Building More Than Business

Business ownership and marriage are two of life's biggest commitments. Taking time to discuss important legal and financial issues before you tie the knot can help engaged couples build a stronger foundation for the future.

In this episode about business owner prenups and postnups, co-hosts Nerre Shuriah and Ann Lucchesi walk through four real-world founder scenarios. They discuss how prenups, postnups, separate property trusts, business agreements and simple communication strategies can help you protect both your relationship and your business before challenges arise.

Resources

• Premarital agreement checklist: A guide for engaged couples
• 5 essential estate planning documents
• Divorce later in life: Financial guidance for people over 50

Co-founder relationships bring complementary strengths that help businesses grow and thrive. But when co-founder conflict arises, the effects can ripple throughout the business. Founders need to communicate clearly and frequently to build a strong, healthy relationship that outlasts conflict.

In this episode of Building More Than Business, host Ann Lucchesi welcomes Aravinda Seshadri, Founding Partner of Venturous Counsel, to discuss what it takes to build a resilient co-founder relationship. Learn how a co-founder agreement can prevent disputes before they start, the role of co-founder equity arrangements in long-term alignment and the co-founder conflict resolution frameworks that help founding teams stay aligned through every stage of growth.

• Managing your equity stake to maximize personal wealth
• Co-CEOs on growth and a lasting legacy
• 7 ways to sell your business: Which one fits your goals?

For business owners, few decisions carry the financial weight—or the personal stakes—of hiring family members. The long-term upsides are substantial, and when family values and business vision align, your business can thrive across generations.

In this episode of Building More Than Business, host Nerre Shuriah welcomes Senior Wealth Planning Strategist Richard Houston to discuss how to approach family employment. Discover the tax benefits of hiring family members, along with the planning frameworks and succession considerations that support long-term business growth.

Resources

What do recent tax law changes mean for CEOs and owners of privately-held companies? In this episode of Building More Than Business, co-host Nerre Shuriah and Ben Bowers, CPA at Bennett Thrasher, break down the most impactful provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA. You’ll learn how policy changes have created new tax savings opportunities and get ideas for how to put that capital to work for your business.

Resources

• 9 tax deductions you can claim without itemizing in 2026
• Top 10 year-end tax planning tips for high earners in 2025
• OBBBA revives bonus depreciation for real estate investments

What does it take to navigate family business succession with no formal plan? At a recent live event, sisters and co-CEOs of ExpressIt Delivery, Andi Shaughnessy and Danielle Carter, shared how they took over their family-owned business and rebuilt it from survival mode to operate in eight states.

This episode reveals a deeper appreciation for the human side of business ownership—from managing growth and building lasting value to navigating family dynamics and planning for succession.

Resources:

• 7 ways to sell your business
• 3 phases of building a successful business exit strategy
• 2025 wealth survey: Trends shaping money and planning

From rising costs to shifting policies, many business owners report feeling economic pressure. Yet amid the uncertainty, many are adapting with confidence—and even investing in growth.

In part two of this special miniseries, hosts Ann Lucchesi and Nerre Shuriah unpack key findings from the 2025 Beyond Wealth Report for Business Owners. They explore the forces shaping business ownership in 2025 and how owners are responding—plus how seasoned entrepreneurs and first-time founders differ in their approach.

This conversation offers a grounded look at how business owners are navigating change and building resilience—along with practical steps you can take to prepare for the year ahead.

Beyond Wealth Resources

• 2025 Beyond Wealth Reports

• 2025 business owner survey: Confidence amid uncertainty

How are wealthy Americans managing, growing and safeguarding their wealth amid increased uncertainty? In part one of our Beyond Wealth miniseries, Nerre Shuriah, Senior Director of Wealth Planning and Knowledge, sits down with Marc Horgan, Executive Director, to unpack key findings from our 2025 Beyond Wealth Report.

Together, they explore how wealthy Americans are balancing financial stress with remarkable resilience—turning pressure into purposeful action by diversifying income sources, refining strategies and adapting to changing conditions. They also discuss how widening retirement gaps, delayed timelines and overlooked estate plans are reshaping financial priorities in 2025 – and offer actionable steps to help you plan for 2026.

Whether you’re refining your approach or setting new goals for the year ahead, this episode offers a real-world look at how your peers are adapting—and how you can strengthen your plan for what’s next.

Resources:

• The 2025 Beyond Wealth Reports
• 2025 wealth survey: Trends shaping money and planning

Learn more at firstcitizens.com/building-more

Donor advised funds, or DAFs, and private foundations offer different approaches to charitable giving—with important considerations around flexibility, control and tax impacts. In this episode of Building More Than Business, First Citizens philanthropic strategists Hank Dunbar and Jacob Clark join host Nerre Shuriah to directly compare these two giving strategies.

From choosing which assets to give to determining optimal timing for contributions, the episode offers critical insights for business owners looking to maximize the impact of their gifts and align charitable giving with their broader financial plans.

Resources

• How do donor advised funds work?
• How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact nonprofits
• Case study: Charitable contributions—cash or shares? (PDF)
• Legacy planning: Strategies for turning wealth into impact

Learn more at firstcitizens.com/building-more.

The qualified small business stock (QSBS) exclusion just got a major upgrade —unlocking even greater tax benefits for eligible shareholders.

In this episode of Building More Than Business, our hosts sit down with tax attorney Christopher Karachale to break down what’s changed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and what it means for founders, early employees and investors. They explore key updates to the QSBS rules, including a new $15M gain exclusion cap and tiered holding periods.

You’ll also hear how planning strategies like trust stacking, LLC-to-C-corp conversions and Section 1045 rollovers work in practice—and what steps you should take now to properly document eligibility and avoid costly missteps. Whether you're planning an exit or just launching your business, this episode is packed with insights to help you make the most of the QSBS tax benefit.

QSBS Resources:

• New tax law expands QSBS and the capital gains exemption
• Maximize your QSBS exemption: Trust stacking, packing and rollovers
• Converting an LLC to a C corp: A QSBS tax exemption guide

Learn more at firstcitizens.com/building-more

Family succession meetings are an opportunity to listen and build trust—helping to preserve relationships during and after a transition. In this episode of Building More Than Business, our hosts talk with Senior Wealth Planning Strategist April Zee about how structured, thoughtful meetings can turn emotional conversations into productive planning. You’ll learn how to build trust and avoid the missteps that often derail progress.

Family meeting resources

Check out resources from this episode to help guide your family's succession discussion.

• Family meeting overview
• Family meeting kickstart

Learn more at firstcitizens.com/building-more.