In this expert interview, David Prowse of the Shaughnessy Group speaks with Kyle Pearce about how incorporated business owners can effectively connect their tax, investment, insurance, and exit planning. Pearce explains why an education-first approach empowers owners to coordinate their advisers and make major financial decisions with confidence. About the guest Kyle Pearce is the president of Corporate Wealth Management and Canadian Wealth Secrets. He earned a mathematics degree and taught high school math for more than a decade before building his own businesses and transitioning into holistic wealth planning. Today, he uses his teaching background to help entrepreneurs understand their choices and build comprehensive wealth strategies. Key takeaways Defining financial freedom: Increased profit does not automatically create clarity about financial independence; owners must define their expected lifestyle costs and required assets. The five-year runway: Planning an exit five years in advance allows owners to review their corporate structure, strengthen business systems, and reduce the company's dependence on the owner. Lifetime capital gains exemption: Operating companies must remain focused on active business operations, as accumulating excess passive assets can jeopardize qualification. Family trusts and insurance: Trusts can assist with estate freezes but add complexity and cost, while corporate-owned life insurance can provide risk protection and estate planning benefits when structured correctly. Early planning: Starting the planning process early creates a clear pathway, giving business owners more options regarding when to invest, take time away, or confidently sell their business. ------ 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome 00:46 - Kyle Pearce's Background & Journey to Holistic Wealth Planning 02:44 - How Do You Help Business Owners at a High Level? 05:11 - Why Is Education So Important for Business Owners? 08:10 - The Value of a Unified Exit Planning Team (Connecting the Silos) 10:03 - What Are the Biggest Misconceptions Business Owners Have About Wealth Building? 13:46 - What Should Owners Discuss 5 Years Out from a Potential Exit? 16:43 - Is Your Business Truly Sellable or Just a High-Paying Job? 20:15 - How Does Corporate Purification Protect the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE)? 23:02 - The Hidden Tax Danger of Excess Cash & GICs (Passive Income Grind) 24:50 - Who Should Use a Family Trust and How Does It Multiply the LCGE? 28:37 - How Do You Use Corporate-Owned Permanent Insurance as a Wealth & Tax Strategy? 32:04 - Why Is Early Planning So Critical for Business Owners? 33:49 - Conclusion & Wrap-Up