connects estate planning and business succession for business-owning families.

Will collaborating with partners compromise my client relationships?

In reality, strategic alliances are designed to enhance value propositions, not relinquish control.

Clearly defining roles, revenue, and messaging ensures a seamless experience.

Discover how succession planners foster trust while building partnerships: https://lttr.ai/Ah2Kw

Strategic Partnerships in Succession Planning: The #1 Growth Lever You’re Ignoring Learn how succession planners can build strategic partnerships to expand reach, strengthen trust, and create long-term client value.

Today at 12:00 PM MT: ISPA® CEO Kelly Maheu, JD joins the Financial Planning Association live to talk succession planning opportunities for financial advisors. Free to attend.

FPA: Succession Planning: The Financial Planning Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight Want to grow your practice, stand out from the competition, and become the go-to advisor for business owners? Succession planning represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for financial planners. In this session, participants will learn how to identify succession planning opportunities,....

When business and family vision are pulling apart, five areas of the Succession Matrix® tend to be where the friction lives.

Strategic planning. Family governance. Family dynamics. Owner motivation and perspective. Leadership and management continuity.

An advisor who can evaluate all five and connect them to the bigger picture of business continuity is going to lead a very different conversation than one who is reacting to symptoms.

Full article: https://lttr.ai/AqMDO

How to Align Business and Family Vision in Succession How to align business and family vision in succession planning so advisors can preserve trust, surface priorities, and guide clearer decisions.

In family business succession, communication is the true currency of trust.
Without it, every plan is built on shaky ground.

Advisors must push for clarity, transparency, and accountability.

See how to strengthen family communication during transitions: https://lttr.ai/AjTl5

5 Family Skeletons That Will Destroy a Business—And How Advisors Can Stop Them Uncover family dynamics that can sabotage succession planning and learn strategies to guide clients through effective business transitions.

A business can be “exit-ready” and still collapse under new leadership.

That’s not market failure. It’s a planning blind spot.

Understand the distinction: https://lttr.ai/Al8s4

Exit Planning vs. Succession Planning: Which Serves Clients Best? Understand the difference between exit planning and succession planning so you can guide clients with clarity.

If the owner were unavailable for 30 days, which decisions would come to a stop?

The answer can reveal how much of the business still depends on one person.

Look at who can approve major decisions, handle key relationships, direct the management team, and respond when something goes wrong. If every path leads back to the owner, the business may need leadership development before a transition becomes realistic.

Leadership continuity is one of 10 areas advisors should examine when assessing succession readiness.

Use the complete framework to identify where the business needs more preparation before ownership or leadership changes: https://lttr.ai/AtpI8

10 Areas Every Advisor Should Assess Before Recommending a Plan Succession planning areas advisors should assess before making recommendations, using the Succession Matrix® to spot gaps.

Join ISPA® CEO Kelly Maheu, JD on September 2 for a free Financial Planning Association session on succession planning. She'll show advisors how to spot succession opportunities with business owner clients and turn them into deeper planning relationships.

Free for FPA members and non-members.

FPA: Succession Planning: The Financial Planning Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight Want to grow your practice, stand out from the competition, and become the go-to advisor for business owners? Succession planning represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for financial planners. In this session, participants will learn how to identify succession planning opportunities,....

Sometimes the biggest issue isn’t financial. It’s how assets are structured. In one project, all real estate and business assets were locked together, creating unavoidable conflict between siblings. The restructuring strategy completely changed the outcome.

Look inside: https://lttr.ai/AsihA

Every owner faces a tension between preserving business value and preparing for transition.

Effective succession planning finds the balance that protects both financial outcomes and family relationships.

Learn how to achieve both: https://lttr.ai/Atmjd