Jovan Johnson, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS

Ways a Financial Advisor for Entrepreneurs Can Help Optimize Your Business and Personal Finances

As an entrepreneur, your days are filled with countless tasks. Juggling the demands of your business and family life often leads to reactive money decisions. If this sounds familiar, it is time to consider enlisting a strategic partner to help you optimize your business and personal finances.

A holistic financial advisor or CPA can help elevate your small business to new heights while ensuring your personal financial well-being doesn’t take a back seat. By collaborating with the right advisor, you can create a business and personal life you cherish.

This article will explore ways a financial advisor for entrepreneurs can help optimize your business and personal finances. 

Business Finances:

Cash Flow Management

A common challenge many entrepreneurs face is determining how much to pay themselves. To optimize your finances, you must establish a consistent and sustainable salary that you can draw from your business. A financial advisor for entrepreneurs can assist you in figuring out the appropriate amount to pay yourself, ensuring it aligns with both your business and personal financial goals. 

Achieving your personal financial goals requires an efficient and effective cash flow management system. Working with a CPA can help you develop a system tailored to your business structure. This will help to provide clarity on your business income and expenses. Once you have a handle on the money flowing in and out of your business, you can accurately determine your true profitability. 

Budgeting and Forecasting

As you are busy operating your business, having a strategic partner focused on growth can be invaluable. Whether you are considering hiring an employee or purchasing a commercial building, these decisions require careful planning and consideration. Consulting an independent third party about such large investments can provide much-needed clarity. 

A financial advisor for entrepreneurs can assist in creating a comprehensive business budget and forecasting future financial performance. This professional can offer insights into whether you are on track to meet your goals or if adjustments are necessary. 

Being intentional about growing your business is crucial. Regularly assessing where your business stands, where it is headed, and how this aligns with your long-term goals ensures that your growth strategy remains effective.

Insurance and Risk Management

As entrepreneurs, we work tirelessly to build our businesses. Without adequate insurance coverage, a single lawsuit could jeopardize everything. Insurance is an essential investment that protects your business and personal assets from various potential risks, including lawsuits, liability claims, and property damage.

The specific insurance coverage you need depends on factors such as the nature and location of your business. Common types of insurance for small businesses include:

1.) General Liability Insurance

2.) Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and Omissions Insurance)

3.) Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

4.) Product Liability Insurance

Regularly reviewing and updating your insurance policies is crucial for ongoing protection.

Personal Finances: 

Cash Flow Management and Budgeting

A significant part of determining the salary you draw from your business is based on your personal budget. It is important to establish a budget tailored to your personal goals. Start by identifying how much you need to cover fixed expenses, then determine how much you want to save to reach your life goals, and finally, allocate funds for discretionary expenses. 

An established budget is key to achieving your various life goals, such as financial independence or purchasing a new home.

Remember, a budget should be flexible and adaptable. Regularly reevaluate your budget to ensure it aligns with your evolving goals. A financial advisor can help you develop an adaptable budget tailored to your specific goals. 

Insurance and Risk Management

As entrepreneurs, we often struggle to find time to optimize our personal lives. One area that should be nonnegotiable is purchasing essential insurance products. There are three primary types of insurance you should consider purchasing: disability, life, and health. While these insurance products are typically provided by an employer, it is now your responsibility as an entrepreneur to find the right coverage for your specific needs. 

Don’t overlook this important aspect of personal financial planning. This need is heightened if you have dependents who lean on you for financial support. Lacking adequate insurance can lead to significant financial hardships. A financial advisor for entrepreneurs can help you determine what insurance products are best suited for your needs.  

Estate Planning

Estate planning often ranks low on an entrepreneur’s list of priorities, yet it is a crucial aspect of financial planning. It requires deep reflection and planning surrounding the future of your business. Establishing a business succession plan is essential. This plan outlines your wishes for your business if something were to happen to you. Key components of an estate plan include:

  • Designate beneficiaries for investment, retirement, and bank accounts
  • Creating a Last Will and Testament
  • Establishing a Revocable Living Trust
  • Appointing a Financial Power of Attorney
  • Developing a Succession Plan
  • Preparing a Digital estate planning document
  • Securing Life insurance for estate liquidity (business debts, payroll, etc.)

Careful consideration in your estate plan ensures a seamless transition of ownership and management in the event of incapacity or death. Estate planning for entrepreneurs is very complex, requiring assistance from a qualified estate planning attorney.

Investment Planning and Management

To truly optimize your personal finances, you should diversify your assets. In addition to your business, consider gaining exposure to the stock and bond markets. A financial advisor for entrepreneurs can help you choose tailored investments based on your goals, investment horizon, and risk tolerance. Investment vehicles will likely play a significant role in helping you reach your financial goals. Additionally, investments will ensure that the growth of your assets outpaces inflation. 

Opening self-employed retirement accounts or investment accounts is just one piece of the puzzle. It is important to understand the various investment options available and how they can serve your goals. 

Financial Independence

Achieving financial independence can be tough for entrepreneurs, as the responsibility falls solely on your shoulders. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of your business, but saving for retirement or financial independence should not be neglected. Even if you plan to fund your retirement by selling your business, there are no guarantees. Having a retirement account not only serves as a safety net but also helps reduce taxable income during your high-earning years.

Fortunately, there are many retirement options for entrepreneurs such as:

  • Solo 401(k)
  • Traditional 401(k)
  • SEP IRA 
  • SIMPLE IRA 
  • Roth IRA 
  • Traditional IRA

Start by using a free online retirement calculator to estimate how much you will need to fund your retirement.

Additionally, seeking advice from a financial advisor or CPA can help you choose the best retirement plan based on your business and personal goals.

Final Thoughts

Many entrepreneurs find it challenging to manage both their personal and business finances. However, with the right strategies and professional guidance, you can optimize both.

A financial advisor for entrepreneurs can provide the expertise and personalized advice needed to make informed decisions. With careful planning and the right support, you can build a life you love both inside and outside of your business.

Are you ready to partner with a financial advisor who can help you optimize your business and personal finances? If so, book a Free Consultation with us to see if we are the right fit for you and your business.

Disclosures

None of the information provided is intended as investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement, of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. The information should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. The content is provided ‘as is’ and without warranties, either expressed or implied. Piece of Wealth Planning LLC does not promise or guarantee any income or particular result from your use of the information contained herein.