# Gen X Business Owners Face a Retirement Risk: An Illiquid Asset
Gen X business owners are “scrappy, independant folks,” but that grit comes with a risk, said Kerry Hannon, a Yahoo Finance columnist and co-author of “Retirement Bites.”
The problem: While profits plowed back into the company can boost its value,they can also concentrate wealth in a single illiquid asset.In her book, Hannon noted that 42% of small-business owners worry they’ll never be able to retire.
“When you’re in that situation, having your own business is all-encompassing,” Hannon said on a new episode of Decoding Retirement. “You always figure, ‘I’m going to sell the business or whatever it might be, thatS going to be my retirement plan.’ This can trip a lot of people up as they approach [their] 60s.”
Read more: Retirement planning: A step-by-step guide
So, how can Gen Xers ease that worry? Hannon shared a checklist, starting with understanding the value of your company.