Business Owner Resource

Is your advisory team creating value?

As a business owner, you've likely assembled a team of professionals. But having advisors isn't the same as having a coordinated strategy. This 5-minute checklist helps you spot the gaps that could be costing you money, adding complexity, or limiting your options.

5-Minute Checklist

6 Sections · 20 Prompts

Instant Score

Takes about 5 minutes · Nothing is saved or submitted

Section 1 of 6

Your Advisory Team

Start with the people around you — and whether anyone is truly connecting their work.

Who is responsible for coordinating your overall financial picture?

I amMy accountantMy investment advisorMy lawyerNobody specifically

If your answer isn't immediately obvious, there's likely a coordination gap.

Have your accountant, lawyer, and investment advisor spoken within the last 12 months regarding your planning?

YesNoNot sure

Most planning opportunities emerge when advisors collaborate — not when they work independently.

When a major decision arises, do you know which advisor should lead the conversation?

AlwaysSometimesRarely

Section 2 of 6

Corporate Wealth & Investment Planning

Surplus inside the corporation is where coordination pays off the most — or slips the most.

Do you have surplus cash or investments inside your corporation?

YesNoNot sure

If yes, is there a documented strategy for each of these?

Tick the box that reflects your situation for each area.

	Yes	No
Corporate investing	Yes	No
Tax efficiency	Yes	No
Liquidity needs	Yes	No
Future business transition	Yes	No

Have you reviewed how corporate investments may impact any of the following?

Tick all you've reviewed. Leave unchecked if you haven't.

Small Business Deduction eligibilityCapital Dividend Account opportunitiesFuture sale planningEstate planningNone of the above

Section 3 of 6

Tax Planning

The right conversations, at the right time, are where tax dollars are saved.

During the past year, have you discussed any of the following with your advisors?

Tick all you've discussed.

Salary vs. dividend strategyHolding company structureFamily wealth transferCapital gains planningCorporate surplus extractionNone of the above

Does your accountant proactively meet with your investment advisor regarding tax-sensitive planning?

YesNoUnsure

Section 4 of 6

Protection & Risk Management

If the unexpected happened tomorrow, would the people who matter know what to do?

If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family or business partners know…

Tick "Yes" or "No" for each.

	Yes	No
Where key documents are stored	Yes	No
Who your advisors are	Yes	No
How ownership is structured	Yes	No
Your succession intentions	Yes	No

Have these been reviewed within the last three years?

Tick all that have been reviewed.

Shareholder agreementsBuy-sell funding arrangementsKey person insuranceEstate documentsNone of the above

Section 5 of 6

Business Transition Readiness

One day you'll step back. Readiness is what turns that from a scramble into a plan.

Have you discussed your eventual exit from the business?

Yes, formallyInformallyNot yet

If you plan to sell one day, have you reviewed…

Tick all you've reviewed.

Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption eligibilityCorporate structure readinessFamily succession optionsEstate implicationsNone of the above

If an unexpected offer arrived tomorrow, how prepared would you be?

1 2 3 4 5

Not prepared Very prepared

Section 6 of 6

The Simplicity Test

Coordination should make your life simpler. This last section checks whether it does.

How many separate meetings do you typically need each year to coordinate financial decisions?

1–23–56–10More than 10

How often do you find yourself relaying information between advisors?

FrequentlyOccasionallyRarely

Do you feel you have a clear picture of how all the pieces fit together?

YesMostlySomewhatNot really

Coordination Flags

Your Results

Where You Land

How coordinated is your team?

Your total "No," "Unsure," and "Not Yet" responses place you in one of four readiness tiers.

0–5

Well Coordinated

Strong communication between advisors and a solid planning framework.

6–10

Opportunities Exist

Planning opportunities or efficiencies may be missed due to limited coordination.

11–15

Coordination Gaps

Important decisions may be happening in isolation, increasing complexity and risk.

16+

High Complexity Risk

Your advisory team may be operating in silos. Coordinated planning could simplify decisions.

Potential coordination gaps
Missed planning opportunities
Areas where complexity can be reduced
Questions worth discussing with your advisors

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