How to Turn the Sale of a Business into Generational Wealth — Without Losing So Much to Taxes

For many successful business owners and real estate investors, selling a highly appreciated asset is both a milestone and a minefield.

On one hand, you’ve built something incredibly valuable. Congratulations — that’s no small feat. 

On the other hand, the IRS is waiting to take a significant bite. 

And if you live in a high-tax state? That bite can feel more like a chomp.

But what if there were a way to plan ahead — well before the sale — and defer or possibly even eliminate a large portion of those capital gains taxes? What if that same plan could allow you to:

• Increase your post-sale lifestyle spending by millions over your lifetime
• Extend the longevity of your portfolio to support decades of lifestyle spending
• Create durable, tax-efficient wealth that benefits your children, grandchildren and community for generations to come

The good news? 

You can.

It’s Not Magic. It’s Smart, Evidence-Driven Planning.

When you sell an appreciated asset — whether it’s a business, a piece of commercial real estate, or even a concentrated stock position — the capital gains tax bill can be staggering. Often, sellers accept this as the price of success. But that assumption is often outdated or incomplete.

Using a combination of advanced tax deferral strategies — including customized Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) — you can reposition your wealth with a design that supports what really matters: your lifestyle, your family’s future, and your long-term goals.

Here’s What That Looks Like in Practice:

• Pre-sale planning: We work together well before a letter of intent is signed to evaluate your tax exposure and map out what options fit your situation best.
• Tax mitigation: With the right design, much of the capital gains tax can be deferred for years — and in some cases, eliminated altogether. This is fully compliant with IRS guidelines and based on strategies used by many ultra-high-net-worth families.
• Lifetime impact: This isn’t just about taxes. It’s about enabling significantly higher after-tax income and spending power over your lifetime.
• Generational wealth: Because less is lost to tax payments today, more remains to be systematically grown through evidence-driven investment and eventually transferred — in ways that reflect your values and legacy goals.

Start with a Conversation, Not a Commitment.

At Cogent Strategic Wealth, we specialize in working with business owners, real estate entrepreneurs and other high-achieving professionals and their families at pivotal moments — including preparing for a sale of their life’s work. 

We’re fiduciaries, which means we don’t sell products or collect commissions. 

We help you make informed decisions so your life’s work leads to freedom, not frustration.

If you’re even thinking about selling a highly appreciated asset in the next 1–5 years, let’s talk. 

The earlier you plan, the more options you’ll have — and the more wealth you may keep for yourself and the people you care about.

Schedule a confidential strategy call
Discover how our Design | Build | Protect Strategic Process helps high-achievershigh achievers like you turn a potential tax burden into a multigenerational opportunity.

Important Information: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as tax, legal, or investment advice. You should contact your accountant, lawyer, or investment advisor prior to taking any action.

Cogent Strategic Wealth

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