In Delaware County, small and mid-sized businesses are more than revenue-producing enterprises. They are community anchors, local employers, charitable supporters, and family legacies built over generations. As the nation enters what many advisors call the “Great Wealth Transfer,” business owners in Delco face one of the most important decisions of their lives: whether the business they built will survive into the next generation or leave the community entirely.

A recent article in Trusts & Estates noted that between $84 trillion and $125 trillion is expected to transfer to successor generations over the next 10 to 25 years. The article emphasized that family-owned businesses represent a significant portion of that transfer and that succession planning is often delayed despite most owners expecting a transition within a decade.

For many Delco business owners, the challenge is emotional as much as financial. The business may employ children, nieces, nephews, and longtime employees who feel like family. It may sponsor local sports teams, donate to churches or nonprofits, and provide stability to neighborhoods that rely on locally owned commerce. Under the Wealth Done R.I.T.E. philosophy, succession planning is not simply about transferring ownership documents; it is about preserving relationships, identity, intentional stewardship, tax efficiency, and enduring legacy.

The article highlights that only about one-third of family businesses report having a formal succession plan even though ownership transitions are approaching rapidly. Many founders struggle to separate themselves from the company they spent decades building. Yet failing to plan can expose the business to family conflict, liquidity problems, tax inefficiencies, and even forced sales outside the family.

Wealth Done R.I.T.E. encourages Delco business owners to begin with governance and communication. The article stresses the importance of formal boards, structured governance, family meetings, and clearly documented decision-making processes to improve long-term business continuity. Families that communicate openly about leadership succession, voting rights, and ownership expectations are often better positioned to preserve both the enterprise and family harmony.

Next-generation ownership also requires preparation. Many younger family members bring skills in technology, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and operational modernization that can help local businesses remain competitive. The article explains that succession should be viewed as a growth strategy rather than merely a defensive legal exercise. In Delco’s evolving economy, this may mean allowing the next generation to modernize operations while still preserving the founder’s values and community mission.

The Wealth Done R.I.T.E. approach also recognizes that successful succession planning integrates business planning with estate planning, tax planning, risk management, and philanthropy. Owners should evaluate buy-sell agreements, valuation strategies, trusts, gifting opportunities, insurance planning, and entity structures long before a transition occurs. Proper planning may help reduce estate tax exposure, provide liquidity for inactive heirs, and maintain operational control within the family.

community. When ownership remains local, decision-making often remains community-centered. Jobs stay nearby, charitable giving remains regional, and business leaders continue investing in the neighborhoods that supported their success.

The Great Wealth Transfer presents both risk and opportunity. For Delaware County business owners, the question is no longer whether succession planning is necessary, but whether the next chapter will preserve the business legacy, strengthen family unity, and continue serving the local community for generations to come. Under Wealth Done R.I.T.E. principles, true success means transferring not only wealth, but wisdom, stewardship, and purpose.

¹ Mejia, P. (2026, February 25). The great wealth transfer as a catalyst. Trusts & Estates. https://www.wealthmanagement.com/estate-planning/the-great-wealth-transfer-as-a-catalyst

For Informational Purposes only and not for legal or tax advice.

About the Author – Marie Feindt, JD 

Marie Feindt is the Planning Specialist – Estate Attorney at Members’ Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm that offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to serving individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. The firm’s goal is to preserve and grow its clients’ wealth to endure over time, while thoughtfully evolving its strategy to suit an ever-changing world. With over 20 years of estate planning experience, Marie and the Members’ Wealth team thrive on bringing clarity and confidence to clients’ unique situations. She believes everyone, young adults and older, need the essential documents to conserve and preserve and transfer assets accumulated during lifetime to the next generation.

Marie received her JD from Widener University School of Law, her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, University Park and is currently enrolled in the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Graduate Tax Program.

Marie is an Adjunct Faculty at the Villanova University College of Professional Studies Paralegal Professional Certificate Program where she teaches Estates & Trusts and Civil Procedure & Litigation and Torts & Personal Injury Law.

Marie volunteers for a monthly legal clinic at The Salvation Army in Chester, PA facilitated by the Christian Legal Clinic of Philadelphia. She has served on the Women’s Commission of Delaware County and as a Board Member for the Delaware County Literacy Council.

Marie enjoys biking, reading, yoga and walking in her free time with her husband and three children.

To get in touch with the Members’ Wealth team today, I invite you to email info@memberswealthllc.com or call (267) 367-5453. 

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