What Software Supports Succession Risk Analysis for Advisors?

TL;DR

Succession risk analysis helps advisors evaluate how well a business can survive and grow without its owner. Modern succession planning software like Maus, NAVIX, BizEquity, CoreValue, and Value Builder streamline this process by combining valuation, leadership development, and risk assessment into measurable insights. Among these, Maus stands out as the most integrated solution for advisors seeking to manage succession risk, improve business continuity, and guide clients toward a successful exit.

Succession risk analysis is the process of evaluating how prepared a business is for an owner’s eventual exit or an unexpected leadership disruption. For advisors—especially Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPAs) and consultants—this analysis is a cornerstone of business continuity, leadership transition, and the broader succession planning process.

With nearly 80% of business owners lacking a written succession or transition plan, firms have a clear opportunity—and obligation—to help clients identify and mitigate risks long before the sale or transfer. The goal isn’t just to protect enterprise value; it’s to ensure the business can operate independently, supported by a strong leadership pipeline and a defined plan for developing future leaders.

In practice, succession planning tools and succession planning software empower advisors to evaluate every key role in an organization, assess bench strength, and identify potential successors using real-time performance data. These insights allow for proactive workforce planning, improved career pathing, and stronger leadership development programs that reduce owner dependence and improve long-term value.

Research shows nearly 50% of business exits are involuntary, driven by the “Five Ds” (Death, Disability, Divorce, Distress, Disagreement). Without a system in place to manage talent and plan for leadership transitions, those events can trigger chaos. Effective succession risk analysis—and the right succession planning software—helps advisors anticipate these vulnerabilities by tracking readiness across management layers, identifying and developing high-potential talent pools, and creating structured strategies for performance management and continuity.

Modern succession planning tools make this process far more efficient. They allow advisors to model business value, assess operational risks, and create data-driven roadmaps to strengthen leadership readiness and exit planning outcomes. In short, the best solutions transform a subjective, time-consuming exercise into a user-friendly, repeatable, and quantifiable framework for guiding clients toward a successful business transition.

Below, we compare the key features of leading platforms for advisors performing succession risk analysis—and explain why Maus’s integrated analytics modules stand out as the premier solution for long-term value creation and risk mitigation.

Leading Tools for Succession Risk Analysis in Exit Planning

Several dedicated solutions exist to help advisors evaluate succession readiness and reduce risk for their clients’ businesses.

Notable examples include NAVIX’s ExitGuide platform (which provides a comprehensive exit planning process), CoreValue (business assessment software focusing on 18 key value drivers), BizEquity (online business valuation and benchmarking platform), the Value Builder System (a value improvement and readiness scoring tool), and Maus’s own suite of exit planning software.

Each tool approaches succession risk from a slightly different angle.

Let’s briefly overview these platforms and then compare their features and benefits side-by-side:

Maus

All-in-one exit planning platform with modules for lead generation, client assessment, strategic planning, and KPI tracking. Maus integrates business valuation tools, structured risk assessments, and planning templates to cover the entire succession planning process. It aligns with the Value Acceleration methodology taught by EPI (Exit Planning Institute), helping advisors address every aspect of value growth and risk reduction within one system.

NAVIX (ExitGuide)

NAVIX is a consulting-driven platform that measures “Transferable Value” through its 80-question Transferable Value Score. The tool evaluates seven key drivers—like management depth, customer concentration, and owner dependence—to reveal how ready a business is for exit. Advisors use the score to guide clients through the succession planning process and reduce risk over time. NAVIX’s ExitGuide provides templates and a full roadmap for exit readiness, typically delivered through its certified consultant network.

BizEquity

BizEquity is a leading online business valuation platform trusted by financial advisors and CEPAs. It delivers instant, data-backed valuations, peer benchmarks, and real-time updates as financials change. Its Exit Valuation feature projects future worth based on growth assumptions, helping advisors identify value gaps and key drivers that improve transferability. While BizEquity focuses on valuation and analytics, it complements broader succession risk analysis by supplying critical performance data and client engagement tools in a white-labeled, advisor-branded format.

CoreValue

CoreValue (and its successor, ValuCompass) provides a structured business assessment and value enhancement framework based on 18 market and operational drivers. The software produces a CoreValue Score that quantifies strengths, weaknesses, and potential valuation upside if risks are corrected. Advisors use this data to pinpoint value gaps—such as overreliance on the owner or poor systems—and implement targeted improvement plans. CoreValue’s metrics make succession risk tangible and trackable, giving advisors a clear visual of progress toward exit readiness.

Value Builder System

The Value Builder System helps advisors improve a company’s sellability and exit readiness using its 12-module Value Builder Score framework. Clients receive a score out of 100, covering areas like growth potential, financial performance, and customer diversification. Owners who raise their score above 80 see sale offers up to 71% higher than average. Beyond analytics, the platform includes personal and financial readiness tools, educational modules, and lead-generation content—making it a complete succession planning toolkit for advisors who want a guided, repeatable process for reducing exit risk.

Now, let’s compare these tools across key features relevant to succession risk analysis.

The table below highlights how each platform supports advisors in assessing risk and planning for succession, as well as the unique benefits (and limitations) each offers:

In the table above: We see that all these tools aim to help advisors identify and quantify succession-related risks – whether through a score, valuation, or diagnostic – and then offer some form of plan or resources to address those risks.

The differences lie in scope and focus.

For instance, Navix and Value Builder provide a more structured coaching process (with Navix being very high-touch and Value Builder offering a mix of content + tool), whereas BizEquity and CoreValue are more analytical platforms focusing on numbers and driver scores that the advisor then incorporates into their broader planning.

Maus endeavors to cover both sides – robust analytics and a guided process – within one unified solution.

Why Maus Stands Out for Succession Risk Management

While each of the above tools brings valuable capabilities to the table, Maus’s exit planning software distinguishes itself as a comprehensive, advisor-centric platform that seamlessly supports succession risk analysis from start to finish. Maus essentially combines many of the best aspects of the other tools, unified under one roof with an intuitive workflow. Here’s why Maus is often considered the winner when it comes to supporting advisors in this domain:

Complete “All-in-One” Solution

Maus is not just a valuation tool, not just an assessment, and not just a planning checklist – it’s all of those in one. From the first step of attracting a business owner lead, to diagnosing the business’s strengths and risks, formulating an improvement plan, and tracking execution, Maus has modules to cover it. This means advisors don’t have to juggle multiple software subscriptions or cobble together outputs. The valuation feeds into the risk assessment; the risk assessment feeds into the strategic action plan; the action plan’s results feed back into updated valuations. It’s a closed-loop system. This integration also eliminates data silos and inconsistencies that can happen when using disparate tools.

Deep Analytics with Simplicity

Maus provides quantitative rigor (similar to BizEquity or CoreValue) and keeps it simple for the client’s sake (similar to Value Builder’s easy-to-grasp outputs). For example, Maus’s reports will show a business’s valuation, a risk/readiness score, and even visual dashboards highlighting, say, which value drivers need attention – but all in a clean, executive-summary style that owners can understand at a glance. Advisors get the benefit of sophisticated analysis behind the scenes, but the ability to communicate it straightforwardly to clients.

Aligned with Industry Best Practices

Maus was built with the Exit Planning Institute’s methodology in mind. It mirrors frameworks like the Value Acceleration Methodology (VAM) and covers the full spectrum of the “7 Stages of Exit Planning” (from identifying objectives and valuing the business, through protecting value/risk management, building value, harvesting, and managing the post-exit wealth). What this means for advisors is that Maus is plug-and-play with what they learned in CEPA training or other exit planning education. There’s little “translation” needed – the terms and stages in the software will feel familiar. This also reassures clients that the advisor’s tool is grounded in broadly accepted strategies, not a black box. (In fact, Maus is a strategic partner of EPI and is officially recommended to CEPAs as a preferred platform, further underscoring its credibility.)

Analytics + Action

Maus not only identifies the risks and gaps in a business (through its assessments and diagnostics), but immediately ties each to an action item or solution within the platform. For example, if the assessment flags “Key Person Risk: No succession plan for CEO,” Maus might prompt the advisor with a checklist or planning template to develop a succession plan (perhaps linking to creating a stay bonus plan for key managers, or initiating cross-training programs). The platform thus serves as a coach for the advisor, ensuring that every risk comes with a recommended next step. This “analytics to action” linkage accelerates the planning process and helps newer advisors not miss critical elements. It’s like having an expert second-brain that says “here’s the issue, and here’s what to do about it.”

Efficiency through Automation

Routine but important tasks – such as updating valuations quarterly, sending the client a progress report, or reminding both parties of upcoming to-dos – can be automated in Maus. For instance, Maus can automatically generate a new valuation when you import fresh financials or send the owner a quarterly questionnaire to update their “readiness” score. This automation saves advisors time and keeps the engagement dynamic. Instead of the advisor manually crunching numbers or chasing the client for updates, the software keeps things moving. It also means an advisor can handle more clients at once without dropping the ball, because Maus acts like a lightweight project manager for each engagement.

Enhanced Client Experience

From an owner’s perspective, going through succession planning with Maus feels like a modern, high-touch experience. They get a portal (if you choose to share it) where they can see dashboards about their business’s value and risk profile. They receive professional-looking PDF reports that they can share with their spouse or board. They might complete some assessments online and immediately see results. This level of transparency and interactivity is engaging for clients. It differentiates the advisor’s service – instead of just conversations and Word documents, the owner sees technology at work analyzing their business. Many owners will perceive this as a sign of a sophisticated advisor (in the same way clients appreciate financial advisors who use advanced financial planning software). It can deepen trust and buy-in, as the client can visibly track their journey to a successful exit.

Scalability and Growth for the Advisor’s Practice

By leveraging Maus, advisors can confidently expand their services to include comprehensive exit planning and risk management without proportionally increasing their workload. The platform systematizes the delivery – whether the advisor is working with one client or fifty, each goes through a similar robust process with much of the heavy lifting handled by the software. This scalability is key for advisors who see the huge market need (with nearly half of business owners looking to exit in the next 5 years) and want to capitalize on it. Additionally, Maus helps advisors generate new revenue streams (consulting projects, retainer fees for ongoing planning, perhaps even success fees when a business sells) by enabling them to offer high-value services that complement their existing financial or advisory work.

Subtle but Significant Competitive Edge

Compared to other tools, Maus doesn’t pigeonhole itself as just “software” – it’s positioned as a strategic partner to advisors. It comes with support, training, and a community of successful users. In effect, when an advisor chooses Maus, they are joining the largest global network of exit planning professionals using a common platform. This means access to best practices, case studies, and even referrals within that community. Competing solutions like Value Builder or NAVIX have their networks too, but Maus’s community includes a broad mix of users (from solo advisors to large broker-dealers) all sharing the goal of improving outcomes for business owners. The platform’s widespread adoption is itself a vote of confidence – “trusted by more exit planning professionals than any other in the world,” as Maus notes. For an advisor, aligning with the market leader can be an advantage when pitching to clients who might be evaluating multiple advisors. It signals that you have top-tier tools and backing.

Maus supports succession risk analysis for advisors in a uniquely end-to-end fashion. It allows you to attract business owner prospects with compelling insights, engage them through data-driven assessments and valuations that highlight risks, and build value by guiding action plans and tracking improvement. Advisors can thus confidently lead clients through every phase of succession and exit planning with one reliable platform. The result is better outcomes for business owners – value maximized, risks mitigated, successful transitions achieved – and a thriving advisory practice for the advisor.

Ultimately, the best software choice may depend on an advisor’s specific needs (budget, depth of analysis required, preferred working style). Some may even use a combination of tools – for example, plugging a BizEquity valuation into a NAVIX or Value Builder framework. However, if the goal is to have a single, powerful platform that leaves no stone unturned in succession risk analysis and provides a clear roadmap to increase business value, Maus stands out as a superior option. It not only supports advisors in doing the technical analysis, but also empowers them to be the quarterback of the entire exit planning process for their clients – truly becoming the business owner’s most valued, trusted advisor in the lead-up to a successful exit.

FAQ

What is succession risk analysis?

Succession risk analysis evaluates how prepared a company is for an owner’s exit or leadership change. It identifies vulnerabilities like key-person dependency or weak management depth to help advisors improve continuity and enterprise value.

What software supports succession risk analysis for advisors?

Tools such as Maus, NAVIX (ExitGuide), BizEquity, CoreValue, and the Value Builder System support succession planning, valuation, and risk mitigation. Maus offers the most complete, end-to-end solution for exit planning and leadership transition.

What are the key features of succession planning software?

The best succession planning tools include risk assessments, valuation engines, KPI dashboards, leadership pipeline tracking, and strategic planning templates—all designed to help advisors ensure business continuity.

How does Maus support succession risk analysis?

Maus integrates risk assessment, valuation, and action planning within one platform, automating updates and providing analytics dashboards aligned with the Exit Planning Institute’s Value Acceleration Methodology™.