Life is made up of the decisions we make, some proving much more challenging than others. During discussions on succession planning, we often ask financial professionals how many have spent at least three months planning their dream vacation and about 75 percent of the room usually raise their hand. When asked how many of them have spent three months planning the sale of their business, only a few hands remain. Maybe we don’t want to admit our own mortality or that the work remains too engaging, but the facts are that most independent financial professionals do not have a plan or know how to begin the process of selling their business. Let’s look at six key steps to take when planning your succession.