You’ve spent years building something meaningful—a business, a family, a foundation of wealth. But without a plan, even the strongest legacy can erode through taxes, legal complexity, or unprepared heirs. At Sharma & Associates Private Wealth Management, we specialize in estate planning for business owners and affluent families. Our role is to preserve what you’ve built and ensure it transfers smoothly and strategically to the next generation.

We don’t approach estate planning in isolation. Every plan is reviewed through both a financial and tax lens, with direct collaboration between a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and our in-house CPA. This integrated approach means we go beyond wills and wish lists—we scrutinize your corporate structure, legal documents, shareholder agreements, and historical tax filings to ensure every element is aligned, optimized, and ready to perform under pressure.

Whether you're preparing for a business succession, minimizing estate taxes, or equalizing inheritance for your children, we offer the kind of rigorous, CFO-level oversight that ensures nothing is overlooked—and everything is protected.

Small business estate planning starts with a conversation

Most business owners have a will. But a will isn’t a plan—it’s a set of instructions. Real small business estate planning goes further. It connects your personal wealth to your corporate structure, balances tax liabilities, manages risk, and ensures a smooth ownership transition. We help clients answer questions like:

  • What happens to my business shares when I pass?
  • Will my estate have the liquidity to cover taxes, or will assets need to be sold?
  • How do I treat my children fairly if some are active in the business and others aren’t?
  • Can I reduce taxes while still supporting my family or donating to causes I care about?

We work through these questions with clarity, compassion, and structure—so your intentions don’t get lost in translation.

Estate planning for business owners: beyond the basics

At Sharma & Associates, we integrate your estate strategy into your full financial picture. We coordinate with your accountant, lawyer, and internal shareholders to make sure every detail supports your goals—not just in theory, but in practice. Key elements of our estate planning for business owners include:

  • Shareholder agreements that outline transition terms
  • Use of various freezing techniques, holding companies and trusts to manage tax exposure.
  • Tax-efficient dividend and salary strategies to support retirement and succession
  • Coordination of wills (personal as well as corporate), POAs, and life insurance policies

Your business isn’t just a line on your balance sheet—it’s part of your legacy. We help you protect it from unnecessary taxes and ensure its future reflects your values.

Estate transfer done right

You don’t want chaos. You want clarity. That’s why our estate transfer strategies are built to ensure everything lands in the right hands—at the right time, with minimal tax and legal friction.

We use tools like:

  • Testamentary and inter vivos trusts
  • Loss carry back or share redemption strategies for corporate shares
  • Insurance to create tax-free liquidity
  • Structured gifting or staged ownership transitions
  • Buy-sell agreements with funded strategies

You’ve built the value—now we help you transfer it with purpose.

Estate planning with a personal touch

We know this process can feel heavy. It involves talking about hard things—death, taxes, family tension. But at Sharma & Associates, we make the process feel supportive, not stressful.

We provide Mississauga estate planning services for business owners, professionals, and high-net-worth families who want confidence, not confusion.

This isn’t a one-time conversation. It’s an evolving plan that adapts as your life does.

Life insurance: A quiet powerhouse in estate planning

Many overlook the power of life insurance in estate planning. But for business owners, it’s essential.

  • It provides liquidity to cover tax bills, debts, and buyouts.
  • It enables intergenerational transfers without forced sales
  • It ensures business continuity and financial stability for your family

Because life insurance proceeds are tax-free, they deliver real value—exactly when it’s needed most. We help you structure high-net-worth life insurance strategies inside and outside the corporation to maximize benefits and protect your estate.

Building empowered heirs, not just beneficiaries

A windfall with no guidance can be more harmful than helpful. We work with clients to create estate plans that don’t just distribute wealth—they prepare the next generation to manage it wisely. Trusts allow you to stagger access to assets. Education conversations build financial awareness. Family meetings reinforce shared values.

Your legacy isn’t just a number. It’s the wisdom, clarity, and structure you leave behind.

Incorporating charitable giving into your legacy

If philanthropy is part of your values, we integrate charitable strategies into your estate plan—like donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, or direct bequests. Giving can reduce estate taxes while making a lasting impact on the causes that matter most to you.

We help you do good, while preserving more of your estate for your loved ones.

This is estate planning that evolves with you

Your life doesn’t stand still. Your estate plan shouldn’t either. Marriage. Divorce. Grandchildren. Business expansion. Retirement. Every shift needs reflection in your plan.

We revisit your plan regularly, adjusting where needed, and ensuring your estate evolves in lockstep with your life and your values.