145 - Structuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing Table
05/18/23 • 35 min
Structuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing Table
We delivered a Special Edition of Poised for Exit today and had the privilege of interviewing two experts on how collaboration works and why it can make or break a deal. Brett Larson, M&A Attorney with Messerli Kramer and Colin Johnson, Managing Director at Wipfli Corporate Finance were our guests and talked about how they work together structuring deals, putting out fires and getting their clients to the closing table. When it comes to achieving the best outcome for a business exit, using the right team with essential areas of expertise makes all the difference.
Colin says it all starts by understanding and aligning with the owner's goals and sometimes he has to work to help the owner discover what they really want. Colin's investment banking skills and background make him the kind of advisor owners believe has their back. Colin won't take a deal unless he believes he can get it done.
Brett agreed that the owner's goals are at the top when helping them decide the right path for exit. Brett and Colin have a clear understanding of how to work together collaboratively. Sometimes Brett is driving and sometimes Colin is in the lead yet each know when to step back to let the other take over. Brett says that when an owner comes to him late in the game, for instance already having a Letter of Intent, he needs to "get smart fast" on what's happening with the owner's business and the owner in terms of assessing and mitigating risk as much as possible.
The key to keeping momentum going and to avoid deal fatigue is to have the right people on the team. With the right expertise at the table, the flow of the transaction takes less time thereby reducing cost and stress for the owner and everyone else.
Listen to the episode to learn more about their take on market conditions and what owners should do to prepare themselves for a future sale.
Contact Brett Larson here and Colin Johnson here
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn!
It's never too early to plan for your future exit - grab a copy of Julie's 'Free Ebook' here.
Thank you to our show sponsors! Sunbelt Business Advisors and Trust Point
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor
Structuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing Table
We delivered a Special Edition of Poised for Exit today and had the privilege of interviewing two experts on how collaboration works and why it can make or break a deal. Brett Larson, M&A Attorney with Messerli Kramer and Colin Johnson, Managing Director at Wipfli Corporate Finance were our guests and talked about how they work together structuring deals, putting out fires and getting their clients to the closing table. When it comes to achieving the best outcome for a business exit, using the right team with essential areas of expertise makes all the difference.
Colin says it all starts by understanding and aligning with the owner's goals and sometimes he has to work to help the owner discover what they really want. Colin's investment banking skills and background make him the kind of advisor owners believe has their back. Colin won't take a deal unless he believes he can get it done.
Brett agreed that the owner's goals are at the top when helping them decide the right path for exit. Brett and Colin have a clear understanding of how to work together collaboratively. Sometimes Brett is driving and sometimes Colin is in the lead yet each know when to step back to let the other take over. Brett says that when an owner comes to him late in the game, for instance already having a Letter of Intent, he needs to "get smart fast" on what's happening with the owner's business and the owner in terms of assessing and mitigating risk as much as possible.
The key to keeping momentum going and to avoid deal fatigue is to have the right people on the team. With the right expertise at the table, the flow of the transaction takes less time thereby reducing cost and stress for the owner and everyone else.
Listen to the episode to learn more about their take on market conditions and what owners should do to prepare themselves for a future sale.
Contact Brett Larson here and Colin Johnson here
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn!
It's never too early to plan for your future exit - grab a copy of Julie's 'Free Ebook' here.
Thank you to our show sponsors! Sunbelt Business Advisors and Trust Point
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor
Previous Episode
144 - From Teacher to Financial Founder: The Inspiring Journey of Stacey Stelter and GTS Financial Services
From Teacher to Financial Founder: The Inspiring Journey of Stacey Stelter and GTS Financial Services
#PoisedforExit met with Stacey Stelter, Co-Founder of GTS Financial Services. Stacey is a former Elementary School teacher and learned some skills that were quite transferable from that career into becoming a founder of a financial services firm. Stacey, Tyler and Grant are the co-founders of GTS Financial. Grant and Tyler have been in the industry 15+ years and are CFPs. Stacey has been in the industry 8 years and is the Director of Client Services.
Stacey is not a stranger to being an entrepreneur and starting something from scratch. Her passion for finance and for helping people achieve their financial goals is what drove her to leave her career as a teacher and move into a different kind of ‘teaching’; that of one who teaches business owners how to save and invest for a secure future! In between those two careers, she also directed a couple of non-profit organizations and raised her kids at the same time.
GTS Financial not only stands for Grant, Tyler and Stacey (she and her partners) but also their Core Values of Gratitude, Transparency and Service. We talked about the ways GTS differentiates itself in the marketplace and how their Core Values drive their business model and decisions. There's a Japanese acronym that uses a Venn Diagram to illustrate how to live your best life: Love what you do, Be Good at What you do, Do what the World Needs and Get paid for it. Thus, the recipe for any owner who's stuck in planning their Next Act!
Listen to the interview here.
Find Stacey here and Julie Keyes on LinkedIn.
It's never too early to plan for your future exit - grab a copy of Julie's 'Free Ebook' here.Thank you to our show sponsors! Sunbelt Business Advisors and Trust Point
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor
Next Episode
146 - Simple yet Savvy: Principles to Navigate Business Transitions
Simple yet Savvy: Principles to Navigate Business Transitions
Our episode today featured Amy Kiefer, President of Automotive Parts Headquarters, or APH. Amy was hired by APH just 6 months ago as the company's first non-family member President! The company is over 100 years old and in its 3rd Generation, so that says a lot about the value the owners believe she brings to the table.
Amy's background spans several years involving a variety of roles, from Private Equity, to ESOP to Family Business, and all aligned with her unique skills in bringing strategy and execution with a fresh perspective on what matters most. Her "simple, yet savvy principles" are not your typical methods for implementing and accomplishing objectives, although there's a process for that. However, they are principles that strongly impact her work as a leader, thinker and growth strategist, and are the bedrock for how she operates in her role. They are:
- Respect
- Appreciation
- Trust
For Amy, these principles are integral to fostering new relationships, growing existing ones and utilizing strong, consistent communication in her organization. When these principles are lived out by key decision makers, the company not only grows but flourishes, and in more ways than just what lands on the P&L.
Amy says that establishing these principles has made all the difference for her especially when changes and pivots are required in order to continue a growth trajectory. We're living in some uncertain times, so having respect, appreciation and trust as the foundation for making decisions provides a certain peace of mind that allows for clearer thinking, planning and implementing.
You can find Amy here - Have a listen to the interview now!
Thank you to our show sponsors! Sunbelt Business Advisors and Trust Point
Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor
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