Family-owned businesses play a significant role in estate planning, with 84% of respondents counting business owners among their clients. When it comes to succession, most of these clients (54%) prefer passing the business to the next generation, while 40% favor selling. Decisions around asset division vary: 35% use separate trusts for business and non-business assets, 33% opt for proportional division, and 29% divide equally among family members.

Trusts are a key tool for managing family business assets. Respondents recommend them frequently (49%) or occasionally (42%) to balance estate distribution among involved and non-involved family members. Top reasons for holding a business in trust include maintaining family ownership (62%), providing asset protection (58%), and ensuring continuity by avoiding fragmented ownership (57%).