Transferring Business Value | Optimize Social Security

BUSINESS EXIT PLANNING: I’ve coached soccer for 30 years. One of the first things you teach a player is simple: don’t get your eyes stuck in your shoelaces. It’s dangerous to run across the middle of a field with your head down. I see the same thing with business owners.

Many leaders build extraordinary companies. They know their margins, clients, team, and operations. They can quote EBITDA to the decimal point, but there’s a difference between knowing your business and knowing how to transition your business.

That difference is transferability.

Here is my most pressing encouragement for business owners who need to view their business from a buyer’s perspective.

By Matthew Kane

OPTIMIZING SOCIAL SECURITY: One of the most expensive retirement mistakes Americans can make is claiming Social Security too early. Studies show:

• 10% of people delay benefits until age 70, even though 70% of Americans understand that delaying increases benefits.
• 44% expect to file for benefits before they reach full retirement age.
• 20% of people believe Social Security will provide all the retirement income they need, even though it generally replaces only 40% of a worker’s wages.

In many cases, claiming early can reduce your monthly payment by about 30%. Our team can coordinate portfolio withdrawals with Social Security timing, use tax planning for Roth conversions, and optimize spousal and survivor benefits.

Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), ‘Retirement Benefits,’ Publication No. 05-10035 (updated January 2026).

OIL, HEADLINES, AND HISTORY?:

*S&P 500 Index: a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading U.S. companies; it is unmanaged and not directly investable.

DEADLINES APPROACHING: Remember to fund your 2025 Roth, IRA, or SEP IRA before the upcoming April 15th deadline.

RECESSION WATCH CONTINUES:

Source: https://www.apolloacademy.com/recessions-becoming-less-frequent/

CALLING YOUR CRUSH: Can we bring back landlines? Just consider this.

*The views expressed represent the opinions of Compass Ion Advisors, LLC, as of the date noted and are subject to change. These views are not intended as a forecast, a guarantee of future results, an investment recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. The information provided is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice or to provide any investment, tax, financial, or legal advice or service to any person. The information contained has been compiled from sources deemed reliable, yet accuracy is not guaranteed.

Additional information, including management fees and expenses, is provided on our Form ADV Part 2 available upon request or at the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website here. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.