Meet Michael Kramer from Natural Investments, a financial advisory firm specializing in socially responsible investing that transitioned to a Perpetual Purpose Trust (PPT) in 2023. After joining as the firm's third financial advisor in 2000, Michael served as managing partner from 2007 to 2023 before becoming a trust steward and manager during their innovative ownership transition.

Some takeaways:

• How the growing valuation of their successful firm made traditional succession planning impossible, as younger advisors couldn't afford to buy in
• Why they rejected lucrative acquisition offers from larger firms to preserve their mission of "using money as a tool for social change"
• Their creative financing approach: borrowing from RSF Social Finance for the down payment, with customized promissory notes for each exiting partner
• How they decoupled governance from ownership by creating a Trust Stewardship Committee with 3-year rotating terms to increase diversity in leadership
• The importance of early stakeholder engagement in the transition process to gain buy-in and incorporate diverse perspectives

Click here to watch this episode on the Zolidar YouTube Channel.

MAILBAG | GET IN TOUCH WITH US We'd love to feature your voice in an upcoming mailbag episode! Have a question for us? Leave a voicemail at 650-203-6565, or send an email to [email protected]. Remember, voicemails make for more engaging episodes—we want to hear your actual voice!

ZOLIDAR LINKS:

• https://zolidar.com
• https://zolidar.com/podcast
• https://zolidar.com/blog
• https://zolidar.com/grid/person/all

ZOLIDAR FEATURES:

• https://zolidar.com/exit-plan-guide
• https://zolidar.com/exit-financial-plan
• https://zolidar.com/dashboard?zolidai=true

ZOLIDAR SOCIAL MEDIA:

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/zolidar/
• https://www.youtube.com/@zolidar
• https://x.com/zolidar
• https://www.instagram.com/zolidar_com
• https://www.facebook.com/zolidario

CHAPTERS 

• (00:00) - Introduction to Natural Investments and Transition Planning

CONNECT WITH NATURAL INVESTMENTS

• Natural Investments

REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Michael Kramer (Former Managing Partner, Trust Steward)
• RSF Social Finance (Lender)
• Organically Grown Company (PPT Pioneer)
• Lumo Group and Purpose Owned (Consultants)
• The Resilient Investor (Book)

MICHAEL'S FAVORITE QUOTE 
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

Click here to view the episode transcript.

© Copyright 2025 Zolidar, Inc.

Note: This podcast is not investment advice and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host or Zolidar.

LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP:
 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/386mgvtP4NU6P4ZWnxccvr?si=FDlB-02ARUao2O9pbnAavg
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-value-driven-exit-how-a-financial-advisory/id1793273251?i=1000719752190
YouTube: https://youtu.be/UIzvXfi87VE
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=UIzvXfi87VE&si=T7iH7144yWYgyyva
Audible/Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e9fe6479-8499-4a29-9b51-cc164d686d79/episodes/b1f123af-56bd-46e5-b847-40e6366c1379/bicycle-for-the-eo-mind-a-value-driven-exit-how-a-financial-advisory-firm-became-a-perpetual-purpose-trust
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/bicycle-for-the-eo-mind/a-value-driven-exit-how-a-financial-advisory-firm-became-a-perpetual-purpose-trust/PE:1319337804?part=ug-desktop&corr=210763187052618403
PocketCasts: https://pca.st/jv9567q0