Steven Zeller, Author at Your ExitMap

Exiting Your Business Happily, Often Requires a Strong Personal Vision

Steven Zeller — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:57:37 +0000

Some surveys conducted among business owners, find that approximately 75% of owners who exit their business are unhappy with the decision one year after they do so. There are several reasons for this, and some owners struggle with it more than others, but the main reason for the unhappiness after a business exit is because of their lack of “personal vision.” What will their life entail after the exit? What will be their new higher purpose (beyond playing golf)? What will be their new areas for personal growth? If they thrive on working with a team towards a common cause in the organization, how will ... Read more

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How To Set Goals for Yourself That You’re Passionate About Accomplishing

Steven Zeller — Thu, 29 May 2025 15:23:35 +0000

Whether we set New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year or any other point during the year, we often desire to challenge ourselves and set goals for personal growth and achievement. Too frequently, goals are established and later abandoned as we shift our focus to other priorities and distractions. How do we set goals for ourselves that we are genuinely excited about pursuing and accomplishing and that motivate us to stay focused on reaching them? Over the years, I have provided planning guidance to individuals, and I have concluded that there is likely a particular approach to setting goals that is pursued more ... Read more

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Build a Successful Business Exit Plan by Using a Planning Process

Steven Zeller — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:32:13 +0000

As a business owner, planning the exit from ownership of your business is probably the single most important decision you will make. When to exit, how much to walk away with, who to sell it to, what’s the most tax efficient strategy in your circumstance, what timeline is most suitable, and what are the areas of business that need to be improved upon to make it marketable, etc.? Those are just some of the things that need to be considered.

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A Cash Balance Plan May be a Great Tax- Reducing Benefit to A Business Owner

Steven Zeller — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Like most business owners, you’re likely exploring ways to strategically grow your revenue, increase profits, and minimize taxes. This is a common goal. As your cash flows increase, you may find yourself seeking ways to reduce your growing tax burden. Often, we explore sensible capital expenditures or business reinvestments that align with your strategic goals, which is a healthy exercise.

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How a Business Owner Can Effectively Plan Their Exit

Steven Zeller — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:45:09 +0000

Many business owners are finding it difficult to retire or transition out of their business due to a lack of exit planning together with a challenging economic environment. Shrinking cash flow, net income and credit have forced owners into fight-or-flight mode. Several companies have successfully compensated by trying to expand sales and cutting costs. Many small to mid-sized companies, however, have experienced a drop in value, with no end in sight. Owners are also entering the chapter in their life when exiting their business in one way or another is becoming more probable. Unfortunately, the business may not be currently worth what they need it ... Read more

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What’s Your Purpose in Retirement?

Steven Zeller — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 23:16:28 +0000

Retirement can be an exciting milestone. It’s also a major lifestyle change. Oftentimes, your daily workday tasks (professionally or if you run your own business) will likely no longer exist. Transitioning into retirement for some is an easy process. Perhaps their profession is not their absolute passion, and they always had other pursuits and hobbies they are ready to explore once exiting from their day job. But for others, their profession or business is their passion. They put all their time and energy into it and are dedicated to their profession for many years. Now suddenly, retirement is on the horizon and work is coming ... Read more

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Utilizing a NING Trust as Part of a Business Exit Strategy

Steven Zeller — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 00:49:08 +0000

The most commonly stated goals of an exit plan for a business owner are to exit their business on their terms, to receive the highest possible value (or their desired value), and to do so in the most tax efficient manner. It takes time to implement the process to accommodate those objectives. When a business owner rushes to sell their business many things can be overlooked including how to set up the exiting transaction in a way that minimizes taxation. Particularly in California, state income taxes are excessive in relation to other states, especially compared to states that don’t have any income taxes. For 2020, ... Read more

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Preserving Family Wealth is a Generational Effort

Steven Zeller — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:20:37 +0000

Wealth within a family can be a double-edged sword. It can serve as an incredible resource to benefit its family members, but it can also be destructive and divisive. Destructive in the sense that if not properly tended to and respected, wealth can destroy the purpose and outcomes of individual family members, and divisive in the sense that it can damage the bond between family members and cause a splintering of the family. Wealth and the handling of wealth is a topic that has been discussed or written about throughout the ages, as it is mentioned in both the Old Testament and the Gospels within ... Read more

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Protect Your Business with A Solid Continuity Plan

Steven Zeller — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:59:00 +0000

The Need For A Solid Continuity Plan A great characteristic of successful business owners is that they are optimistic people and will do what it takes to protect their business. They have a can-do attitude, setting their goals high, taking risks, hiring the right people, constantly striving to improve the delivery of their service or product, with a constant drive to build their entity into one of great significance. As a result, building a successful company may give the owner great pride in their achievements and a strong sense of identity. That is normal human behavior. But because of that, the thought of an event ... Read more

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