For Entrepreneurs and Executives
Financial Advisor for Business Owners in Denver
Running a business means navigating a universe of financial decisions that span both your company and your household. A financial advisor for business owners in Denver brings equity compensation, succession planning, tax-sensitive investing, and risk management into one coordinated plan, so your personal wealth and business assets work in alignment.
Schedule a ConsultationWhat This Means
What a Financial Advisor for Business Owners Does
A financial advisor for business owners in Denver helps entrepreneurs and executives coordinate the financial decisions that span both their company and their personal household. From equity compensation and stock option strategies to business succession and exit planning, tax-sensitive investing, and key person insurance, this type of advisor brings together investment management, risk planning, and estate strategy into a single, coordinated plan designed for complex financial circumstances.
Denver's business landscape includes growing companies across technology, energy, real estate, and professional services. Business owners in Colorado often hold concentrated wealth in private stock, navigate pass-through taxation, and face decisions about real estate transactions that carry significant tax implications. The Stellarix Group provides fee-based financial planning designed to address these complexities holistically, coordinating with attorneys and CPAs as needed for legal and tax matters.
Key Challenges
Planning Challenges Unique to Business Owners
Business owners face financial decisions that go well beyond traditional personal financial planning. These challenges often interconnect, meaning a decision in one area can create ripple effects across investments, taxes, insurance, and estate strategy.
Equity Compensation Strategies
Stock options, restricted stock units, and private stock create concentrated positions that carry both opportunity and risk. Tax-aware exercising and diversification timing may help manage concentration risk, though results vary based on individual tax situations and market conditions.
Succession and Exit Planning
Transitioning ownership, whether through a sale, internal transfer, or family succession, requires coordination across valuation, tax structuring, and legal documentation. Working alongside attorneys and CPAs, an advisor helps align the exit strategy with personal financial goals.
Tax-Sensitive Investing
Business owners often face complex tax situations involving pass-through income, capital gains, and real estate transactions. Tax-aware investment strategies seek to reduce tax drag, though trade-offs may apply depending on individual circumstances.
Key Person Insurance
Protecting the business against the loss of a key owner or employee is a foundational risk management step. Key person insurance, buy-sell agreements, and disability income planning help address continuity risks, though coverage availability and terms vary by provider.
Coordinating Personal and Business Wealth
Many business owners hold the majority of their net worth inside their company. Coordinating personal investments, retirement savings, and business assets in one plan may provide a clearer picture of total financial health.
Estate and Legacy Coordination
Business interests are often the largest asset in an estate. Coordinating estate planning with business succession and legacy planning may help facilitate a smoother wealth transfer, though legal outcomes depend on individual circumstances and state law.
Planning by Stage
Planning Considerations by Business Stage
The planning priorities of a business owner shift as the company evolves. The table below outlines common focus areas at each stage, from founding through post-exit wealth management.
| Planning Area | Startup | Growth | Pre-Exit | Post-Exit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entity and Tax Structure | Entity selection, founder agreements, initial tax setup | Pass-through optimization, multi-state tax considerations | Pre-sale tax structuring, gifting strategies | Ongoing tax coordination with CPA |
| Equity and Compensation | Founder equity allocation, vesting schedules | Stock option plans, RSU structuring, executive compensation | Option exercise timing, private stock liquidity | Concentration risk management, diversification |
| Insurance and Risk | Personal life insurance, disability income | Key person insurance, buy-sell agreements | Continuity planning, executive retention coverage | Long-term care, legacy insurance review |
| Retirement and Investments | Solo 401(k) or SEP-IRA setup, personal savings foundation | Qualified plan expansion, tax-sensitive portfolio strategy | Pre-liquidity portfolio rebalancing, wealth transfer preparation | Wealth management, income generation, ongoing rebalancing |
| Estate and Succession | Basic estate documents, beneficiary designations | Trust planning, succession framework development | Business valuation, formal succession execution | Estate plan implementation, charitable giving structures |
Our Team
A Credentialed Team Built for Complex Business Owner Planning
The Stellarix Group's team includes advisors holding credentials such as CFP®, CFA, ChFC, CLU, CIMA®, AIF®, and CLTC®. This depth of training across financial planning, investment analysis, insurance, and estate strategy allows the firm to address the multifaceted needs of business owners in a coordinated way.
Ryan Griffin, CFP®
Financial Planning Manager
Coordinates comprehensive financial planning across investments, taxes, insurance, and estate strategy for business owner clients.
Bryan Andersen, CFA
Financial Advisor
Brings investment analysis expertise to portfolio construction and concentrated stock evaluation for entrepreneurs and executives.
Tom Moody, MBA, CIMA®
Investment Director
Oversees portfolio strategy and investment due diligence, bringing institutional-grade analysis to individual client portfolios.
Haley Gray, CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Works directly with business owners on planning strategy, including equity compensation coordination and retirement plan design.
Tom Mueller, ChFC
Financial Advisor
Advises business owners on advanced financial planning topics, including tax-sensitive strategies and succession coordination.
Joy Avedesian, CLTC®
Managing Partner, Registered Principal
Leads the firm with a focus on long-term care planning and multi-generational client relationships, guiding the overall advisory direction.
Holistic Approach
Coordinating Personal Wealth and Business Assets
Many business owners work with separate professionals for taxes, legal matters, insurance, and investments, which can lead to fragmented advice and missed coordination opportunities. The Stellarix Group takes a holistic approach, bringing these areas together in one plan so that decisions in one domain are evaluated for their impact on the others.
This coordination may be especially valuable when navigating major transitions, such as exercising stock options, selling a business, acquiring commercial real estate, or structuring a succession plan. By integrating fee-based and fee-only models into the conversation, the team helps clients understand how their advisory relationship is structured and what to expect from the planning process.
What a Coordinated Plan Addresses
- 1 Personal and business cash flow analysis, including owner compensation and distribution strategy
- 2 Concentrated stock and equity compensation risk assessment, with diversification considerations
- 3 Key person insurance and buy-sell agreement review for business continuity
- 4 Retirement plan design and contribution strategy for owners and employees
- 5 Estate and succession planning coordination with legal and tax professionals
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a financial advisor for business owners different from a general financial advisor?
A financial advisor for business owners addresses challenges that go beyond personal financial planning, including equity compensation, business succession, key person insurance, and the coordination of business assets with personal wealth. General financial planning may not account for the tax, legal, and operational complexities of running a company.
When should a business owner start working with a financial advisor?
Business owners may benefit from working with a financial advisor at any stage, though earlier engagement can help establish tax-efficient structures and risk management foundations before complexity grows. Pre-exit and post-exit stages also involve significant planning decisions around wealth transfer and portfolio management.
Can you help with stock options and equity compensation?
Yes. The Stellarix Group helps business owners and executives evaluate stock options, restricted stock units, and private stock strategies. Tax-aware exercising and diversification timing are considered alongside the overall financial plan. Results vary based on individual tax situations, and coordination with a CPA may be recommended for specific tax filings.
Do you offer succession and exit planning?
Succession and exit planning are core components of the firm's business planning services. The team coordinates with attorneys and CPAs to help structure transitions, whether through a sale, internal transfer, or family succession. Specific legal and tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances.
Do I need to be in Denver to work with your team?
No. The Stellarix Group is based in Denver, Colorado, and serves clients in all 50 states. The firm coordinates planning remotely and in person, depending on client preference.
How do you get paid, and what will working with you cost?
The Stellarix Group operates on a fee-based model. Financial planning, advisory, and insurance services are offered through MML Investors Services, LLC (MassMutual). Specific fees, AUM rates, and account minimums are discussed during a consultation and depend on individual circumstances. As a MassMutual-affiliated firm, the team can access both advisory and insurance products, and compensation-related conflicts may exist.
Your Next Step
Ready to Navigate Your Financial Universe?
Whether you are building a company, preparing for an exit, or managing wealth after a liquidity event, a coordinated plan can help illuminate the path forward. Schedule a consultation with The Stellarix Group to discuss your business and personal financial planning needs.
2000 S Colorado Blvd, Tower 2, Ste 800, Denver, CO 80222