What started as chest pains during a yoga class led to emergency open-heart surgery and a year-long recovery that nearly derailed Matthew Grishman's financial planning practice and personal health. As a successful wealth manager and co-owner of Gebhardt Group, Inc., he thought he had comprehensive planning covered—until he faced one of the "5 D's" that can devastate any business: Diagnosis.

Despite having built a thriving wealth management firm with his business partner Jim Gebhardt, they found themselves scrambling at the 11th hour to protect their practice and financial security. The grueling 12-month recovery from surgical complications gave Matthew firsthand experience of just how vulnerable even financial professionals can be when life throws a curveball.

They were fortunate—their practice survived and their clients continued to receive exceptional service. But statistics show that nearly 50% of business owners will face one of the 5 D's (Death, Diagnosis, Divorce, Disagreement, or Distress), and many won't be as lucky as they were.

This experience completely transformed Matthew's professional mission. As a wealth manager who lived through this crisis, he now brings a unique perspective to helping fellow business owners and professionals prepare for life's inevitable transitions before they become emergencies. That unexpected medical event didn't just save his life—it reinforced the critical importance of comprehensive business protection and succession planning that goes beyond traditional financial planning.

Today, Matthew and Jim are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business owners safeguard their financial assets and ensure their legacy survives whatever life throws their way—because sometimes even the experts need protecting too.

 Why do some of the most wealthy individuals have Captive Insurance? Get a write-off, reduce taxes, make a loan are just some of the things that make Captive Insurance an attractive strategy for business owners. 

The June 2024 US Supreme Court Connelly decision has had a large impact on using entity purchase plans, particularly those funded with life insurance.  The Connelly court ruled that the estate tax value of a company – and hence, the value of the deceased owner’s interest as well – is not reduced by the company’s obligation to redeem a deceased owner’s interest. This presentation discusses Connelly, its implications (including for those who are well below the estate tax exemption), and some potential workarounds.

With nearly 40 years of experience in financial and legal services, Shelley Lightfoot is a respected leader in advanced planning, exit strategy design, and advisor collaboration. Her work with The Southern California Institute, Strazzeri Mancini LLP, and The Founders Group has helped countless professionals deliver more comprehensive solutions to successful families and business owners.