Legacy Builders: Strategies for Building Successful Family Enterprises

Valuation Insights: Aligning Business and Personal Investment in Enterprise Transitions


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In this episode, Sharon Gray, CPA CA CBV, shares her expertise in navigating the complexities present in family business assignments. We explore the importance of proactive planning, education, and clear communication among parties involved in business transactions to ensure better outcomes for both the family and the business.

Hear Sharon's perspective on the need for shareholders to have a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and expectations in an open forum to reduce conflicts and minimize costly legal intervention. She discusses the challenges of transitioning ownership, the fight between personal financial needs and business investments, and the consequences of making tax-driven decisions without considering long-term implications.

Throughout our discussion, Sharon offers valuable insights on the importance of understanding value drivers, organizing your business for optimal profitability, and seeking expert advice for a comprehensive understanding of your business's worth. She emphasizes the need for a cohesive plan between personal finances and business growth, as well as the significance of managing expectations and creating a fair and equitable transition process for all parties involved.

About Sharon Gray

Sharon Gray, CPA CA CBV, is the founder and partner at RDT Valuations Group Inc., bringing extensive experience as a CA and business valuation consultant to her clients. Throughout her career, Sharon has worked with a diverse range of corporate and private business clients across various industries, assisting them with business valuations, transition transactions, and the sale of their businesses. She has also been retained in dispute situations, providing expert testimony in court for cases involving shareholder disputes or matrimonial matters. Her experience has exposed her to the complex ecosystem and dynamics that exist between family and business.

Through her work, Sharon has identified a need for proactive planning, education, and clear communication among parties involved in business transactions to ensure better outcomes for both the family and the business. She believes that by providing shareholders with a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and expectations in an open forum, conflicts can be reduced, and the need for costly legal intervention can be minimized. Driven by a desire to apply her expertise proactively and positively, Sharon has transitioned her practice to focus on navigating the complexities present in family business assignments. The knowledge gained through the FEA educational program has equipped her with the tools and frameworks necessary to be an effective process expert, helping to strengthen families, and institutions, and prepare them for the future.

Contact Cory Gagnon | Beacon Family Office at Assante Financial Management Ltd. 

  • Website: BeaconFamilyOffice.com
  • LinkedIn: Cory Gagnon
  • LinkedIn: Beacon Family Office
  • Email: [email protected]

Contact Sharon Gray | Founder and Partner at RDT Valuations Group Inc

We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises.

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Legacy Builders: Strategies for Building Successful Family EnterprisesBy Cory Gagnon