Owning a business is a thrilling journey: set the vision, steer the team, and reap the rewards. Yet long-term security rarely builds itself. When the time comes to hand over the reins, a business owner needs to prepare not just the sale price of the company but a plan that converts years of effort into dependable income. Earnslaw Goodlight designs retirement planning strategies that help New Zealand business owners exit on their terms and enjoy the lifestyle they have worked so hard to create.
Challenge | Impact on Retirement | Our Solution |
Large proportion of net worth tied up in the firm | Personal wealth rises and falls with trading results and industry cycles | Diversify early through liquid investments and phased business sale strategies |
Irregular drawings and reinvested profits | Superannuation contributions can be patchy | Flexible KiwiSaver and investment contributions that match cash-flow |
Complex tax obligations | Missed opportunities for deductions and credits | Integrated tax-efficient structuring across company and personal assets |
Succession questions (family, staff, outside buyer) | Value can evaporate without a clear exit path | Step-by-step succession planning and business grooming |
Many small business owners focus on reinvesting all their money back into the company. KiwiSaver provides disciplined, concessionally taxed savings plus up to $260.72 in annual member tax credits. We help you:
Relying solely on an eventual sale price introduces concentration risk. Earnslaw Goodlight designs portfolios that grow in the background, independent of day-to-day operations. Typical mixes include:
We review allocations twice a year, keeping performance, fees, and changing goals in focus.
A successful exit demands more than listing with a broker at retirement age. Our financial advisors start years in advance, covering:
Unplanned events can wipe out enterprise value overnight. We perform a full risk audit and arrange:
Many thriving firms carry loans for expansion or equipment. Aligning repayment schedules with retirement age frees up cash-flow when you need it most. We create:
What Happens:
We map goals, current finances, and exit aspirations
Your Benefit:
Clarity for the long run
What Happens:
Detailed modelling and written plan
Your Benefit:
Confidence the numbers stack up
What Happens:
We open accounts, adjust KiwiSaver and arrange insurance
Your Benefit:
What Happens:
Annual progress reports and strategy tweaks
Your Benefit:
Peace of mind your plan evolves with markets and legislation
Ideally five to ten years before selling. This window allows time to grow value drivers, tidy financials, and reduce reliance on your personal involvement.
Yes. We can structure regular dividends or shareholder drawings that leave sufficient working capital yet build your personal balance sheet outside the firm.
Absolutely. KiwiSaver remains tax-advantaged, liquid, and government-subsidised. Despite budget updates in 2025, Even high-net-worth owners benefit from capturing annual member tax credits and diversification.
We craft buy-sell agreements, mentoring plans, and governance structures that protect family harmony and preserve value, while giving you a predictable retirement income.
Your company is more than a livelihood. It is the engine that will drive you to future freedom. Partner with Earnslaw Goodlight to translate years of hard work into a comfortable, inspiring retirement plan.
