The Van Der Beek Warning: Why Women CEOs Can’t Leave Legacy to Chance

By April Schaffroth • April Schaffroth Farmers Insurance Agency • KNOW North Phoenix, Arizona

You’ve built this business from the ground up. It’s not just a job, it’s your heart and soul. Here’s the tough question, what happens if you can’t show up tomorrow? Or next month? Or, honestly, ever again?

This goes way beyond just saving for retirement or preparing for disaster. Succession planning is about making sure what you’ve created keeps going, even if you have to step away. Maybe you choose to. Maybe life just happens.

So, What’s a Business Continuation Plan?

Think of it as your emergency game plan. If you’re suddenly out of commission, temporarily or for good, this plan lays out who takes over, how the money flows, and how to keep your team and clients from panicking.

No plan? Chaos. Clients start to worry. Cash flow dries up. Doors might close for good.

A solid plan covers:

  • Someone ready to step in when you step out
  • Legal must-haves (like a buy-sell agreement if you have a partner)
  • Business life insurance
  • A binder (digital or old school) with your systems, logins, vendor contacts, and all the nuts and bolts
  • Clear communication steps for your team and clients

“No plan? Chaos. Clients worry. Cash flow dries up. Doors might close for good.”

This Isn’t Just About Money

Let’s be honest, thinking about stepping away is hard, especially when your business feels like a piece of you. But skipping the planning? That’s way riskier.
If something comes up, illness, a family crisis, or you just get that dream opportunity to retire, could your business run without you? Would your team step up? Would your clients stay?

No plan means stress. Things grind to a halt. People leave. That value you worked so hard to build? It can vanish in weeks.

So, take control. Make a plan. You’ll actually sleep better knowing your life’s work is protected.

Why Buy-Sell Agreements Matter (and Why Life Insurance Makes Them Work)

Got a business partner? Don’t ignore the buy-sell agreement. It’s hands-down one of the best ways to protect both your business and your family. If one of you passes away, gets hurt, or wants out, this agreement spells out exactly what happens next.

Here’s how it works with life insurance:

  • Each partner owns a life insurance policy on the other.
  • If one of you dies, the other gets the payout.
  • That money buys out the partner’s share of the business.
  • The business stays with someone you trust, and the family gets a fair deal.

No ugly court fights. No fire sales. Just a smooth transition.

Even if you’re the only owner, life insurance still helps. It can fund a buyout, pay your team, or make sure you leave something behind.

Legacy Means More Than Money

Let’s be real, your legacy isn’t just about finances. It’s your brand, your people, your story. It’s everything you’ve poured into this business.

Here’s how to make it last:

  1.  Brand DNA
    Write down your core values, your style, your voice—what makes your business truly yours. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just get it down.
  2. Leadership Bench
    Look around. Who could step up if you had to go? Start mentoring them now. Don’t wait.
  3. Values & Culture
    What’s the heart of your business? The way you treat clients? How you lift up your team? Make those values part of your daily life.

A “Succession planning isn’t cold or clinical. It’s about caring enough to protect what you’ve built. That’s leadership.”Legacy Means More Than Money

True Story

Take Sara. She ran a luxury interior design business for 15 years. Her name was on the door. When her husband got sick, she had to step away, fast. But she was ready. She’d already trained her lead designer, mapped out her processes, and set up key-person insurance. Over six months, she handed off leadership and sold part of the company. The business kept going. Clients stayed. Her team kept their jobs. Sara took care of her family and didn’t lose everything she’d built.

Five Questions Every Founder Should Ask

  1. If I couldn’t work tomorrow, what happens to my business? 
  2. Who’s ready to step in for me? 
  3. Are my systems and brand actually written down? 
  4. Do I have the right insurance and legal tools to protect all this? 
  5. Would my team and clients feel safe if I disappeared suddenly?

“Because successful women don’t just hope for the best. We plan for it. We build legacies that last.”

Last Thoughts: Lead Like You Mean It

You didn’t work this hard just to watch it all unravel. Whether you want to retire, sell, or just take a break someday, you deserve options. And your business deserves a real future.

Succession planning isn’t cold or clinical. It’s about caring enough to protect what you’ve built. That’s leadership.

Because successful women don’t just hope for the best. We plan for it. We build legacies that last. 
 

More about April

I own a Farmers Insurance Agency that I started in 2008. We can insure anything you "can stick a key in" when it comes to auto/home/business/life insurance.  I also own a second company called DPX DUI Process Experts which I created in 2012. We offer a concierge free service for clients who have a DUI conviction providing step by step guidance to regain their drivers license. My company connects the client with the mandatory steps such as Alcohol Screening, Traffic Survival School, Ignition Interlock and SR22 needs so they can regain their license.   I am passionate about continuing to grow both my Insurance Agency throughout Arizona as well as expand DPX DUI Process experts nationally.