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Business Financial Services
Running a business means wearing every hat at once. We help Western Pennsylvania owners with the financial ones, from retirement and benefits to tax strategy and a well-planned exit, so you can focus on the work only you can do.
Talk With a Business AdvisorOne Partner for the Financial Side of Ownership
Being a business owner brings distinct hurdles when it comes to building a solid financial foundation, and distinct opportunities. Owners have more strategies available to them than most people to strengthen their financial position, if someone helps them use them.
We help owners through a business financial planning process. We assess where you are in the business lifecycle, then recommend tailored strategies to maximize the value of your company, minimize taxes, and buy back your time. Because our own team has owned and run businesses, we can empathize with the trade-offs and recommend strategies that fit real operations.
This is our overview page for owners. Our specialty, and the deepest part of what we do, is exit and succession planning.
Why Owners Work With Us
Most owners pour everything into the business and leave their personal finances, taxes, and eventual exit to chance. A coordinated plan turns years of hard work into value you can keep and, one day, transfer.
This is general information and not tax or legal advice. Tax strategies depend on current law and your specific situation; consult a qualified tax or legal professional.
When your retirement, benefits, taxes, and exit are planned as one, each decision reinforces the others, and the business you built becomes the future you wanted.
How We Help Business Owners
Explore the services below. Each is built to work with the others and to point toward a stronger, more transferable business.
Explore Our Business Services
Why Work With Us
Owners get the most from an advisor who has sat in the owner's chair, holds the right credentials, and coordinates every financial decision toward one goal: a more valuable business and a life you control.
We hold the CEPA® designation and specialize in the financial side of ownership.
We are an independent, fee-based firm. Our advisory relationship is a fiduciary one, so your interests lead the plan.
Ethan runs his own ventures and plans from the owner's seat, not a textbook.
Based in Johnstown for three decades, serving the region's business community.
Ethan Stewart, CFP®, CEPA
Managing Partner
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, Ethan joined the firm in 2014 and leads how the whole team serves clients. A business owner himself, he coordinates owners' retirement, benefits, tax, and exit strategy into one plan built to grow value and buy back time.
Areas We Serve
Our office is in downtown Johnstown. We work with business owners across Western Pennsylvania in person and nationwide by video. Stop by, or start with a call.
Centennial Financial Group, LLC
227 Franklin Street, Suite 302
Johnstown, PA 15901
- Johnstown
- Greensburg
- Washington
- Greater Pittsburgh
- Westmont
- Southmont
- Ebensburg
- Somerset
- Indiana, PA
- Cambria County
Bring the Financial Side of Your Business Together
From retirement and benefits to tax strategy and your eventual exit, we help owners plan it as one. Let's talk about where your business is headed.
Talk With a Business AdvisorFrequently Asked Questions
What business financial services does Centennial Financial Group offer?
We help business owners with exit and succession planning, which is our specialty, along with owner retirement plans such as SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, employee benefits including group health and retirement, and business tax strategy. We coordinate these into one plan aimed at growing the value of your business and giving you back time.
What makes planning for a business owner different?
Owners have more financial strategies available to them than most people, but they also carry more complexity and usually have most of their wealth tied up in the business. Effective planning coordinates the business and the household, retirement, benefits, taxes, and the eventual exit, so each decision strengthens the others rather than working against them.
Do I need an exit plan even if I'm not selling soon?
Yes. Because building transferable value takes years, exit planning is most valuable well before a sale. Even if you plan to own the business for a long time, the same work, growing value and reducing owner-dependence, makes the company stronger and more profitable today. You can start by exploring our exit and succession planning service.
Do you work with my accountant or attorney?
Yes. On business tax strategy in particular, we collaborate with your CPA to help you capture tax efficiencies now and at transition, and we coordinate with your legal advisors where appropriate. Our role is to bring the pieces together into one plan that serves your goals.
Your Authentic Business Partners for Life
Your Ideal Exit, Your Way
Your business reflects years of hard work and dedication. Now, you owe it to yourself to create a strategic succession strategy that aligns with your vision and goals for the future. Whether you're handing over the reins to a family member or transferring it to a trusted partner, we can help you preserve your legacy and safeguard your desires for the next generation.
To stay on track and help ensure your business is equipped for each transitional shift, take the survey below.
Helping You Live the Life You Love
Running a business is hard work. We can help you take back your time and energy to focus on growing your business with a personalized plan that's tailored to your needs. Whether your goal is to scale your business or exit with a solid strategy, we can help you maximize the value you get from your business.
Business Planning
Your business goals are our priority, which is why we work hard to consider every aspect that can impact your business. From realizing growth opportunities to effective tax strategies and succession planning, we are your trusted partners at every stage of your business. We can help you clearly define your goals and create effective strategies for reaching them.
Pro-Active Tax Strategies
For business owners, navigating the tax landscape presents both unique opportunities and significant challenges. Unlike other individuals, entrepreneurs can leverage the tax code to their advantage in numerous ways, yet they also shoulder a greater burden due to its complexity. Mastery in tax management is crucial—not only for effective compliance but also for adopting proactive and strategic measures. At our firm, we collaborate closely with your CPA to guide you through these advanced tax strategies. Our goal is to ensure you are maximizing tax efficiencies both now and in the future, optimizing your financial health and business growth.
Qualified Retirement Plans
asdfasdfWe can help your business remain competitive by attracting talented professionals in your industry, then designing effective retirement plans that meet the needs of your business and its employees. Through ongoing guidance, we can help you navigate market volatility and fluctuating regulations while maintaining your desired standards and meeting compliance regulations.
Succession Planning
After working hard to grow your business, it may be time to start thinking about an effective exit strategy. The most effective way to hand the reigns over to the next generation is through a well-designed and executed succession plan. We can help you maintain employee stability and foster future growth, while building a foundation for maximized value, stability and longevity.
For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a tax or legal advisor. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice.
5 Ways to Stay Confident in Retirement
This guide takes a critical look at the finances of retirement. It talks about health care costs, income stability, and the burden of debt and is designed to help your clients know the recipe for success in retirement.
About Us
We are an independent, fee-based financial planning firm with expertise in client education, retirement planning and exit planning.
Our Team
Our professional advisors thrive on a foundation of trust, authenticity and transparency that prioritizes your happiness at every life stage.
Contact Us
Ready to work with transparent financial professionals who prioritize your best interests? Reach out to Centennial Financial Group today.