From Loss to Legacy: Estate Planning, Exit Strategy, & Protecting Business Owners

Today’s guest is Sunny Erdman, wealth advisor, certified Exit Planning Advisor, and Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor who has spent 15+ years helping business owners protect their families, reduce tax exposure, and transition their companies with clarity instead of crisis.

Sunny’s journey started with tragedy: at just 15 years old, she lost both of her parents—who had no estate plan in place. What followed were years of legal confusion, guardianship uncertainty, and financial complexity that no teenager should ever have to face.

That defining experience shaped her mission: to make sure no business owner or family ever experiences the chaos of poor planning.

Today, Sunny works with founders, entrepreneurs, and multigenerational families to build the strategies, structures, and tax plans that protect their wealth and secure their legacy long before a transition occurs. From reducing a client’s seven-figure tax bill to zero, to helping owners shift from a “lifestyle mindset” to true asset-building, Sunny offers clarity where others offer guesswork.

In this episode, she shares what every entrepreneur needs to hear—before they scale, before they sell, and before life forces them into decisions they’re not ready for.

Takeaways

Your Business Is an Asset — Not Just a Job

Most owners think about day-to-day survival, not long-term value. Shifting your mindset to “asset building” changes everything.

Planning Early Saves Millions

Once you sign a Letter of Intent, most tax and estate strategies become impossible. The best plans start 2–5 years before a sale.

A Team Beats a Solo Advisor

Real success requires collaboration between wealth advisors, attorneys, and accountants. When your team talks, your outcomes multiply.

Processes Build Transferable Value

A business that cannot run without the owner isn’t a business—it’s a dependency. Documenting systems and building leadership increases exit multiples.

Taxes Can Make or Break the Deal

The structure of your business (S-Corp, C-Corp, etc.) drives what planning strategies are possible. The earlier you optimize, the more money you keep.

Wealth Isn't Liquid — Until You Make It Liquid

Most owners are asset-rich but cash-poor. Proper planning ensures your lifestyle can continue after the business is gone.

Experience Creates Purpose

Sunny’s childhood loss is the reason she fights to make sure families and founders are protected—emotionally, legally, and financially.

Quote of the Show

“The chaos after losing my parents is the reason I protect families and business owners the way I do today.” – Sunny Erman

What Problem Can the Listeners Help Her Solve?

Sunny wants to help business owners shift their mindset:

How do we get owners to stop treating their business like a lifestyle… and start recognizing it as a transferable asset?

She’s looking to connect with:

Business owners preparing for growth or exit
Founders facing tax or estate complexity
Advisors (attorneys, CPAs) who want a strong planning partner
Entrepreneurs who want to protect their family AND their company

If you’re unsure what your business is worth, how to reduce tax exposure, or whether your family would be protected tomorrow, Sunny can help.

Chapters

00:00 Sunny’s Defining Childhood Moment
03:39 How Losing Her Parents Shaped Her Career
05:36 What Happens If a Business Can’t Run Without You
08:11 The Tax Mistakes Owners Never See Coming
09:22 When to Start Planning Your Exit
10:37 Why Lifestyle Spending Increases After Selling
12:12 Wealth Gap Analysis: What You Really Need to Know
13:16 Why You Must Know Your Business Value
14:28 The Mindset Shift Owners Must Make
15:35 Sunny’s Vision for the Next 3–5 Years
17:11 Advice to Her Younger Self in Law School
18:12 One Piece of Advice for New Business Owners
18:57 The Future of Pittsburgh (AI, Innovation & Startups)
20:03 Primanti Bros vs. Pierogies
20:40 Steelers vs. Browns (Which Hurts More?)
21:45 How to Connect with Sunny Erman

Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunny-erdman-059b2395/
Website: https://www.shorebridgewm.com/
Contact Sunny: 412-742-4865

Ways to Tune In

Transistor: https://steelcitygrowth.live/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SBtiD6wOmd2EFCYh4PW3Z
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steel-city-growth/id1806713142
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/42813799-b7e8-432a-a9d5-aa6d67b8f8f3/steel-city-growth
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/steel-city-growth-6053619
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SteelCityGrowth

Creators and Guests

Host

Bill Ilgenfritz

Producer

Nathalee Arroyo

What is Steel City Growth?

Welcome to Steel City Growth! Each week, we’ll explore the passions, expertise, and experiences of business owners and founders in the greater Pittsburgh area. Steel City Growth is proudly sponsored by Murphy Business—committed to providing exceptional services to meet all your business needs.