The “Silver Tsunami” and Its Effect on the M&A Landscape
There are record numbers of Baby Boomers seeking to sell their business, and many are facing a common problem: their would-be heirs would rather have the proceeds of a sale than take over the family business. This complication has forced many Boomers to retain ownership and delay retirement. The consequences have caused an accumulation of businesses for sale. As a result, a meaningful amount of wealth stands to trade hands in coming decades as retirement-aged business owners leave the workforce.
Of the approximately 77 million Baby Boomers in the U.S., an estimated 12 million have ownership in privately held businesses. Roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day, meaning all members of this generation will reach age 65 by 2030. As the Baby Boomer retirement era continues and ownership stakes are passed to next generation of leadership, an estimated $10 trillion worth of business assets is expected to be transferred. Ultimately, the ~$100 trillion net worth of individuals over age 55 (as of Q4 2021) will be passed on to successors and inheritors. The key result: reduced motivation of inheriting generations to join the workforce.
In this whitepaper, Trey Dodd and ITR Economics CEO Brian Beaulieu, deep dive into the facts surrounding the metaphor known as the “Silver Tsunami” and how it will impact the M&A landscape over the next decade.