Over half of all U.S. business owners are 55 or older, and the looming “Silver Tsunami” of retirements is expected to impact nearly 2.9 million businesses. Yet selling a business is no easy feat—only 20% find a buyer, and less than 30% transition to the next generation. That leaves over half of these businesses at risk of closure. Employee ownership offers a compelling alternative—one that checks key boxes for exiting owners, including liquidity, legacy, and fair valuation, while preserving local jobs and community-rooted businesses. While the Silver Tsunami presents real risks to business continuity, it also creates opportunity. This session will equip exit planners and business advisors with insights into employee ownership as a practical, profitable succession strategy—and a way to stand out in a competitive advisory landscape.
Learning Objectives:
● Understand why employee ownership is especially timely in today’s business landscape
● Learn how to incorporate employee ownership into your advisory practice
● Explore the key steps involved in an employee ownership transition and how to identify if a company is a fit for a transition
● Get familiar with the three primary models of broad-based employee ownership: ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and employee ownership trusts
● Identify next steps and resources for deepening your knowledge or supporting client transitions
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Wealth Managers
You’re a skilled relationship person. Being entangled into your clients’ professional lives matters as you build a strategy to manage their wealth upon them harvesting it from their business. Exit planning allows you to build a deeper relationship with your client, expands your COI network, while giving you an early seat at table well before the liquidity event.
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
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Valuation Analysts
Valuation is both a billable engagement AND an opportunity to provide owners some perspective on how to accelerate value drivers (and deal with value killers). Use exit planning to make that valuation into a longer term value acceleration engagement.
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Investment Bankers
Only 2 of every 10 businesses that come to market actually sell. Learn how exit planning can bring attractive AND ready business to your purview.
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Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
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Strategic Consultants
One of the most critical roles in exit planning is building transferable value. Strategic consultants have the ability to expand options and drive rapid business value that affect performance today.
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Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Commercial Lenders
One of the best relationships a business owner makes is with their banker. How can you help your corporate clients think about the future and ensure financial continuity? Answer: exit planning.
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Family Business Advisors
More than 50% of lower middle market business owners would prefer to transition to the next generation. Help them succeed with exit planning strategies.
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Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
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Private Business Owners
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Members of Family Business Boards
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Professional Advisors
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Business Consultants
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Other Business Professionals
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Business Owners
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Business Owners & Their Trusted Advisors
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Meet Stacey Smith:
Stacey has spent most of her career helping businesses examine their impact and aligning it with their values. She started as a CPA with Arthur Andersen, then moved into strategy and organizational development. Seeking to devote her financial expertise to social and environmental issues, she was an early mover in the field of sustainability and corporate responsibility in the U.S.
At Project Equity, she is helping grow our team of professionals to accelerate the adoption of employee ownership as a key to building wealth and high-quality careers in communities.
In addition to having been a licensed CPA, Stacey has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and has done coursework in International Business Studies at the University of Copenhagen.
Zarin leads Project Equity’s efforts to educate business advisors on how employee ownership can strengthen succession planning, differentiate their services, and deliver greater value to clients. He previously led growth and strategy at Certified Employee-Owned, building national recognition for the model and deepening engagement with employee-owners, and currently serves on the board of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center. Zarin discovered the power of employee ownership while completing his MBA at Presidio Graduate School, and earlier in his career, he served as Executive Director of a nonprofit thrift store and legacy business in San Francisco.