What is business transition planning (exit planning)?

Business transition planning is a planning process that helps you stay in control of when, how, and to whom your business is transitioned—so you can make informed decisions instead of reacting under pressure.

What is the ABLE Program at Acropolis?

ABLE stands for Acropolis Business Liquidity for Entrepreneurs. It’s our process designed to keep you in control of the changes and opportunities that come with transitioning your business.

How long does exit planning usually take?

It’s rarely a quick project. It can take five or more years to plan properly, depending on complexity and what needs to be addressed before a transition.

What kinds of issues are part of a good exit strategy?

Beyond valuation and deal structure, exit planning can include items like estate planning, training a successor, annual audits, and even business-specific considerations like environmental cleanup, depending on the situation.

Do you work with my existing CPA, attorney, and other advisors?

Yes. We will work with your existing advisors and, when appropriate, incorporate specialists from their network to support the transition.

How do you help after the sale or transition happens?

A major goal is to help turn an illiquid asset (your business) into a portfolio of securities designed to support you and your family for the rest of your lives—integrating investment management and wealth planning after liquidity.

Is business transition planning only about the money?

No. Selling or transitioning a business can be one of the most significant financial events in your life, and it can also have major non-financial effects—like changes to daily routine and personal identity.

Business Transition Planning: Exit Planning, Succession Planning

Name: Acropolis Investment Management
Address: 14567 N Outer Forty Rd # 200, Chesterfield, MO, 63017
Telephone: (636) 449-4900
Price range: $$

When it’s time to plan for the next phase of your life, the Acropolis team is here to help successfully transition your business.

We know that business owners define themselves in part by their business because of the enormous amount of time and energy they spent making it a success.

For those planning to move into the next phase of their life, the transition will be one of the most significant financial events they encounter. This transition also has dramatic non-financial effects. Not only will daily routines be impacted, but the way these now former-business owners identify themselves will change.

The Acropolis Business Liquidity for Entrepreneurs (ABLE) Program for Transitioning

The Acropolis Business Liquidity for Entrepreneurs (ABLE) program keeps you in control of the changes and opportunities that come with a transition.

Business transition planning (also known as exit planning) is a process that allows business owners to maintain control over when, how, and to whom the business is transitioned.

Exit planning with your Acropolis team ensures that informed, strategic, and rational decisions are made. It’s important to know that this process doesn’t happen overnight. It can sometimes take five or more years to properly plan for a successful transition. Events such as estate planning, training a successor, annual audits, or environmental cleanup must be considered as part of the exit strategy. We want to ensure that your business is transitionalABLE.

Business Transition Planning Team

Our experienced and dedicated transition professionals will make sure you come out on top.

At Acropolis, we recognize that it takes a team of experts from various professions to guide your illiquid asset into a portfolio of securities that can support a family for the rest of their lives. We will not only work with your existing advisors, but we will also incorporate our network of specialists, where appropriate, to lend their deep expertise in the required fields.

Succession Planning

A successful transition isn’t just about a sale price — it’s about making sure the business can run (and remain valuable) with or without you. Succession planning helps you define who takes over, when they take over, and what needs to be true operationally and financially for the transition to work.

What succession planning can solve

Reducing “key person” risk so the business isn’t overly dependent on one owner
Creating a clear leadership and decision-making structure as roles shift
Preparing the next generation of leadership (family, internal successor, or key employees)
Building a written plan so unexpected events don’t force rushed decisions

How Acropolis supports the succession conversation

As part of the ABLE business transition planning process, we help you map the succession path and coordinate with your existing legal, tax, and insurance professionals to connect the dots between business continuity and personal wealth planning.

Common succession planning deliverables

Successor readiness plan (skills, responsibilities, milestones, timeline)
Ownership and leadership transition roadmap (phased handoff vs. “day-one” change)
Contingency plan for illness/disability/death or an unplanned exit
Coordination checklist with your CPA/attorney on documents, roles, and timelines
Personal liquidity planning so your post-transition wealth strategy is clear

If you’re thinking about the next phase of your life, succession planning can help ensure the business is truly “transition-ready” — not just on paper, but in practice.

Business Transition Planning FAQ

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Business Transition Planning