Episode 4

The $10M Tax Bill When a Business Owner Dies

How one founder almost lost half his legacy — and how planning saved it.

23-December-2025

The $10M Tax Bill When a Business Owner Dies

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Exclusive insights on tax, succession, and wealth planning, straight from the Advisors Table.

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, we unpack a real-life estate planning crisis: Robert Hale, a 78-year-old founder who built a $50M company but never built a plan around it.

A sudden health scare exposed a devastating truth: if Robert died today, his estate would owe over $10 million in tax, his business would be frozen in probate, and his family, all non-residents, would face structural, legal, and financial chaos.

This episode is essential viewing for:

Through this real client case, we break down:

KEY TOPICS COVERED

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Meet Your Host

Sankalp (Sunny) Jaggi, CPA, CA, MTax, CFF

Sunny Jaggi is a strategic tax and exit advisor to business owners, specializing in sale-readiness, corporate structuring, and succession planning. He helps founders turn complex tax planning into clear, actionable strategy—long before a buyer shows up or a transition becomes urgent.

With more than 15 years advising owner-managed and private companies in Canada and abroad, Sunny works at the intersection of corporate reorganizations, domestic and international tax planning, and high-stakes succession and estate strategy. He is known for bringing clarity, discipline, and long-term vision to complex transactions.

A frequent writer and presenter for organizations including the Canadian Tax Foundation and CPA Canada, Sunny now leads the tax practice at Cedar Consulting Group—a boutique, high-trust advisory firm focused on thoughtful, high-impact structures that help clients protect and grow what they’ve built. He partners closely with accountants, lawyers, and advisory teams to deliver cohesive, enduring strategies that hold up under scrutiny and shape generational outcomes.

Co-Host

Parveen Sidhu, CPA, CA

Parveen has over 7 years of experience advising owner-managed and private companies on corporate reorganizations, estate and post-mortem planning, and long-term wealth strategies. A graduate of CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Program, she pairs strong technical expertise with a genuine dedication to making tax understandable. Parveen has a passion to translate complex rules into simple, practical guidance that helps clients feel informed, supported, and confident in their decisions.
At Cedar Consulting Group, Parveen works closely with entrepreneurs and families to design thoughtful, purposeful structures that build clarity and long-term value. She also teaches PD-accredited courses, driven by her belief that education is one of the most powerful tools in tax planning. Her mission is to empower people with knowledge – so they can protect what they’ve built, understand their path forward, and make choices with confidence.