Robert DePalo Jr, JD CExP AEP

Robert DePalo Jr, JD CExP AEP Helping business owners, entrepreneurs & high-net-worth families protect wealth, reduce taxes, and plan for the future.

Specializing in retirement, estate, and business succession strategies. Success for a business owner is rarely about a single transaction; it is about the sophisticated integration of business value, tax efficiency, and family legacy. As the Founder of The Strategic Business Planner and Director of Business Planning for National Financial Network, I bridge the gap between complex legal frameworks

and actionable financial strategies. My approach is rooted in "Legacy Alpha"—the measurable value created when a business owner’s personal and professional lives are perfectly aligned for the long term. With credentials as an attorney (JD), Certified Exit Planner (CExP), and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), I specialize in:

Exit & Succession Strategy: A well-defined strategy helps ensure a smooth, seamless transition of a life’s work. Advanced Estate Planning: Protecting high-net-worth legacies against erosion and complexity. Business Optimization: Aligning corporate structure with personal wealth goals. Based in Garden City, NY, I serve a select group of business owners and families who value discretion, technical precision, and a forward-thinking approach to wealth.

� Email: [email protected]
� Office: (516) 240-1886

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 900 STEWART AVENUE, SUITE 500, GARDEN CITY NY, 11530, 516-7455600. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. The Strategic Business Planner is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Not practicing JD for Guardian or its subsidiaries or affiliates. This material is intended for general use. By providing this content The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Park Avenue Securities LLC, affiliates and/or subsidiaries, and your financial representative are not undertaking to provide advice or make a recommendation for a specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.

06/11/2026

So… how about that Knicks game?

06/10/2026

Picture this… your CEO quit today, and your business value just dropped 30%
Do you have a plan to address this?

Your business valuation is only as good or as strong as your bench. Don't let a resignation letter tank your life's work.

Thinking about replacement costs, thinking about EBITDA protection, think about funding that transition gap and finding a replacement.

All these are essential to prevent key person leakage.

If you haven't really done continuity planning or key person protection, those are essential areas as your business grows.

06/09/2026

Gifting your business to your kids may feel good… but it could cost you 40% extra in taxes.

Why is that?

Don't let the IRS inherit 40% of your family's hard work because of poor planning. Gifting your business to your kids goes against your estate tax, so if you had a successful business and the value is fairly high, you might not want to gift that.

How you design this plan really depends on your situation.

If you have multiple children, how the siblings interact, what you gift, what you sell, what you do have impacts on all of them.

So, designing a proper plan for an internal sale to a child or gifting those assets to a child takes a lot of planning, and if you don't have the right team, it can be costing that 40%

Let's work together to make sure you don't have the IRS have a bigger inheritance than your children.

06/08/2026

A 10-year stay bonus with tax-smart exec planning and deferred investing can lock in top talent and reduce poaching. It becomes a real career pathway high performers value.

Interested in a custom plan for your leadership team? Comment “GOLDEN” below, DM me, or tap the link in bio and my team will reach out. 🔗🤝💼

06/05/2026

Want your team to think like owners without giving up control? 🤝

Phantom stock (aka synthetic equity) delivers the upside of ownership — financial rewards, retention, and motivation while keeping your cap table and voting power intact.

It’s a clean, flexible way to reward key employees without issuing real shares or diluting control.

Thinking about a retention & reward plan that protects your company’s future and keeps leadership in charge? DM me or tap the link in bio to see if phantom stock is the right fit for your team. 🔗💬

06/04/2026

Stop losing 40% of an executive’s bonus to taxes. Pay bonuses more efficiently with life insurance.

Use a split-dollar arrangement (loan or economic benefit) to give death benefit protection and tax-free access to cash value. This approach rewards executives tax-efficiently and preserves legacy and liquidity.

Want to see if this strategy fits your team’s compensation plan? DM me or tap the link in bio to learn more. 🔗

06/03/2026

Keep your lifestyle and secure your legacy… yes, you can have both.

A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust lets you freeze estate value and protect assets from creditors while still accessing funds through your spouse — a smart blend of estate planning, asset protection, and flexibility. Whether you’re focused on tax efficiency, creditor protection, or preserving family wealth, a SLAT could be the move that balances control with legacy.

Want to see if a SLAT fits your plan? DM me or tap the link in bio to learn more. 🔗

The only certainties in life? Death and taxes.As Washington's Millionaires Tax and New York's proposed Second Home Tax h...
06/02/2026

The only certainties in life? Death and taxes.

As Washington's Millionaires Tax and New York's proposed Second Home Tax highlight, building wealth is only the first leg of the battle.

Planning for its enjoyment and its ultimate transfer are two more pieces you always need to keep in mind.

natlawreview.com

06/02/2026

If your family doesn’t have a mission statement, your money is just math without meaning.

Most advisors optimize returns, but without a clear “why,” wealth can drift away from what matters most. Build a family mission statement to turn financial plans into lasting legacy: align investments, taxes, and estate decisions with the values you want to pass down.

Want help creating a purposeful plan that protects your wealth and your legacy? DM me or tap the link in bio to get started.

06/01/2026

Sell your company to your team and potentially pay ZERO in capital gains tax. ➡️🤝

Section 1042 + an ESOP can be the legacy-building, tax-smart exit strategy: tax-free rollover, debt repayment benefits, and a way to keep your business thriving under employee ownership. Whether you want to reward your team, protect your company’s future, or minimize taxes at exit, this strategy deserves a close look.

Curious if an ESOP is right for you? DM me or tap the link in bio to learn how Section 1042 could change your exit plan. 🔗💼✨

Address

900 Stewart Avenue, Suite 500
Garden City, NY
11530

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Robert DePalo Jr, JD CExP AEP posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share