Jim Erben’s Succession by Design Debuts at No. 38 on USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist

The Austin advisor’s first book earns national bestseller status and a place among the list’s Top 50 titles

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Jim Erben, president of Erben Associates and author of Succession by Design: How Visionary Leaders Prepare Their Organization for What’s Next, has reached No. 38 on the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist.

The ranking gives Erben’s first book national bestseller status. Its position among the list’s Top 50 titles also qualified it for inclusion in the print edition of USA TODAY.

USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist ranks the country’s 150 top-selling books each week. The rankings are based on aggregated sales data from U.S. bookstore chains, independent bookstores, mass merchandisers and online retailers. Books across genres and formats are ranked together based on sales rather than editorial selection.

“To see Succession by Design recognized on a national list with books from across the publishing world is an incredible honor,” Erben said. “I wrote this book to help business owners protect what they have spent years building and approach succession with greater clarity and confidence. We are excited that its message is reaching so many readers, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring the book to life and supported its launch.”

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience advising business owners and their families, Erben wrote Succession by Design to address the financial, operational and personal considerations involved in preparing for an eventual transition. The book encourages owners to plan before retirement, an unexpected event or another circumstance forces important decisions.

It covers topics including business valuation, continuity planning, personal wealth requirements, family and leadership considerations, and the development of an advisory team that can support a successful transition.

Succession by Design was released July 28, 2026. More information about the book is available at SuccessionByDesignBook.com. The complete rankings can be viewed on the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist.

For additional perspective on why the book’s message is resonating with business owners, read “Succession by Design Reaches No. 38 on the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist.”

About Erben Associates
Erben Associates is an Austin, Texas-based financial planning firm focused on exit and succession planning for business owners and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1992, the firm helps clients coordinate business value, personal wealth and long-term planning considerations.

Erben Associates works with clients and their existing attorneys, CPAs, investment advisors and other professionals to help align decisions across the advisory team. Its work includes exit and succession planning, asset management, retirement plan analysis, personal wealth and estate planning, life insurance, risk analysis, legacy and family continuity planning, and tax planning.

The firm’s Succession by Design, Not Default^® approach emphasizes preparing for ownership and leadership transitions before circumstances require them. Erben Associates is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit ErbenAssociates.com or call (512) 402-0250.

Carly Johnson
Erben Associates, LLC
+1 512-402-0250
email us here

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