Lightning in a bottle: Entrepreneurial journeys from idea to exit

Joining us today are Mark Achler and Mert Iseri, authors of book, Exit Right: How to Sell Your Startup, Maximize Your Return, and Build Your Legacy. Through strategic interviews with M&A leaders, attorneys, and founders-Exit Right provides a helpful roadmap for business owners to seek more successful exits with their companies. Furthermore, Marc and Mert discuss how trust becomes the ultimate currency for a business sell and provide key examples of what makes the right partner for succession planning.

What’s one of the most powerful tools for business owners that can help reduce the capital gains associated with a business sale? On this episode, we sit with Joyce Crivellari and Rebecca Sterling, both with UBS’s Advanced Planning Group and former attorneys, to discuss Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) and why it’s such a powerful tool for business owners who one day hope to monetize their business. We’ll get into the ins and outs, the opportunities, and challenges and what you should know now so that you can put yourself in an opportunity to take advantage of it when you’re ready. Despite its acronym, QSBS is no joke!

In this episode, Josh & Jason have an action packed conversation with Scott Snider, President of the Exit Planning Institute about five things every business owner should know, and think through, to maximize the value of their company before an exit. We talk about five stages of value maturity, walk through the intangible forms of capital, three legs, the importance of taking time to work ON your business and ON your personal life goals, and finally, understanding if your company is ready and attractive to a buyer. As a business owner, be prepared and have a plan, so maximize the value of your exit when a buyer shows up at your doorstep.

Our topic today is around an important component of building out your team of advisor to help you monetize your business…the Investment Banker. Over the years, Jason and I have come to really appreciate the work they do and the value they bring to the table. Professional athletes and business owners have something in common…they work their tails off, make sacrifices and take big risks so that one day…if they’re fortunate, they’re able to capitalize on that hard work through monetize their ideas or their athletic ability. Something else in common…is they both need a coach. The best athletes in the world have a coach and you should to. Bottom line – Hiring an investment banker to help you navigate the complexities of selling a company can be incredibly valuable and ultimately, help you maximize your outcome.

Joining us today is Erik Seeney, Executive Director and Wealth Planning Strategist. Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Erik is one of our go-to specialists at the firm with a focus on advanced planning strategies, design and implementation. Appropriate tax planning is an essential component of a pre-sale strategy. Liquidity events typically incur income taxes (some or all of the proceeds may be subject to ordinary income or capital gains tax and the 3.8% surtax on net investment income). Comprehensive analysis, including financial and estate planning, before the exit can help an owner understand income tax treatment and potentially minimize your tax liability. Bottom line – Your situation is very specific to you and your family... so it’s important to walk through these ideas with your own tax and legal counsel.

Joining us today is Tom Hall, Head of UBS Philanthropy Services. With over 12 years' experience working with and advising private clients, Tom leads our UK Philanthropy services to help clients identify and achieve their philanthropic and impact investing strategies.

Joining us today is Oliver Henderson, Managing Director and Head of UBS Business Development Group. We’ve brought Ollie on to walk us through the various ways business owners can monetize their ownership position, and how to mitigate some of the more common mistakes that can cause the sale process to break down.

Joining us today is a good friend and colleague of ours, Sarah Salomon. As a UBS Senior Strategist with Family Advisory and Philanthropy Services, Sarah works with families on understanding money, values and philanthropic intent in the context of family wealth. We’ve brought her on today to discuss the challenges that arise amid new found wealth and practical suggestions for meeting these challenges.

Joining us today is Ryan Gravelle, Partner with Kastner / Gravelle Law Practice. Ryan has managed multiple mergers, acquisitions and asset transactions. He's helped raise tens of millions of debt and equity financing, as well as structured complex strategic alliances and partnerships. Needless to say, we are excited to pick his brain on the many twist and turns associated with bringing on an equity partner and the sale process.

Today's conversation is all about business valuation and what you need to know to avoid some costly mistakes. Joining us today is Edward Fowler with Briggs & Veselka. Edward has over 30 years of experience with a background in management consulting, accounting, investment banking and business valuation. Suffice to say, Edward knows his stuff and we’re excited to have him on.