Founder's Guide Post

In this interview, I talk to asset protection attorney, Ike Devji, about safeguarding assets, particularly after selling a business. Ike stresses the necessity for business owners and individuals to robustly secure their assets. He introduces a layered asset protection approach, starting with compliance and clean living, progressing to insurance, and finally making use of legal instruments and know-how. Ike's expertise offers listeners a clear roadmap to understand and apply protective strategies. This episode delivers crucial advice for those wishing to ensure their assets' long-term security, whether they've sold a business or are just aiming to shield their wealth.

What You'll Learn:

• Insights of asset protection planning and why it is crucial for business owners.

• The potential risks that business owners face after the sale of their business.

• The significance of safeguarding the proceeds from the sale of your business in the long term.

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Pro Asset Protection

Asset Protection 101

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About Ike:

Ike Devji is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Pro Asset Protection and has nearly two decades of legal practice experience devoted exclusively to Asset Protection, Risk Management and Wealth Preservation for some of the most successful people in America, and those who are on their way to being there.

Sandra Etherton is on the show to discuss the importance of protecting intellectual property for business owners. She explains that intellectual property, which includes trademarks, contracts, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents, holds significant value and can greatly impact a company's success and longevity. She highlights the crucial role of trademarks, contracts, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents in safeguarding a company's unique assets and competitive advantage. Sandra emphasizes the value of conducting an IP audit and seeking advice from professionals to optimize intellectual property protection.

What You'll Learn:

• How to protect your unique business ideas or processes.

• How intellectual property can drive up your business worth.

• The world of intellectual property defenses including patents and trademarks.

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https://www.ethertonlaw.com/

602-681-3331

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About Sandra:

Sandra is a registered US patent attorney with over 25 years of expertise identifying and protecting intellectual property (IP) to facilitate business growth. Her practice primarily involves hands-on U.S. patent and trademark preparation and prosecution and coordinating the same in over 70 other countries. Representative technologies include medical devices, agricultural products, watercraft products, electromechanical devices, data processing systems (including banking and telephony), SaaS and mobile apps.

She has extensive experience negotiating and drafting technology-related contracts, including patent and trademark licenses, non-disclosure agreements, and manufacturing agreements, along with providing risk management advice including patentability, freedom-to-operate (clearance), and infringement opinions. She advises corporate management about complex intellectual property matters and explains the risks and alternatives available - without legalese.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the uncertain future of your family and business, despite your efforts to protect them, then you are not alone! Despite taking measures like creating a will or implementing security systems, you may still be exposed to risks that could jeopardize your loved ones and your hard-earned business.

My guest today is Richard Keyt, a seasoned estate planning professional. Richard is well-versed in the complexities of securing both businesses and personal estate. His understanding of wills, trusts, and estate planning documents is unmatched. Richard has guided countless entrepreneurs to establish comprehensive plans that have safeguarded the future of their families and business. Time and again, his thoughtful advice has brought peace of mind to his clients, and his knack for navigating the complexity of estate planning makes him a sought-after authority in the field.

What You'll Learn:

• Why Estate Planning?

• How Wills and Trusts should fit into your exit plan.

• Why it's important to separate your assets from your personal life.

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Call Richard: 480-664-7472

Keyt Law

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About Richard:

Attorney Richard C. Keyt prepares Wills & Trusts and estate plans and practices business law, contracts, entity formations, probate law, and nonprofit corporation and charitable organization law. Richard prepares IRS Form 1023's, the application for tax exemption and assists nonprofit corporations in becomes tax exempt charities. Richard was a lecturer on Arizona LLCs at Arizona Summit Law School during the 2013-2014 and the 2014-2015 school years.

Richard's father is Richard Keyt, is the founder of KEYTLaw, LLC, and an Arizona attorney. Richard is co-author with his father of a book called "Family Asset Protection, which people say is a great way to learn about Wills, Trusts and estate planning. This free eBook is full of helpful illustrations. Its purpose is to teach people how to protect their most valuable asset – their loved ones – from their death or incapacity.

Richard is licensed to practice law in Arizona and California. He is a former Arizona Certified Public Accountant who worked for a national accounting firm for three years before going to law school.

Do you want to successfully transition out of your business and sell it for a substantial profit? Are you looking for a solution to navigate the complex process of selling your business? Join us as we uncover the key strategies and insights to help business owners over achieve their desired outcome - a seamless and profitable sale of their business. My guest, Jim Afinowich, will be sharing his expertise and proven techniques to ensure that you can smoothly transition into the next phase of your life, while maximizing the value of your business. Get ready to unlock the secret to a lucrative business sale!

What You'll Learn:

• Elevate your understanding of the intricate process of business selling, equipping you to navigate this course prudently.

• Uncover meta techniques to identify beneficial timings to plan your business exit.

• Develop a knack to enhance your business's desirability in the market, attracting potential buyers.

LOVED this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-guide-post/id1648393214

Links & Resources:

Call Jim: 480-327-6610

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About Jim:

A nationally honored industry leader and a multi-year "Az Business Leaders" selectee by the publishers of AzBusiness magazine, Jim has developed and presented classes for regional and national trade associations for nearly 20 years. He has also provided expert witness services in cases relating to brokerage practices and standards of care.

Jim is experienced in business. He has owned 15 businesses in industries from manufacturing to publishing, foreign trade and aviation (visit our sister company, FBO Sales), having launched multiple businesses domestically and internationally. Jim has employed hundreds of people and, like his clients, experienced the joys and challenges of business ownership.

Jim sold several businesses for himself before starting to sell privately held firms for others. Jim has worked as a mid-market M&A advisor and business broker for over twenty years. His career led to his business philosophy, "Although the type of business may vary the best results for the client always come from the utilization of a proven process, executed completely in a planned and deliberate manner. There are no short cuts.

Jim is a lifelong Arizona resident. His two passions, after family, are business and aviation. He has held advanced ratings for ultra-light aircraft and hang gliders, as well as conventional aircraft.

Have you heard the myths about selling a business? Many business owners fall prey to the common misconceptions surrounding the legal considerations of selling their company. Myth #1: Only large corporations need legal advice when selling. Myth #2: Selling a business is a simple process that can be done quickly. Myth #3: The buyer will take care of all legal paperwork and due diligence. The truth is, proper legal planning is crucial for a successful and lucrative exit. Our guest, Phil Guttilla, will share his expertise on the legal considerations that all business owners should know before selling. Don't fall for the myths - join us to learn the truth.

What You'll Learn:

• Understand how being proactive in planning can lead to a successful business sale.

• Examine estate planning and tax considerations when transferring business ownership.

• Detect potential challenges and methods to prevent them in M&A activities.

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Links & Resources:

LinkedIn

Polsinelli.com

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About Phil:

Phil is a deal lawyer. Whether it is a business sale or purchase transaction with a short timeline or a must close financing, he brings practical solutions and creative thinking to get to closing. As a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst, Phil takes a multidisciplinary approach to serving his clients.

Private equity and strategic acquirors work with Phil for buy-side legal representation because he understands deals in the larger context of his client's business and he deploys a project management approach to M&A that reduces costs and delivers economies of scale for clients executing roll-ups or growing through serial acquisitions.

Business owners seek out Phil for his experience and dedication to his clients. He and his team work to negotiate the best possible terms. He understands that a business sale is a life-changing event for most business owners that they may only experience once. He draws on his tax and accounting background and over 25 years of experience to guide his clients through the deal process. Phil delivers what he expects from his team – thought leadership and creative solutions with superior responsiveness. Phil values his clients and builds deep relationships; many of his client relationships go back decades. He is a trusted adviser who strives to help his clients minimize taxes, maximize their business enterprise value and keep the larger picture in focus.

Do you want to secure the highest possible value for your business while also finding the best-suited capital partner? As a business owner looking to transition out of your company, this is a crucial goal. I am here with Lena Dalbey to share with you the solution to achieving this result. By understanding the difference between valuation and transaction when selling your business, you can negotiate a peak valuation and find the right capital partner. Join Lena and I as we delve into the intricacies of these two concepts and equip you with the knowledge necessary to help you have a more successful exit.

What You'll Learn:

• Become more informed handling company transitions and capital partner collaborations for business expansion.

• Grasp the crucial distinction between valuation and transaction consideration to facilitate the selling process.

• Understand how investment bankers can bolster your business value through strategic planning, open communication, and competitiveness.

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Links & Resources:

linkbig.net

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About Lena:

Lena Dalbey founded LINK in 2019 to bring a unique and differentiated investment & merchant banking firm to the Arizona marketplace. With more than 25 years of investment banking experience, Lena's expertise was honed at leading global investment banking firms in San Francisco and New York. Lena has served exceptional companies in her native state of Arizona since 2007.

Prior to forming LINK, Lena was a Managing Partner at JDB Capital Partners ("JDB"). During her decade of commitment to JDB, Lena grew the firm from a start-up into one of the most well known and respected investment banking firms in the region. Her focus was senior relationships and extraordinary transaction outcomes for a wide range of middle market clients and companies.

Do you strive to cultivate a thriving organization with significant progress? Are you looking for a way to establish an elite business with substantial growth? If so, this episode with Michael Erath has the solution you need to create a successful enterprise with meaningful advancement. Discover how to develop a top-tier company that experiences significant expansion and fulfillment.

In this episode, Michael uncovers the ironies of the business coaching industry, shares his inspiring journey of building a better business after losing everything, and reveals the five obsessions to help entrepreneurial leaders achieve a meaningful return on life.

What You'll Learn:

• The five obsessions for business greatness: Great People, Inspiring Purpose, Optimized Playbooks, Culture of Performance, and Growing Profits & Cash Flow.

• How to implement personalized approaches as a Sherpa-like guide to help catapult your business to the next level.

• How to achieve a meaningful return on life without compromising personal well-being and relationships.

LOVED this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-guide-post/id1648393214

Links & Resources:

[email protected]

Next Level Growth

The Business Health Checkup

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About Michael:

In the first 15 years of his career, Michael took over an $8M family manufacturing business which he grew to $45M in revenue with over 200 employees during his 15 years as President & CEO.

Being tied closely to the housing market and due to a significant betrayal from a business partner who eventually served prison time for embezzlement and fraud, during the financial collapse of 2009 Michael lost it all.

Late in 2010, Michael leveraged all that he had and started a new business. It was during the startup of his new business that Michael was introduced to the book Traction®. In Traction, Michael found many of the same tools he had implemented in the past, but this time as part of a more holistic system that filled in many of the missing gaps he experienced when he had tried the "do-it-yourself" route earlier in his career.

Shortly thereafter, Michael began implementing EOS® as the basic foundation in his new business. With EOS® as the foundation, Michael then used his past experience with other systems to plug the holes that exist in EOS®, layering on strategy and cash management tools from Scaling Up; recruiting and hiring A-Player playbooks from Topgrading; and other advanced business tools he had learned over his career and from his time in YPO. This customized approach allowed him to grow the business rapidly and in 2015 make the Inc. 5000. Running the business on a complete and custom-tailored system gave Michael the entrepreneurial freedom to eventually exit the business and focus on his true passion: Taking all that his entrepreneurial life has given him, sharing it openly and vulnerably, and in doing so giving it all back as a full-time business guide.

Since 2015, Michael has been a record holding Certified EOS Implementer®, a Certified Scaling Up Coach and a Certified Pinnacle Business Guide. As the only business guide in the US to have simultaneously held all three certifications, Michael shares from his vast knowledge as well as his more than 20 years of experience in the trenches of the entrepreneurial world to help his clients bring their dreams to reality. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, Michael guides them in implementing a customized, holistic operating system that can only be done by someone who has lived through it all.

In 2017 Michael wrote about his incredible journey from success, to collapse, to rebuilding based on lessons learned in what has now become an Amazon Best-Seller. His book, RISE: The Reincarnation of an Entrepreneur, is available in print and audio on Amazon.

In this episode of the Founders Guide Post Podcast, Bill Koenig shares his expertise on the process of selling a business. From understanding motivations for selling to the importance of a solid management team, Bill offers valuable insights for first-time sellers.

Bill is the knowledgeable Senior Director of Montminy & Co, who specializes in the world of mergers and acquisitions. Bill's expertise in understanding the crucial factors that determine a business's value, such as recurring revenue and the quality of its management team, makes him an invaluable ally for any entrepreneur looking to sell their company. With his warm and easy-going manner, Bill is the perfect guest to share his insights and help guide business owners on their journey to a successful sale.

What You'll Learn:

1. Delve into the motives behind sellers and how recognizing value-driving forces benefits your business.

2. Explore the crucial aspects that contribute to a business's valuation, like dependable revenue and leadership competence.

3. Grasp the importance of investment bankers in steering the sales course and attaining the best possible outcomes.

LOVED this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-guide-post/id1648393214

Links & Resources:

602-769-4501

Montminy & Co.

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About Bill

Bill Koenig has over 25 years of diverse financial services experience in the areas of corporate banking; leverage finance; subordinated debt financing; equipment leasing; commercial real estate finance; and both primary and secondary loan syndications and trading. Mr. Koenig has completed over $1.5 billion in both senior and subordinated debt/lease transactions encompassing management led buyouts; M&A; international financings; complex commercial real estate; and various structured debt transactions.

Before joining Montminy & Co., Mr. Koenig was the CEO and Director of Northwest Bank where he was responsible for leading the growth and setting the strategic direction of a 3-state, privately owned $500 million asset sized bank. Previously, Mr. Koenig was an Executive Vice President with Western Alliance Bank (NYSE: WAL) in Phoenix, Arizona where he managed various specialty banking groups including corporate finance, leverage finance, equipment leasing, municipal finance, resort finance, and the Bank's equity investments in several SBIC funds.

Are you weary of trying to figure out the best way to exit your business tax-efficiently and benefit your employees? You could be overlooking the invaluable advantages of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). In this episode, you'll discover how to unlock the powerful potential of ESOPs with little-known tax benefits, the perfect combination of bank loans and seller notes, increased employee motivation and productivity, and the key elements of timing, planning, and culture fit. Equip yourself with the knowledge to conduct ESOP feasibility studies and engage expert advisory teams for seamless execution.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Uncover the secret to structuring ESOP sales with bank loans, seller notes, and no employee equity.

2. Learn how ESOP-structured companies experience increased employee motivation and productivity.

3. Unveil the hidden importance of timing, planning, and culture fit in successful ESOP transactions.

LOVED this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-guide-post/id1648393214

Links & Resources:

[email protected]

(646) 734-2035

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A successful business exit requires optimization in several key areas, including stability, intrinsic value, and capital efficiency. By focusing on these areas, business owners can maximize their company's value and prepare for a smooth sales process. This involves ensuring a steady stream of revenue, investing in the growth and development of the company, and keeping costs low while maintaining high production quality. By doing so, entrepreneurs can attract a wider range of potential buyers and secure a competitive offer for their business. As Joyce Hrinya addressed in the podcast, to achieve stability in a business, owners should prioritize profitability, consistent growth, and monthly recurring revenue. For intrinsic value, factors like a diversified customer base, long-term contracts, and proprietary products and services add worth to the business. Lastly, capital efficiency can be boosted by minimizing labor costs and capital expenditures while also having a solid management team in place to execute the business's strategic plan.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. How to master the process of readying businesses for maximum value and smooth transitions.

2. Recognizing the significance of enlisting knowledgeable and experienced investment bankers.

3. How to achieve financial clarity and eliminate low-profit margin offerings in your product suite.

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Links & Resources:

Email Joyce!

Acquireretain.com

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The Founders Guidepost provides conversations with experts to help you, the Founder, have a more successful exit from your business, to help preserve your American Success story.