Financial Associate
.Business Planning
Tax Efficient Planning
Business Owners
With over 30 years of experience in providing financial services to business owners, I focus on preparing you for either an internal or external transition. I help you get “exit‑ready” years in advance with practical steps: valuation readiness, continuity planning, retaining key employees, reviewing buy/sell agreements and family or leadership succession design. You’ll have a coordinated plan with your CPA and attorney and other applicable team experts, clear timelines, and decision support that aligns cash flow, taxes, and risk with your personal goals, so your next chapter is intentional—not accidental.
I help privately held companies prepare well before a sale, recapitalization, succession event, or internal transition so they can protect options, strengthen value, and make better decisions earlier.
Most owners spend years building enterprise value and very little time preparing for the decisions that will shape what they ultimately keep, how the transition happens, and what life looks like after it.
What I help clients do
The work happens in the prepare stage, before a banker-led process narrows options and before urgency starts driving the conversation.
Improve readiness
Get "succession ready" years in advance through practical work on valuation readiness, continuity planning, and decision timing.
Connect the moving parts
Bring business value, personal wealth, family priorities, and management-team readiness into one coordinated planning process.
Align the advisory bench
Coordinate with CPAs, attorneys, and other specialists so taxes, cash flow, risk, and timelines stay aligned with personal goals.
- A better-prepared owner with clearer timelines and next-step decisions
- A stronger plan for continuity, value, and management readiness
- A more coordinated advisory bench across legal, tax, and wealth planning
- Better positioning for a sale, recapitalization, succession event, or internal transfer
- Decision support that helps make the next chapter intentional instead of accidental
"I help business owners prepare for what comes before the transaction, not just what happens during or after it."
Coordinated owner planning
I help clients align cash flow, taxes, risk, and personal goals with the transition plan so decisions across the full advisory team move in the same direction.
Executive equity compensation
I also advise executives with equity compensation, translating RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPPs, vesting schedules, blackout windows, concentration risk, and liquidity decisions into a tax-aware, diversified strategy.
I am most valuable when owners need a practical structure for readiness, continuity, and coordinated decision-making before major outcomes are locked in.
- Work before the deal process is driving decisions
- Help owners decide how, when, whether, and under what structure a transition should happen
- Clarify transferability, continuity, and post-transaction expectations before a transaction is underway
- Prevent owners from going to market before they are financially or mentally ready
- Bring business, personal, and family decision-making into one coordinated conversation
- Especially valuable when leadership continuity after closing will materially affect the outcome
- Turn complex transition planning into a practical process owners and advisors can actually use
- Build a stronger foundation for whatever transition comes next
Every business owner's journey is unique, but certain situations benefit most from the thoughtful transition planning I can offer. If your business aligns with the profile below, I can help you prepare with confidence, create a strategy that reflects your goals, and position your business for a successful future.
Company profile
Privately held companies typically between $20 million and $1 billion in revenue.
Timing
Owners who are thinking about transition readiness before a formal process begins.
Complexity
Situations where management continuity, family alignment, or advisor coordination will materially affect the result.
If you want a seasoned partner who treats your transition or your equity as distinct, high‑stakes priorities within a cohesive plan, let’s start a focused conversation and build clarity.
In Person | Virtual | Phone
To schedule a complimentary consultation,
select preferred option below:
Virtual – Teams Phone | Golden Valley Office | Burnsville Office
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- Bachelors of Business Administration/Management, Winona State University
- Masters of Finance, University of St. Thomas
- Masters in Business Administration
- Certification in Long-Term Care®
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor®
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative
- Securities Industry Essentials
- Arizona
- California(Insurance Lic. #4310410)
- Florida
- Minnesota
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Insights
stockappreciationrights.pdfLooking for ways to reward key employees without giving up ownership of your company?
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) can provide employees with a benefit tied to the growth of your business—while allowing you to retain stock ownership.
If you’re a business owner exploring ways to attract, reward and retain key employees, take a few minutes to read the article and then let’s talk. Schedule a meeting with me to explore what may fit your goals. https://calendly.com/rich-gove/conversation-with-rich
stockplansemployeeperspective.pdfYour employee stock plan could be more valuable than you think!
From stock options to restricted stock and employee stock purchase plans, understanding your benefits can help you make more informed decisions about your financial future.
Take a few minutes to read the article to learn more about the different types of stock plans and what they could mean for you.
If you have questions about how your stock benefits fit into your overall financial strategy? Schedule a meeting with me to discuss your goals and next steps.
Schedule here: https://calendly.com/rich-gove/conversation-with-rich
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
specialplanningforexecutives.pdfIs your compensation package working as hard as you are?
For executives, compensation can go far beyond salary. Bonuses, stock options, deferred compensation, and other benefits can all play a role in your financial future.
Read the article to explore key planning considerations for executives.
Want to understand how these decisions fit into your bigger financial picture? Schedule a meeting with me to discuss your goals and explore your planning opportunities.
Access my calendar here: https://calendly.com/rich-gove/conversation-with-rich
See thrivent.com/social for important disclosures
Office locations
Licensing is available through your State Insurance Department’s website, which can be located through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.
Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.
Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.
Designations
For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations
Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.
Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.
Designations
For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations