{"id":14311,"date":"2026-11-03T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T08:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emoneyadvisor.com\/blog\/?post_type=thought_leadership&p=14311"},"modified":"2026-10-28T17:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:00:46","slug":"getting-clients-beyond-ready-with-the-personal-side-of-exit-planning","status":"publish","type":"thought_leadership","link":"https:\/\/emoneyadvisor.com\/blog\/getting-clients-beyond-ready-with-the-personal-side-of-exit-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Clients Beyond Ready With the Personal Side of Exit Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In my experience, owners may often think about selling their business but spend far less time preparing to sell it and thinking about what life will look like afterward.<\/p>\n

In the first part<\/u><\/a> of this discussion, we looked at exit planning as a readiness issue. That is where the conversation must start because simple unpreparedness is still one of the most common issues in exit planning. According to one study, only 32 percent of owners have a documented exit plan.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

However, when preparing, most owners jump to the deal’s big question: “Will my business sell and how much?<\/em>”<\/p>\n

A Successful Exit Requires More Than a Successful Sale<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A successful transition involves more than preparing for a business sale or securing the highest offer. Owners also need to consider whether they’re financially prepared for the transition and personally ready for the life<\/u><\/a> that follows.<\/p>\n

This is the leg of the “three-legged exit planning stool” that most often determines whether an exit feels successful after the papers are signed. The three legs of the stool are interdependent, but they do not carry the same weight in every conversation. Business readiness<\/strong> and financial readiness<\/strong> are generally easier to measure. Personal readiness<\/strong> is harder to see, which may be exactly why it deserves more attention.<\/p>\n

Start the Personal Readiness Conversation Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Business owners are used to solving problems quickly. But personal readiness usually takes more time because it asks a different kind of question: not just \u201cCan I exit?<\/em>\u201d but \u201cAm I ready for what comes next?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The earlier that conversation begins with yourself and with those close to you, the less pressure there is to answer it during the transaction window. Starting early gives owners time to clarify<\/u><\/a> their financial needs, personal goals, family expectations, and the role their business plays in their identity.<\/p>\n

Talk With Clients About the Personal Side of Exit Planning Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In my experience, when business owners think about exit planning, the focus naturally gravitates toward the transaction itself and these related questions:<\/p>\n