TRANSITION TALK

M&A Playbook - Episode 2 - Avoiding Deal Fatigue

Posted by James Fisher, JD on May 15, 2023 9:30:00 AM
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In our second M&A Playbook episode James Fisher, JD, VP of M&A and Principal at FP Transitions, shares insight on one of the biggest threats to your transaction–deal fatigue.

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Topics: Acquisition, Deal Structure, Buying & Selling, Mergers

M&A Playbook - Episode 1 - A Market Update from James Fisher, JD

Posted by James Fisher, JD on May 3, 2023 5:19:24 PM
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In our first episode of the FP Transitions M&A Playbook, James Fisher, JD, VP of M&A, shares a timely update of M&A activity and trends.

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Topics: Acquisition, Buying & Selling, Mergers

2023 Financing Update - An Interview with Live Oak Bank

Posted by FP Communications on Feb 27, 2023 9:26:00 AM

2023 Financing Update Live Oak

We’re coming off an incredible year from mergers and acquisitions yet again. In fact, we closed out 2022 as one of our greatest ever for FP Transitions, and the same goes for Live Oak Bank. We took a moment to reconnect with James Hughes, SVP of Advisory Lending for Live Oak Bank, to break down the key areas advisors should consider before they enter the 2023 mergers and acquisitions environment. 

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Topics: Acquisition, M&A, Business Value, Deal Structure, Financing, Bank Financing, Buying & Selling, State of the Market, Next Generation, Valuation & Appraisal, "Buying, Selling, and Valuing Financial Practices", Sell and Stay™, Trends

Understanding Sell and Stay®, the Gradual Exit Plan

Posted by FP Transitions on Jan 5, 2023 10:00:00 AM

Understanding Sell & Stay

The Sell and Stay® path is an often overlooked, gradual exit option hidden amongst the folds of internal succession, mergers, and external sales. For owners who need or want to work towards an exit but are not yet ready to leave the business entirely, Sell and Stay® is a perfect solution. Sell and Stay® allows an owner to continue working and earning an income without having to worry about matters such as management, day-to-day operations, or compliance.

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Topics: Buying & Selling, Exit Planning, Sell and Stay™

Surviving Deal Fatigue

Posted by FP Transitions on Jun 28, 2022 9:30:00 AM

Surviving Deal Fatigue

Despite the continued surge of wealth management M&A activity, one surprising fact remains: most of these market participants are engaging in a transaction for the very first time.  While there are aggregators and larger RIAs that will continue to build up their business through strategic acquisitions, the majority of today’s deals spark from a mutual attraction either from aligned competencies, or complementary competencies, that allow both firms to amplify their growth and sustainability.   

According to James Fisher, Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at FP Transitions, “Many practices are looking to be acquired or merge with a larger business to spur growth, to benefit from economies of scale, to offload compliance and day-to-day operations, to increase bandwidth and offerings to clients, or to assist with the retirement of one or more senior owners/partners, among other reasons.”   

Regardless of experience, it takes a lot of patience, communication, time, and expertise to navigate the entire deal process. For firms going through this, on any side of the table, negotiating and documenting the transaction can often be more time consuming than anyone anticipated, creating the perfect environment for an all-to-common problem: deal fatigue.  

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Topics: Selling Your Practice, Acquisition, M&A, Business Value, Deal Structure, Buying & Selling, Mergers

M&A Mid-Year Update

Posted by FP Communications on Jun 8, 2022 12:00:00 AM

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We just got back from Fort Lauderdale where we spoke at the WealthStack RIAEdge conference for WealthManagement.com. James Fisher, FP Transitions’ Vice President of M&A spoke with several advisors onsite. We wanted to take some of the questions that we received and see if we could answer them for our broader client base.

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Topics: Selling Your Practice, Commentary, M&A, Business Value, Buying & Selling

Top 6 Ways to Grow Your Business

Posted by Christine Sjölin on Apr 11, 2022 2:30:00 PM

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Business growth is a never-ending, and ever-changing objective of all business owners; financial planners included. While the lingering social effects of the pandemic and the challenges of upscaling during the Great Resignation/ Reshuffle can make the task-at-hand seem insurmountable, there are still tangible ways that you can steer the course of your enterprise. Here are a few tips to help grow your financial planning business.

1. Invest in Human Capital
Most advisors have built their business from nothing into their single most valuable asset. Finding talent can be a challenge these days, especially with unemployment settling into lows not seen in over 50 years. Data from FP Transition's Valuation Database has indicated that businesses with multiple professionals accumulate assets at a higher rate than sole practitioners. As your business matures, it is imperative to invest in the next generation of talent, to keep the engine running while you begin to enjoy the reward for what you’ve built.

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Topics: Acquisition, Multi-Generational Ownership, Business Growth, Tip of the Week, Revenue Strength, Enterprise Strength, Business Value, Buying & Selling, Next Generation, Talent Recruitment, Building Your Team, Client Trust, Business Operations, Trends

2022 Trends & Predictions from the Experts

Posted by Doug Kenck-Crispin on Dec 7, 2021 4:09:57 PM

2021 is just about behind us, and 2022 is knocking at the door. What are the 2022 trends in the financial planning advisory space that we consult? We had an opportunity to ask our experts what they see in their respective crystal balls...

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Topics: Selling Your Practice, Acquisition, Multi-Generational Ownership, M&A, Business Value, Deal Structure, Financing, Bank Financing, Buying & Selling, State of the Market, Mergers, Tax Regulations, Building Your Team, Valuation & Appraisal, Transactions, Trends

Leveraging the FPT Open-Market Advantage

Posted by FP Transitions on Aug 31, 2021 1:34:12 PM

When it's time to sell your financial advisory practice, knowing the value of your business is just as important as finding the right buyer. But as you begin exploring your options, determining who will be the right buyer to take over your business often takes center stage. The FP Transitions® Open Market will not only locate a new owner who is a good fit for your clients and investment style, but also help you obtain the most value from the sale.

 

Benefits of the FP Transitions Open Market

Tapping into an open marketplace has benefits for both buyers and sellers. Buyers have access to a larger pool of acquisition opportunities with the potential to meet their strategic goals. This includes those outside of their already established network and area, allowing them to expand their reach. And sellers gain access to a large number of qualified buyers in order to find the best possible buyer for their business.

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Topics: Selling Your Practice, Acquisition, Business Value, Buying & Selling

Debunking Five M&A Myths

Posted by FP Transitions on Aug 20, 2021 3:47:30 PM

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During our 2021 Mid-year Market Update, in addition to up-to-date transaction data and trends, our experts, M&A Director James Fisher, JD and CEO Brad Bueermann, explored some myths and misconceptions about the current M&A marketplace.

The problem with misinformation is that as a buyer you may find yourself discouraged from exploring acquisitions or mergers as a growth strategy or from inquiring on businesses that could be a great fit and expand your reach. As a seller, misinformation can lead you to compromising your fit criteria or from exploring a wider pool of buyers.

The following are the top five misconceptions we hear from advisors and from other market participants.

MYTH: Reported transaction data shows a complete view of the industry M&A marketplace.

No current reporting of annual M&A transactions–including ours–encompasses activity across the entire industry. Even if data is being reported based on publicly advertised transactions, many are private and not publicized as larger M&A deals tend to be. Details and terms are often kept confidential regardless, and, as the old adage goes, "the devil is in the details." So, comparing the data and transaction activity across firms participating in M&A can be tricky.

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Topics: Selling Your Practice, Acquisition, Buying & Selling, State of the Market