What this is (and isn’t)
A practical way to quantify the opportunity cost of staying put—lost profit, lost equity, constrained growth, and the compounding effects of delayed transition planning.
Note: This is educational and not legal advice. Treat it as a primer so you can ask better questions of counsel.
Key takeaways
- Delay costs show up as compounding, not a single line item.
- The biggest long-term cost is often lost equity creation.
- If you’re going to wait, you still need a readiness plan.
- You can reduce risk now without resigning now.
- Model delay in dollars and in lifestyle capacity.
Four buckets of delay cost
- Profit delta (payout vs modeled profit)
- Equity delta (valuation + succession)
- Growth delta (marketing constraints)
- Energy delta (time and friction)
What to do if you’re not ready to move
- Run the economics model.
- Map restrictions and exposures.
- Design a day-one operating model.
- Build a 90-day transition plan you can activate later.
Disclosure
RIA Confidential is an educational resource center. Nothing on this page is legal, tax, or compliance advice. Consult qualified legal and compliance professionals for guidance specific to your circumstances.
