Ask the Experts with Olivia Ellis from JP Morgan

For many founders, selling a business is the single largest financial event of their life. But how much of that outcome is actually determined before a deal is even on the table?

In this Ask the Experts feature, Olivia Ellis, Wealth Manager at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, walks through the financial decisions that matter most - and when they need to be made. J.P. Morgan Private Bank works with entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals on investment strategy, tax and estate planning, and the transition to financial independence after a transaction.

The conversation covers:

• Why financial planning should start 12–24 months before a sale - and what that preparation actually involves.

• How to model your net proceeds realistically, accounting for Capital Gains Tax, professional fees, and deal structures like earn-outs.

• Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) - what it is, who qualifies, and the rate change that took effect from April 2026.

• What to do with sale proceeds once a deal completes, from liquidity planning to building a diversified investment portfolio.

• Why your investment strategy almost certainly needs to change post-exit - and how to approach the shift from concentrated business risk to long-term wealth preservation.

• How wealth managers support family governance conversations, ensuring wealth is managed - and understood - across generations.
  

A business exit can deliver financial independence. Whether it does depends largely on the groundwork laid before completion.