Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Protect the Future of Your Business with Estate Planning

Words: Lisa Hagenson

If you own a business, planning what happens to it after you pass away is important. This is called "estate planning,” and it’s a way to make sure your assets are handled the way you want to help keep your business running smoothly.

Why Business Owners Need an Estate Plan

  • Keeping Your Business Running: An estate plan helps keep your business operating without interruption by identifying successors and outlining their responsibilities.

  • Minimizing Taxes: Proper planning may reduce estate, capital gains, and income taxes. You can use tools like trusts and life insurance policies to accomplish this.

  • Avoiding Probate: Probate is a legal process to settle someone’s estate after they die, and it can be expensive and take a long time. Using tools like trusts can help avoid this.

  • Protecting Family Interests: Estate planning ensures your family’s financial needs are taken care of and helps prevent arguments over who gets what.

Key Considerations

  • Succession Planning: Decide whether to pass your business to the next generation or sell it to a third party.

  • Asset Value Assessment: Figure out how much your business and other assets are worth. This helps with taxes and deciding how to divide everything up.

  • Legal Agreements: Set up agreements, like a Buy-Sell Agreement, which makes it easier to transfer ownership when needed.

  • Tax Planning Strategies: Work with professionals to develop tax-efficient strategies for transferring assets.

  • Updates to the Estate Plan: Review your plan regularly to make sure it still fits your business, family situation, and any new tax laws.
An attorney who specializes in estate and business succession can discuss a wide range of planning options. To learn more, talk to your Federated Insurance® marketing representative for a referral from Federated’s network of independent attorneys


 0
Chemicals In Masonry
September 2026

Mason contractors must deal with chemicals on the job site. One of the main ones comes in the form of dust. Another is acid. From high-rise commercial structures to residential facades, masonry work involves handling raw materials that require careful man

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Safety
Read More
Brick Staining Dos and Don'ts: Managing Modern and Historic Masonry Construction
September 2026

Every mason contractor has encountered it, or will. A replacement brick arrives from a different production run. A cast stone repair patch or perhaps a darker panel stands out against the surrounding installation. Mortar color varies unexpectedly. A clea

Jennifer Gill
Technical Talks
Brick Staining Masonry Staining Staining
Read More
Gables Republic Square & Hotel ZaZa
September 2026

Gables Republic Square / Hotel ZaZa is a 24-story mixed-use boutique hotel and urban residential tower with street-level retail located on a 0.75-acre site in downtown Austin. Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd. (CMS) was responsible for the supply and instal

Dawn Kornegay
Case Study
Brick Clay Brick Residential
Read More
The Utah Masonry Council's Masonry Education Day
September 2026

The 2026 Masonry Education Day at Interstate Brick in West Jordan is bringing together members of Utah’s architecture, engineering, and construction community for a day focused on education, technical understanding, and workforce development. The event r

Cassie Mejia
Industry News
Read More