Shows
THE FINANCIAL COMMUTEHow to Build a Business That Lasts In a RecessionRecessions are a natural part of the economic cycle- and for business owners, they can also be a time of unexpected opportunity. In this episode, Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo and host Chris Galeski share practical ways business owners can prepare for a downturn while strengthening the long-term value of their companies.Tune in if you’re interested in...How to maximize enterprise value by reducing owner dependenceDeal structure tips that can protect your exit during uncertain timesWays to strengthen business continuity through better systems and processesHow to play both defense and offense during a re...2025-07-2922 min
Exit Is Now - Plan Accordingly With Scott SniderFlipping the Script: Joe Seetoo Interviews Scott SniderJoin us for an exclusive episode of The Exit Is Now podcast as we flip the script with 2025 Exit Planner of the Year, Joe Seetoo. Joe steps into the host chair to interview Scott Snider in a personal, behind-the-scenes conversation that covers everything from business growth and family dynamics to mental health and financial clarity. Scott opens up about building EPI alongside his father, finding balance through elite goalkeeper training, and what’s next for the profession including a powerful new platform connecting advisors and business owners.Want to learn more? Go to: https://linktr.ee/theexitplanninginstitute2025-06-2650 min
Exit Is Now - Plan Accordingly With Scott SniderSummit Special featuring Joe Seetoo, Rick Krebs, & Rich JackimJoin us for an exclusive episode of the Exit is Now podcast, broadcasting from the highly anticipated Exit Planning Summit. Scott Snider sits down with Joe Seetoo, Rick Krebs, and Rich Jackim for a special look at what success means from multiple perspectives. Joe shares what it’s like to be recognized as an industry leader and talks about his new magazine tailored for business owners. Rick dives into his chapter-focused work and how he's creating unique experiences for people. And Rich—one of the original founders of EPI—reflects on the early days of the movement and what’s shaped...2025-05-1554 minTHE FINANCIAL COMMUTEReplacing Income in RetirementThis week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE features a special session recorded live from Morton Wealth’s 2024 Investor Symposium. Wealth Advisors Kevin Rex, Joe Seetoo and Mike Rudow discuss strategies that could help replace income in retirement.Here are some key takeaways from their conversation:- Traditional income strategies like government bonds are less effective due to changing interest rates and market dynamics. Joe and Mike advocate for alternative income sources like private lending and real estate loans.- Examples of alternative income sources include private real estate loans (e.g., short-term loan...2024-11-2520 minTHE FINANCIAL COMMUTEHow a Family Business Can Build Generational WealthOn this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski welcomes Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo to discuss building generational wealth as a family business.Here are some key takeaways from their discussion:- Small businesses are the cornerstone of the American economy, and 90% of American small businesses are family owned.- About 70% of family businesses do not get passed down to the second generation successfully. Succession is difficult because there are so many complicated dynamics to navigate. Not only are there familial relationships to consider, but employees who are not related to...2024-10-0222 min
Exit Coach RadioJoe Seetoo - The Realities of Selling your Business in a Zero Interest Rate Environment
Mr. Seetoo is a Partner and Vice President with Morton Capital Management - a Registered Investment Advisor managing about $1.6 bn in assets under management as of June 30, 2016. As a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst, Mr. Seetoo has 17 years of experience in developing investment strategies for affluent business owners and high net worth families.
Questions Answered:
1. Why is it important for business owners to do financial planning prior to selling their business?
2. Your firm has a niche in identifying alternative investment strategies - why is that?
3. How can business owners (or any i...2024-03-2923 min
Finishing Touches: How to Maximize Value and Strategize Your Business TransitionFinancial Planning for Business Owners with Joe SeetooTakeaways:Exit planning is crucial for business owners to ensure a successful transition and financial security.Business owners face challenges such as running personal expenses through the business and the need for tax and estate planning.Joe's new offering provides comprehensive financial planning and leverages a network of advisors to support business owners in their transition.Understanding personal expenses and considering alternative investments are key aspects of financial planning for business owners.Key Points From This Episode:02:00 Joe's Passion for Exit Planning05:00 Joe's New Offering for Business Owners07:31 Challenges...2024-02-2917 minTHE FINANCIAL COMMUTETech Unicorns: Will Companies Like NVIDIA Last?On this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo to discuss the recent rise in NVIDIA's stock price, including topics like:- how NVIDIA's groundbreaking work in AI has contributed to their stock valuation- competition from AMD, Intel, and potential threats from startups and cloud providers- whether NVIDIA’s current valuation at $800 a share is justified or if its success will burst like BlackBerry- how quickly technology evolves and how this may impact NVIDIA2024-02-2714 minTHE FINANCIAL COMMUTEGenerating Income By Lending on Real EstateOn this week’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo discusses Pender Capital’s investment strategy with CEO Cory Johnson at Morton’s 2023 Investor Symposium. Pender is a commercial real estate debt lender focusing on the lower middle market in secondary and tertiary markets, especially in Middle America. Cory talks about how the pandemic impacted various sectors and Pender’s strategic shift toward asset types like multifamily and industrial real estate, which showed resilience throughout the pandemic. Pender emphasizes principle preservation first and yield generation second. They also focus on underwriting to refinance rather than to s...2024-01-0821 min
Exitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E36: Making the Most of your One Shot with Joe Seetoo & Jason Wally Waldron“At the end of the day, the number one thing we all want is a better outcome for owners.”
Business owner readiness surveys can trigger some honest self reflection of business owners.
“72% of business owners in Colorado are waking up every day without a purpose in life.”
What is a Strategist Offering?
Understand what your business looks like as part of your overall wealth. Exitology can then help build your business and grow your business so you can exit.
If you are growing, you have options. Quantify your wealth gap and evalu...2023-09-1912 minExitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E35: From Actively Managed Business to Passive Income Streams with Joe Seetoo & Jason Wally Waldron“ This journey is hard.”
Owners feel remorse 12-24 months after the sale due the psychological impacts of the sales.
Understanding the away from mindset vs. toward mindset.
Evaluate options to diversify your income and replace your income. (real estate, trust deeds, private credit funds).
Many owners run personal expenses through their business. Do you have an accurate picture of what your lifestyle will be like in the future?
The best clarity wins during negotiations.
Joe Seetoo | SVP, Partner and Wealth Advisor at Morton Wealth | 818-591-6...2023-09-1912 minExitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E34: Myths and Misconceptions - What Business Owners Ought to Know About the Exit Journey with Joe Seetoo & Jason Wally Waldron “The investment is an execution to a bigger goal.”
What are the mile markers in life for success that are success for you?
We are either working towards something or moving away from something.
Triage for burnout business owners
Transparency = exit planning moves people through the value acceleration process.
Knowledge is power. Know your options vs. denial.
Exit planning = have a journey with the end in mind. Build enterprise value from day one so the business owner has options.
Joe Seetoo | SVP, Partner...2023-09-1913 minExitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E33: Finding Your Lifestyle Wealth by Taking Time to Dream with Joe Seetoo & Jason Wally Waldron“Why does wealth matter?”
Wealth goes into our relationships, goes into our time but you must be intentional about your values.
It's a good exercise to step back, write down and think about your dreams irrespective of where you are in life.
Ask your clients and owners, “what perspective are we missing as outside advisors that you would like us to have?”
Walk a mile in your customer's shoes.
Joe Seetoo | SVP, Partner and Wealth Advisor at Morton Wealth | 818-591-6219 | jseetoo@mortonweath.com | LinkedIn
...2023-09-1913 min
Exitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E35 From Actively Managed Business to Passive Income Streams [Making the Most Out of Your One Shot with Joe Seetoo]2023-09-1412 minExitology: Unlock Your Profits, Unlock Your PotentialS14 E34 Myths and Misconceptions - What Business Owners Ought to Know About the Exit Journey [Making the Most Out of Your One Shot with Joe Seetoo]2023-09-1413 min
The Ripcord MomentHow to Embrace Failure & Trust Your Intuition As a Business Owner | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 31)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo welcomes Julia Schieffer, founder of DerivSource. DerivSource is an independent information source on derivatives, post-trade, fintech, risk management and technology that she sold to Markets Media in 2021. Julia encourages owners and leaders to listen to their gut. If you feel passionate about an idea, be persistent with your vision even if other people shoot it down. If it does not work out, know that trial and error are integral to finding success and creating uniqueness. Julia reframes failures as “experiments” and knows that they are for her ultim...2023-08-1723 min
The Ripcord MomentHow to Embrace Failure & Listen to Your Intuition as Business Owner | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 31)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo welcomes Julia Schieffer, founder of DerivSource. DerivSource is an independent information source on derivatives, post-trade, fintech, risk management and technology that she sold to Markets Media in 2021. Julia encourages owners and leaders to listen to their gut. If you feel passionate about an idea, be persistent with your vision even if other people shoot it down. If it does not work out, know that trial and error are integral to finding success and creating uniqueness. Julia reframes failures as “experiments” and knows that they are for her ultim...2023-08-0723 min
The Ripcord MomentHow to Create Peace, Mindfulness & Direction in Your Life and Business | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 30)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, Joe Seetoo welcomes Joel Sherwin, an experienced attorney and fintech leader. He is now Head of Legal at Galileo Financial Technologies and recently published The Path: A 30-Day Guide to Building a Meditation Habit That Will Change Your Life, a book on how he has become more present and peaceful in his daily life. Joel emphasizes the importance of mental fortitude for entrepreneurs and business owners. He discusses the need to have self-trust and confidence as you develop your career and pitch ideas to peers; it’s natural to feel afr...2023-07-2631 min
The Ripcord MomentFinding My New Identity After Selling My Business | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 29)On today’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo welcomes Tim Gaspar, CEO and Founder of Gaspar Insurance Services. Tim spent 15 years building his company and began feeling uncertain how to continue growing within the insurance industry. In 2021, he decided to sell his business as various assets such as Bitcoin and real estate were experiencing high valuations. He considered the possibility that if he didn't sell his business at that time, he might regret it in the future when valuations could potentially decrease. Tim acknowledges that selling his business had a considerable impact on h...2023-07-1320 min
The Ripcord MomentGoing Into Business With My Best Friend: Meli's Cookies | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 28)On this week’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, Joe Seetoo invites best friends and co-founders of Meli’s Cookies, Melissa Blue, and Melissa Mehall, to discuss how they started their gluten-free cookie company that now sells products in over 9,000 stores across the country.Melissa and Melissa have been friends for 30 years. They say prioritizing their friendship over the company, finding mentors to seek advice from when experiencing tension, and realizing what areas are appropriate to compromise on have been critical for being able to maintain the closeness of their relationship while being business partners. Melis...2023-06-2926 min
The Ripcord MomentBootstrapping My Liquor Brand & Starting a Distillery | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 27)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo welcomes Aaron Bergh, founder of Calwise Spirits Co. Calwise is headquartered in Paso Robles and is home to labels like Big Sur Gin and Axe Hole Whiskey.Aaron’s passion for spirits began in college when he learned how to make his own alcohol. Eventually, what was once a fun hobby turned into a calling. He attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, which offered an entrepreneurship concentration that helped him develop a business plan and connect with investors. After graduating, Aaron worked in a distillery, got his pro...2023-06-1522 min
The Ripcord MomentBuilding Trust and Finding Community as a NextGen Business Owner | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 26)African Family Firms, and host of The Connected Generation podcast. Nikè Anani has first-hand experience with being a second-generation family business owner and knows how confusing and isolating a transition can feel. According to a study done by The Williams Group, only 30% of business transitions are successfully passed onto the third generation. 65% of the reasons why most transitions do not work out are due to lack of effective communication and trust and 25% was due to a lack of engagement in the next generation. Therefore, Lifetime to Legacy focuses on more qualitative and relational advice for how families ca...2023-06-0128 min
The Ripcord MomentCreating a Niche Fashion Brand: How We Made $1M Our First Year | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 25)On today’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, Joe welcomes sister-duo Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means, founders of Miron Crosby, a custom cowboy boot brand headquartered in Dallas, TX. Sarah and Lizzie were raised on a ranch in Texas and were gifted cowboy boots on every important occasion: birthdays, graduations, and weddings. Their cousins also owned a cowboy boot factory and helped them make custom boots for their personal use. When they began wearing these boots around New York City later in life, strangers would stop and ask where they could get a pair. That’s when...2023-05-1829 min
The Ripcord MomentRunning a Business With Your Family: Generation Gaps & Compromise | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 24)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo invites President of Stainless Process Systems and Alliance Finishing & Manufacturing, Mark Hyman, along with his son, Chief Operating Officer of Stainless Process Systems, Brandon Hyman. They discuss generation gaps, the dynamic between parents and children when working together, and what Brandon had to consider when switching from a job at Google to a family business. Mark and Brandon say they have different communication and work styles due to their generational gap; for example, while it would be natural for Mark to call a customer or vendor, Brandon w...2023-05-0432 min
The Ripcord MomentChoosing the Right Bank as a Business Owner Amidst the Banking Crisis | The Ripcord Moment (Ep. 23)On this episode of The Ripcord Moment, host Joe Seetoo invites Regional Executive Vice President at American Business Bank, Jeff Munson, to discuss the recent bank crises and what business owners can do to protect themselves.Jeff says Silicon Valley Bank collapsed due to their investments in longer bonds, so when depositors started to leave the bank, SVB did not have much liquidity because they could not sell those long-term bonds. This is a learning lesson for anyone who has money in a bank- it is imperative to ensure your bank prioritizes risk management. Jeff says while...2023-04-2023 min
The Journey with Christian D EvansGet the Most Life Out of Your Wealth w/ Joe Seetoo | Senior VP & Partner @ Morton Wealth🎁 Gift for All Podcast Listeners Below 👇 For over 21 years, I have acted as a trusted advisor to business owners and high net worth families providing financial planning and wealth management services to help them "Get the Most Life Out of Their Wealth". Prior to joining Morton Wealth in August 2007, I served as the Director of Investment Research for Georgina Asset Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor located in Santa Monica, CA from September 2003 until July 2007 and as the Director of Operations from May 2000 until September 2003.
I started my investment career with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc. in 1998. I am a C...2023-04-1442 minTHE FINANCIAL COMMUTEKey Areas to Optimize Your BusinessOn today’s episode of THE FINANCIAL COMMUTE, host Chris Galeski invites Wealth Advisor Joe Seetoo to discuss how business owners can optimize their organizations and protect their enterprises amidst the banking crisis. Joe says business owners should understand their company will have more value if it is “transferable” rather than a “lifestyle business.” A lifestyle business is one where the business owner needs to be present for the company to function. If a company can run as its own entity without depending on the owner, it will be more attractive to potential buyers as it is considered...2023-04-1012 min
The Ripcord MomentBeing a Female Business Owner & Democratizing InsuranceWelcome to Season 3 of The Ripcord Moment! On the first episode of this season, host Joe Seetoo invites CEO of Watermark Life Insurance Services Nicole Rex to discuss being a woman in the insurance industry, the challenges of owning her own business, and insuring one’s business. Nicole says although obtaining initial opportunities in the insurance industry has been easy for her, as a woman, proving herself to clients and peers has been difficult since the field is extremely male-dominated and people may doubt her intelligence because of stereotypical beliefs around women. Therefore, she works hard to e...2023-04-0524 min
The Ripcord MomentCreate Psychological Safety Before Selling Your Business“When we talk about emotional intelligence, what we’re really talking about is recognizing that we’re emotional beings and that we react to life’s events emotionally. First […] when leaders are not developed in emotional intelligence, they’re not able to listen to people.” – Robert Grossman, CEO of Black Diamond Leadership On today’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, Joe welcomes Robert Grossman, founder and CEO of Black Diamond Leadership, to discuss psychological safety, team building, and the importance of emotional intelligence in workplace relationships. Robert helps clients respond to triggers or stressfu...2022-11-0119 min
The Ripcord MomentCultivate Culture Before Selling Your Business“What’s being expected from the younger generation is you’re sitting down with your manager and learning about the culture and values. What does the company stand for?” – Daan Renssen, Owner of PrideStaff.In today’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, Daan and Joe discuss hiring trends, what job satisfaction means to the younger generation, and what the pandemic has taught companies about flexibility. Gone are the days when work is just a way to make money – now, companies are expected to improve the world around them, take stances on global issues, and foster their employees...2022-10-1925 min
The Ripcord MomentConduct a Due Diligence Review Before Selling Your Business“Before you go to market, the seller should do a due diligence review. Hire an ERISA lawyer, get the paperwork together, and see what’s going on.” – Meredith Sesser, Owner of Sesser LawIn today’s episode of The Ripcord Moment, Meredith offers her expertise on the nuances of retirement plans, ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), and ensuring your business is in good legal and fiduciary standing before selling.While owners may feel overwhelmed by the concept of conducting an audit or due diligence review, it is easier than you may think. Meredith usually asks clien...2022-10-0525 min
The Ripcord MomentCreate Flow Before Selling Your Business“Progress is in relationship with struggle.” — Chris M. King, CEO of Status Flow. In this episode, Chris explains what “flow” is and how to create momentum on your team and in your personal life with flow triggers. He also shares how embracing change and discomfort is pivotal to growth.Chris discusses the law of accelerating returns, which signifies the exponential progress of technology and culture. In order to keep up with our ever-changing world, business owners must be open to pivoting their plans and products and constantly innovating. Being immersed in a state of “flow” is necessary fo...2022-09-0726 min
The Ripcord MomentBuild Value Before Selling Your Business“They have to build some value.” — Scott Snider, President and Co-owner of the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) and the Operating Partner of Snider Premier Growth. In this episode, Scott offers his expertise on how to best prepare for your ripcord moment from the perspective of a lifelong entrepreneur who has worked with his father to create a formal training program called the CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) within the Exit Planning Institute. At a recent national summit for the Exit Planning Institute, Scott spoke about the impact of finding his personal purpose and the impact that this has had...2022-08-2424 min
The Ripcord MomentRefine Processes Before Selling Your Business“These business owners, they just have a lot of grit.” – Joe Gerber, CEO at Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc., who has over two decades of C-suite experience and over a decade of buy- and sell-side M&A investment banking and private equity group experience. In this episode, Joe offers his expertise in bringing high-level strategy and operational experience to building, restructuring, and scaling businesses, providing them with strategies and initiatives that drive company growth with proven results.Joe discusses the path that led him to his current role as a sort of “CEO for hire.” He details some of the les...2022-08-1029 min
The Ripcord MomentEvaluate ESOPs as an Exit Strategy Before Selling Your Business“The three rules of ESOPs are cash flow, cash flow, cash flow.” – Sheryl Bayani-Alzona, attorney with the Employee Benefits Law Group, a Southern California-based practice that focuses on employee stock ownership plans. In this episode, Sheryl offers her expertise on the world of ESOPs and if this is the right exit strategy for you. Sheryl starts off by explaining to us what an ESOP is. At a high level, an ESOP is an employee stock ownership plan. It is a retirement plan similar to your 401(k) profit sharing plan. However, it is the only retirement plan that is all...2022-07-2828 min
The Ripcord MomentAlign Your Organization Before Selling Your Business“Be a lifelong learner.” — Ken Keller, CEO of Strategic Advisory Boards, a Southern California-based leadership advisory firm. In this episode, Ken offers his expertise on how to best prepare for your ripcord moment from the perspective of a consultant and coach who works regularly with business owners and CEOs on the challenges of growth, leadership, employee engagement, and increasing profitability.Ken discusses how he coaches his business owner clients who are looking to sell their business in the near future. This includes always working on and refining the business model, ensuring you have the right management team in pla...2022-07-1327 min
The Ripcord MomentCreate Brand Awareness Before Selling Your Business“Make sure you have a presence EVERYWHERE.” – Jonathan Boring, founder and president of Social Spice Media in Camarillo, California. In this episode, Jonathan offers his expertise on how to prepare your business for a transition or sale from a digital marketing standpoint. Jonathan discusses how to best prepare your website for an upcoming exit, including staying up on regular maintenance and updates for the most seamless user experience. Simple things could be out-of-date, such as phone numbers, or entire submission forms could be broken on the back end. Either way, you don’t want to wait to hear abou...2022-06-2928 min
The Ripcord MomentMinimize Taxes and Maximize Profits When Selling Your Business“Minimize taxes, maximize profits.” – Scott Gilmore, a Tax Principal at KROST. In this episode, Scott offers his expertise on important tax matters to consider when it comes to succession and exit planning for businesses.Scott discusses M&A transactions, including what types of businesses meet the qualifications (HINT: You have to be a C-corp), and the tax implications that come with these transactions. He talks about purchase price allocation on a sale and how the buyer and seller must come together to agree on a purchase price. He dives into what the goals of the seller...2022-06-1526 min
The Ripcord MomentGive Yourself The Gift Of Time Before Selling Your Business“Get your ducks in a row—NOW.” – Janice Miller, Managing Partner at Miller Haga Law Group, LLP, and author of Coopertition®. In this episode, Janice offers her legal expertise on the world of exit planning and the common issues she sees owners deal with when going through an exit, specifically in today’s post-COVID environment. Janice discusses how to best prepare for an upcoming exit, including the importance of knowing what you want to accomplish from the sale and assembling a team of professionals to help you achieve those goals early on. She shares the sig...2022-06-0124 min
Build Value By ChoiceOptimize 8 Essential Parts of a Business - Succession Planning With Joe SeetooJoe Seetoo is Senior Vice President, Partner & Wealth Advisor at Morton Wealth. He joins Nana this week on Build Value By Choice to give his advice on how you can effectively plan for the succession of your business. Also find out his thoughts on internal transition versus generation transition, how to assess your strengths and weaknesses, and why it is important to find your North Star.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Is your business a lifestyle business or one with more transferable value that outgrows you as an individual. Making sure that you are not entangled in yo...2022-03-2328 min
The Ripcord MomentThree Skaters and Craft Beer: Leveraging a Brand for an Exit“I have this belief that skateboarders are actually great entrepreneurs” – Mikey Taylor, former professional skateboarder and founder of Saint Archer Brewing Company. In this episode of The Ripcord Moment, Mikey shares his life story of being a professional skateboarder turned entrepreneur.One of the areas Mikey opens up about is the mixed emotions he had with the sale of Saint Archer to a major corporation. Growing up in the anti-establishment culture of skateboarding, the idea of selling a business to a large corporation was perceived as “whacked.” However, with a bit of reframing and support, he was able to pu...2021-09-1428 min
The Ripcord MomentSeries B Financing as a Partial Exit“It’s freaky—having people work for you that you never met” — Michael McCrary, founder and CEO of PureSpectrum, a complete end-to-end market research and insights survey platform with the mission of making researchers’ jobs easier. In just five years, the company has sourced over 32 million online interviews. Recently, the company was ranked #21 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list.Michael shares his insights in procuring $17 million of Series B financing (growth stage capital). With this explosive growth, Michael used this opportunity to take some chips off the table. He surveyed a number of other entrepreneurs and it was unanimous...2021-09-0234 min
The Ripcord MomentFamily Succession vs. Strategic Buyer - The Finer Points“If it’s going to be worth something to someone else, it has to create value for them” – Chris Yount, former CEO and 3rd generation business owner of Fortifiber.Hear Chris’s story as he shares how he rescued the family business from bankruptcy during the Great Financial Crisis, revamped the company’s strategic initiatives and led the company to its highest level of profitability in its 80 year history. As Chris looked to the future, securing his family’s legacy and financial security was a top priority. He chose to sell the company to Henry Co., a strategic buyer...2021-08-1936 min
The Ripcord MomentBelieve In Yourself As Much As Others Believe In You“Believe in yourself as much as others believe in you” Caroline Connolly, CEO of Optotest – a worldwide leader in fiber optics testing solutions based in Camarillo, California. What is interesting about Caroline’s journey is how she transitioned from a minority owner in the business to the majority owner and CEO. When her business partner died in 2013, there was no formal buy-sell agreement in place. It took several years of discussions and negotiations between herself and her former partner’s family to agree upon the transition plan. She shares how she had to embrace a variety of risks in orde...2021-08-0527 min
The Ripcord MomentGet Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” –Alec Eickert, Owner and Managing Partner of BDV Inspections and BDV Capital Group. In this episode, Alec shares his story as a Generation 2 owner of a family business and how he navigated the challenges of losing his father unexpectedly who was the head of the family business.Alec shares why contingency planning is so critical for all businesses, especially family-owned enterprises. Specifically, he suggests focusing on building transferable and repeatable systems and processes as part of the core operations. This will ensure the viability of the business. He also strongly believes its critical...2021-07-1523 min
The Ripcord MomentBoth Sides of The Desk - From Family Entrepreneur to Trusted Advisor“The single hardest thing for me was being between my sister and my husband.” – Kim Millman, former CFO and 2nd generation owner of Girlfriends LA - a teen apparel mail order catalog company, which she grew to over 200 employees, producing 30 million catalogs annually marketing to over 8.5 million teens and ultimately sold to a NY based conglomerate. Kim discusses the complexities of a family run business. She later says when her husband and sister didn’t get along - she felt like a human tug of war.Kim shares how she started working in the family business at age 10. ...2021-06-3026 min
The Ripcord MomentMandatory Succession“It’s not just a business transaction – it’s an emotional transaction” - Chris Passmore, Managing Partner of Martini Partners - a Los Angeles Based accounting firm. In this episode, you will hear how Chris led the 2nd generation of owners and how his team navigated the challenges of their succession plan. He talks about why identifying the next generation of leaders early on is critical for a successful G1 to G2 transition. It also requires a real investment on the part of the 1st generation to intentionally provide the 2nd generation with opportunities to lead and put their own...2021-06-1726 min
The Ripcord MomentThe Inner Game of Exiting Your Business“Slow Down to Speed up ” – Margalit Grunberger, founder of Gotcha Covered, an international wholesale linens company which she founded with a close friend and ran successfully for 20 years. Ultimately, she chose to sell to a strategic buyer in 2016 and move on to the next phase of her life. Margalit has since transitioned to a business coach for entrepreneurs where she focuses on the mental fitness and the inner game of business and life. Her motto is “Coaching leaders on what matters most”. Often her coaching conversations focus on mindset, communication and emotional intelligence which were critical elements of her own exit...2021-06-0326 min
The Ripcord MomentDo You Have The Best Team In Place?“Do we have the cast of characters in the right seats on the bus in order to bring us the next 2-3 years of growth” - Dan Doran, Founder of Value Scout and Quantive.Hear how Dan’s unique skills as an entrepreneur, valuation expert and M&A advisor help bridge the gap between buyers and sellers.Dan talks about how owners can overcome their blind spots which might cause them to perceive specific business risk differently than what a potential buyer might see. He shares the importance of having an outsider provide their insight/perspec...2021-05-2026 min
The Ripcord MomentYou Might Be A Boss, But You're Not The Ultimate Boss“When you have your back against the wall, it’s amazing what strength you can come up with” - Brian Shafton, Founder and CEO of RBC records. Hear how Brian created RBC from scratch with just a computer and cell phone in his living room, grew the business and how he approached BMG which led to a strategic acquisition.As the acquisition unfolded, Brian discusses some of the synergies between RBC Records and BMG. Specifically, he discusses how BMG’s International presence allowed him to expand his business from only U.S. based clientele to working with artists ar...2021-05-0625 min
Exit Coach RadioJoe Seetoo - An Integrated Approach to Exit PlanningWith us once again is Joe Seetoo, Senior Vice President and Principal of Morton Capital Management. He has an extensive background as a chartered financial analyst, certified financial planner, and certified exit planning advisor, and works to create financial roadmaps that help his clients get the most life out of their wealth. Joe believes that a sustainable exit plan requires collaboration between all of a business owner's trusted advisors, which goes well beyond just focusing on investments or any individual area. In order to get a client where they hope to go, Joe knows he can’t be working in...2021-04-0522 min