Family businesses are unique in many ways. Mostly because they’re never just businesses. A machine shop started by a grandfather in the 1970s. A lakeside resort run by siblings who still argue about whose turn it is to buy bait. A second-generation HVAC company where...
Minnesota’s cannabis industry feels a little bit like the Wild West right now—in the best and most stressful ways possible. There’s excitement everywhere. People are sketching out business plans at breweries, talking cultivation strategies over coffee, and trying to...
I’ll be honest—when people hear “estate planning,” most of them picture a stack of dense documents, a lot of legal jargon, and maybe a vague sense that they should get around to it… someday. And inevitably, the same question comes up: “Do I need a will or a trust?”...
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had this conversation: “Great—we signed the trust. So we’re done, right?” I always pause for a second, because this is the part nobody really talks about. The truth? Creating the trust is only half the job. Funding it is where the...
There’s a moment that comes up in almost every family business conversation, and you can feel it before anyone says it out loud. We’re sitting around a table—sometimes a conference room, sometimes a kitchen—and someone says, “Well, I want to treat all the kids...
Last week, I stood in a room full of sharp advisors, attorneys, and planners and asked a simple question: Is AI a tool… a threat… or both? You could feel the hesitation. Some people leaned forward—curious. Others leaned back—skeptical. And a few probably...
Let me guess. You’ve been watching what’s happening in Minnesota. Licenses rolling out. Headlines everywhere. Everyone talking about “getting in early.” Maybe you’ve thought, This is it. This is my window. And you might be right. But here’s what I tell every...
I've lost track of how many times I've had this conversation: "Chris, my estate plan is all set. I've got a trust. Everything goes into it. We're good." And then I ask a simple question: "What does your operating agreement say about transfers at death?" Cue the...
I can’t count how many times a commercial property owner has called me and said something like, “Hey, I’ve got a solid tenant lined up—it’s a cannabis company. Anything I should be worried about?” Short answer? Yes. Longer answer? Yes—but maybe not in the way you...
If you’re a business owner, there’s a good chance your company isn’t just something you own. It’s your source of income. Your retirement plan. Your legacy. In many cases, it’s up to 90% of a family’s net worth tied up in one illiquid asset . Which is exactly why...
Recently, I was honored to give a presentation to the Financial Planners of America about a topic that brings together two areas of professional passion: estate planning and business law. I spend a lot of time talking with business owners who know they should deal...
The federal government is sending some very mixed signals on cannabis—and if you're in Minnesota's THC market, it's a moment that demands your full attention. On one side, there's momentum toward reclassifying marijuana under federal law, a move that...
Let’s be honest—Minnesota’s cannabis industry isn’t just changing. It’s transforming. And one of the biggest catalysts for that transformation? Our tribal nations. In a major move that’s flown a bit under the radar (but won’t stay that way for long), the Red Lake...
As part of the deal to end the recent government shutdown, Congress included a provision in the funding bill that significantly redefines “hemp” under federal law—a change that could reshape the entire landscape of hemp-derived products across the country. If you...
When you hear the word "trust," what's the first thing that pops into your head? For most of us, it's a scene straight out of a movie: a stuffy lawyer in a mahogany-filled office, a dramatic reading of a will, and some obscenely wealthy family squabbling over a...
August is here, and you know what that means—summer's winding down, pumpkin spice is creeping back onto shelves, and, most importantly, it’s National Make a Will Month! It’s the perfect time to talk about something incredibly important yet often overlooked. Taking...
I’ve had a lot of conversations lately that start the same way: “I’m thinking about opening a cannabis business. What should I do first?” It’s a big question. With Minnesota’s legal cannabis market opening up, it feels like there’s opportunity everywhere. But as with...
Small business owners have poured your blood, sweat, and maybe even a few tears into building your own business. Pressing questions about supply chain, quality control, and even payroll demand your attention daily. As a business owner, much of your attention and...
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