Member Spotlight – Succession+
Bret Christiansen started his law career in San Diego in 2010 as a sports agent but quickly realized that working with young professional athletes making tons of money wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He found his way back to his home state of Kansas, working in law firm settings for several years before starting Succession+ in 2017.
Succession+ hosted the January 18th Chamber Connection at the Chamber office. Succession+ is a law firm that focuses on succession planning, estate planning, business formation, and business governance issues.
Christiansen and Drew LaSalle, Succession+’s client services coordinator, work with a variety of clients across the state.
Usually, said Christiansen, when he meets with succession planning clients, they fall into three categories: 1) someone who is planning to sell their business and retire, 2) someone who wants their business to continue on indefinitely, and 3) someone who hasn’t thought about it.
“Most clients fall into that third camp,” he said. “So, through some education and through those initial consultations, identifying the client’s goal is usually the priority. And then helping them to execute a plan to achieve that goal is the next step.”
When asked about the most overlooked issues in transferring properties, Christiansen said the biggest issue is that people fail to plan. Around 67% of Kansans have no formal estate plans in place.
“It’s cliché to say, but failing to plan truly is planning to fail,” he said.
To help people start their plan, Succession+ will host a free estate planning seminar, called Pints & Planning, at Three Rings Brewery (534 US Hwy 81 Bypass) Tuesday, February 6th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Craft beer and charcuterie provided. Space is limited so register here.
Learn more about Succession+ on their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check out the photos from the January 18th Chamber Connection.
