#6 - Our Commitment To Supporting Our Business Owner Clients Now Extends To The Ways A Private Equity Sale Impacts Their Financial Plans

For many business owners, selling their business is the most significant transaction of their lifetime and one of the most impactful events their family will experience.

The idea of parting with a business they've grown for many years, or even decades, to the point where it can be sold is incredibly exciting. For many, a large portion of their net worth is tied up in that business. It can be nerve-wracking to consider the journey leading up to the sale, how it impacts their financial plan, and how it affects their family's future. As a result, the decision to sell can't be taken lightly.

It's always been important to me to be well-educated on the topics and events relevant to my business owner clients. When I started the firm on my own in 2011, I didn't have the advantage of being part of a larger, well-established firm with seasoned mentors down the hall. To learn more, I chose a formal education approach, enrolling in classes to gain better knowledge on relevant topics.

These topics included becoming a Certified Financial Planner, and have since evolved to include education and professional credentials focused on business owners. I have obtained the following certifications:

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP?): I have met the high standards of competency and ethics established and enforced by the CFP Board. As a CFP? professional, I act in the client’s best interest.
• Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA?): For high-net worth clients, I have advanced knowledge and skills to address complex issues in investment portfolio strategy, estate planning, wealth transfer, and closely held business ownership.
• Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA?): As a CVA?, I fully understand the variety of methods used in determining the value of a business and the total estate.
• Certified Exit Planner (CExP?): As a CExP? professional, I am qualified to provide comprehensive, professionally executed exit planning services to businesses.

Today, one of those third party buyers is often private equity. I've always been fascinated by and interested in how these transitions impact entrepreneurs and business owners. To gain more knowledge, I’ve enrolled in the Wharton School of Business Private Equity Certificate program. This program will provide valuable insight into how private equity thinks, works, and structures deals. I’ll be approaching the program from the perspective of how it impacts my business owner clients and their personal financial plans.

After completing this private equity certification, I will be able to:

• Clearly understand the process and journey of a private equity transaction.
• Expand my network of key players and professionals involved in private equity.
• Better understand how deal structures and execution impact my client's personal financial plan.

As a business owner, why should you care that I'm doing this, and why should you pay attention?

It's to your advantage to know what your business exit may look like. Even if you plan on holding the business for 20-plus years, you need to be prepared for that surprise offer from a third party, including private equity.

What I hope to do is share insights I've gained through the Wharton School Private Equity Certificate, specifically through the lens of how it impacts you, the business owner, your personal financial plan, and the options and opportunities it creates for your family.

To learn how we use continuing education to better serve our clients. — Schedule a Free Discovery Call.

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