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Running a business means making decisions at lightning speed products, people, markets, growth. But when it comes to personal wealth strategy? That’s the one area founders often put on pause.
At Renswick, we work with high-performing founders who want to get intentional about their money not just when they’re prepping for an exit, but as they build. Private banking isn’t a post-success luxury. It’s a strategic tool to fuel smarter moves today.
So here are three practical tips every founder should consider even before Series A or signing off on a big acquisition.
Pay yourself properly
Founders are notorious for underpaying themselves especially in the early stages. It’s noble. It’s gritty. But it can also be financially short-sighted.
Instead of scraping by, we advise founders to structure a lean but strategic compensation plan:
a reasonable salary
equity with smart vesting
dividends when applicable
tax shelters if you're based in the right jurisdiction
Build the business, but protect the person
This is where private banking comes in strong.
We help founders protect their personal exposure while their company is scaling fast. That can include:
Custom insurance around key-person risk
Asset protection trusts
Separation of personal and corporate liabilities
Succession frameworks if you’re building with family
You don’t need to be paranoid. You just need to be prepared.
Get in the Habit of Quarterly Wealth Check-Ins
Just like you check in with your leadership team or investors, your personal wealth deserves quarterly strategy reviews. Nothing too heavy just a standing session to align on:
Net worth growth
Risk exposure
New opportunities
Life changes that impact your financial direction
At Renswick, we make this feel more like a smart conversation over coffee than a stiff numbers meeting. It’s about keeping your financial future in flow not stuck on the backburner.
You’re not just building a company. You’re building a life.
Private banking isn't about privilege. It’s about precision. It’s about knowing that your personal ambitions, lifestyle, and values deserve just as much attention as your business growth.
At Renswick, we help founders move confidently before the liquidity event, before the Forbes list, before it’s "time."
Because wealth strategy isn’t something you graduate into. It’s something you grow with.