Cetera Partners with Cornerstone for Business Sale Solutions
Agreement enhances support for financial advisors and their clients in business sales.
Cetera Financial Group has recently announced a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Business Services. This collaboration aims to provide robust business sale support services to advisors and their clients who own private businesses. By integrating Cornerstone's expertise, Cetera aims to extend its services significantly to financial professionals.
This initiative is designed to allow Cetera advisors to build deeper relationships with their clients who are business owners. The focus is on proactive planning, enabling clients to start the discussion regarding future business sales well in advance. Cetera believes that with appropriate strategic insights from Cornerstone, advisors and their clients can optimize the financial outcomes of their business transactions.
As part of this new offering, all Cetera advisors will have access to Cornerstone’s structured sale processes. This way, they can guide clients in making informed decisions much earlier in their ownership timeline. Scott Baker, Head of High-Net-Worth Solutions at Cetera, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that it strengthens the platform of services Cetera provides. He emphasized that through meticulous structuring of tax and estate plans, clients can experience higher sale prices and, importantly, improved after-tax proceeds.
Scott Bushkie, the Founder and Managing Partner of Cornerstone, highlighted the value of their structured approach. By implementing a process that typically leads to multiple offers, business owners can feel secure knowing they are achieving optimal financial outcomes. This thoroughness ensures that ownership transition aligns with their values, legacies, and business culture.
For clients contemplating a business sale in the short term, working with Cetera's Advanced Planning Team and Cornerstone is crucial. They can develop tailored exit strategies to best fit their needs. Meanwhile, those with a longer timeline can still benefit from partnership discussions to clarify long-term business valuation objectives.
This collaboration adds to the offerings of Cetera Trust Company and the Advanced Planning Team, producing a compelling resource for high-net-worth clients and private business owners. Baker noted that a crucial aspect of their service is conducting extensive tax and estate planning before a sale, setting them apart from competitors who may just execute transactions.
About Cetera Financial Group
Cetera is considered a leading Wealth Hub for financial advisors, empowering independent institutions with tailored support and flexible solutions for their growth. With around 12,000 indie advisors and institutions driving its success, Cetera boasts a multi-channel ecosystem that enables financial professionals to operate on their terms.
Moving away from conventional independent broker-dealers, Cetera provides true options and seamlessly integrates modern technology into their wealth solutions. Their community-centric approach enhances not only advisor satisfaction but also client service, as evidenced by a recent satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5 based on over 40,000 reviews.
As of June 30, 2025, Cetera firms manage roughly $590 billion in assets across various advisory services, alongside $263 billion in assets under management.
About Cornerstone Business Services
Established in 2001, Cornerstone Business Services is dedicated to serving family- and privately-held firms within the lower middle market. They excel in several key areas crucial for business owners, such as assisting in market valuation, guiding strategic acquisitions, and employing their Assurance 360™ process to maximize seller value.
This structured selling process ensures owners not only feel confident about their financial position but also helps them make informed personal decisions about their future and the legacy they wish to leave behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Cetera and Cornerstone partnership?
The partnership aims to provide comprehensive support for financial advisors whose clients are looking to sell their private businesses.
How can this new service benefit clients?
Clients can optimize their business sales through strategic planning, resulting in better financial outcomes and potentially increased after-tax proceeds.
What is the significance of tax and estate planning in business sales?
Effective tax and estate planning can enhance the overall sale price and the net proceeds received by business owners, ensuring a smoother transition.
Who can access these services?
All financial advisors affiliated with Cetera can utilize these business sale support services to assist their clients.
What makes Cornerstone's approach unique?
Cornerstone’s structured sale process generally results in multiple offers for clients, helping them ensure they achieve the best possible sale outcome.
