If you’re a business owner, there’s a good chance your company may represent one of the most substantial assets in your financial life. But what happens to that valuation when you sell your business or pass it on to another family member?  A comprehensive succession plan is essential for your company’s future and financial security. At SGL Financial, we can help with business succession planning in Buffalo Grove and across the country. We help business owners consider the key elements […]

A Guide for Small Business Owners Planning an Exit If you’re a small business owner in Buffalo Grove, or anywhere across the country, thinking about selling your company, whether next year or five years from now, understanding its actual value is one of the most important steps you can take. Too many owners put it off or rely on informal estimates, only to be surprised by the price during negotiations. At SGL Financial, we work with business owners, many of […]

Many small business owners’ answer to retirement planning needs is relatively simple: “I’ll sell my business and the proceeds will fund my retirement.” But relying solely on the value of your business to fund your retirement can be risky, and in many cases, unrealistic. As a business owner, it’s worth asking: Is my business truly a retirement plan, or just one piece of a much larger retirement puzzle?  It’s common for business owners to pour everything into growing their company: […]

As a business owner, your daily to-do list is more than likely a mile long: managing operations, overseeing employees, and keeping clients or customers happy. However, one area that often slips through the cracks is tax planning. At SGL Financial, our Buffalo Grove-based financial planners specialize in creating effective tax strategies for small business owners. Our financial and tax planning backgrounds give us a more complete view of your financial situation, so our advice is tailored, strategic, and practical. We’ve […]

Anyone can claim to be a financial advisor, particularly when the claim is verbal and there is no written record. However, not all financial advisors are the same, and that difference matters, especially when investors have complex requirements amid volatile securities markets.  Some are bound by a fiduciary standard, meaning they must always act in their clients’ best interest. The others follow a less strict standard called suitability. In their case, advice must be suitable but not necessarily in their […]

Taxes may be an inevitable part of life, but overpaying on your taxes doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ll explore three common questions clients ask when it comes to tax planning: How can high earners minimize taxes without making risky moves? What tax strategies help protect investment gains in the long term? Which tax planning tools work best for entrepreneurial income? At SGL Financial, an effective tax management service is one of the most essential tools for improving […]

When overseeing your finances, “build an emergency fund” is one of the first pieces of advice from the experts. While that advice is sound, many people still treat their emergency fund as a checkbox item—something to create and forget about.  But the reality is most emergency funds fall short of requirements not because people don’t save but because they don’t know how much to save, where to keep it, or why it matters beyond the basics. In this article, we’ll […]

If you’re approaching retirement and feel uneasy every time the market dips, you’re not alone. Market volatility creates feelings that are more personal the closer you get to being increasingly dependent on your savings accounts.  When you’re 10, 20, or 30 years from retirement, market swings may feel uncomfortable—but they don’t usually cause real long-term damage as long as you stay invested. Hanging in there becomes a bigger problem when you are retired and depend on the assets to produce […]

Financial crises are inevitable, but their impact on wealth needn’t be as devastating if certain strategies are implemented before they happen.  Crafting a financial crisis-proof portfolio requires a strategic blend of diversification, disciplined behavior, proactive planning, and ongoing oversight. This ensures that your wealth can withstand the economic headwinds that impact public companies’ earnings.  In our blog today, we’ll look at various tactics you can use to protect and grow your wealth through diversification, behavioral discipline, and proactive planning. This […]