Mergers and acquisitions are team activities. Surgeons don’t go into the operating room without nurses and anesthesiologists. Business owners shouldn’t enter into an agreement to sell or merge their business without M&A support.
5 min read
M&A Support: What, When, How, and Why
By David Pan on May 18, 2021 2:53:00 PM
Topics: Blog mergers & acquisitions
5 min read
6 Major Cost Considerations to Sell Your Business
By Kristen Grau on Nov 23, 2020 4:55:06 PM
Selling your business is not only a difficult decision to make, but it can often be a costly one if not done correctly and objectively. And while the particular path you choose for your exit will inevitably vary, it is important to understand who will help you in that process, in what capacity, and what responsibilities you have as an owner. If you are thinking of selling your business or planning to sell in the future, here are the costs you should consider.
Topics: Blog
12 min read
Mergers and Acquisitions 101: M&A for Financial Advisors
By David Grau Jr. on Nov 18, 2020 2:50:09 PM
What Exactly Is M&A?
The term "mergers and acquisitions" (M&A) broadly refers to the process of one company combining with another; however, the method and legality of how these terms are processed are slightly different.
Topics: Acquisition Blog
3 min read
Five Myths in Succession Planning
By David Grau Jr. on Jul 30, 2020 8:00:54 AM
As most business owners will attest to, starting and running a business involves a combination of conviction/passion, perseverance, stress and personal sacrifice. Owners invest a significant amount of themselves and capital into running these businesses, and as a result, most have a substantial portion of their net worth tied up in their business. The vast majority of owners/founders we've worked with here at Succession Resource Group have communicated that their business is not just a valuable asset, but their most valuable asset. So, why do so few owners have an answer for their key stakeholders about when they will retire from their business and who will succeed them? Because the common myths of succession planning give them a sense that they can or should be dealing with this topic tomorrow (in the proverbial sense). Here are the most common myths that our clients come to us with that hold owners back from effectively tackling this important topic:
Topics: Contingency Planning & Death/Disability Planni Blog
2 min read
Add Succession Resource Group as a safe sender - Get the mail you want
By David Pan on Apr 6, 2020 11:24:20 AM
Ensure that you receive your Succession Resource Group (SRG) emails and subscriptions by adding the SRG domain to your list of safe senders and/or contacts.
Topics: Blog
2 min read
Getting the Most Value Out of Your Business
By David Grau Jr. on Mar 5, 2020 2:35:19 PM
Developing a succession plan is a great tool to ensure your business continues to grow while you eventually work less and begin to realize the value of your business. But, a key piece of developing a plan for you and your business is having the right successor. For some, this person may be an existing employee or junior partner, but for the majority, the solution is to find a peer to sell the business to. The sale often involves a long-term gradual work-out period providing you with an exit strategy that lets you leave your business on your terms. So, where do you find a succession partner? And how can you do it with paying a hefty commission to a broker? Read on.
Topics: Acquisition Sellers Succession Plan Blog
2 min read
Best Practices: Creating a Business Death/Disability Plan
By David Grau Jr. on Mar 5, 2020 2:34:29 PM
What would happen to your business, your clients and the value of the company, if something where to happen to you suddenly? Do you have a plan and systems in place to ensure your business will carry on until you return? Or, a plan to ensure the business continues under someone else’s leadership if you cannot return?
Topics: advisor Maximizing Your Practice's Value financial advisors David Grau Jr Death & Disability advisors building value Contingency Planning & Death/Disability Planni SRG Blog Succession Resource Group
2 min read
Continuity Planning - A key to acquisition success?!
By David Grau Jr. on Mar 5, 2020 2:34:17 PM
To start with, let's define the term "Continuity Planning."
Topics: Contingency Planning & Death/Disability Planni Blog
2 min read
The Power of Subtlety in Acquiring a Practice
By David Grau Jr. on Feb 27, 2020 2:33:42 PM
It may sound contrarian, but if you are interested in buying a business, do yourself a favor and never ask the question, “Can I buy your practice?” Experienced advisors that have bought a business before know this to be true, and the reason is simple. The question ignores the fundamental realities of practice acquisition in the financial services industry. In the financial services business, the person who says “yes” to the question, “do you want to sell?” is not necessarily the type of person from whom you want to buy a practice.
Topics: Acquisition Buyers Blog
2 min read
Show Me The Money - Acquisition Financing Trends
By David Grau Jr. on Feb 27, 2020 2:29:31 PM
If you asked us five years ago about financing the acquisition of an advisory practice in the financial services industry, there would not have been much to talk about. Until recently, almost all deals were done using a combination of buyer’s funds and seller financing. Bank financing was not a viable option for most deals because lenders generally struggled with the collateral on the loan – an advisor’s most valuable asset in their business is the client relationship and cash flow those relationships produce. Before the market drop in September 2008, some advisor buyers were able to leverage home-equity lines of credit or large business lines of credit, but most had to use personal funds to finance their deal, which priced many otherwise qualified successors out of the market. Until recently, the typical deal for advisors with less than $5,000,000 in annual revenue involved 20-40% cash down from a buyer, with the balance seller-financed over 4 to 5 years at 5-7% interest. That is changing, and the results seem to be good for everyone involved in the deals.