The first owner exit Mark Kravietz witnessed was devasting. Personally.
His father, an immigrant in New York, started as a textile runner and quickly understood the industry. He started a small company employing 12-14 people.
After many years of hard work, the American dream turned into a nightmare. The textile industry moved abroad. His father had to liquidate to company.
“He had no exit plan,” Kravietz recalls. “There were no conversations about what to do and what steps to follow.”
That personal brush with the pitfalls of not exit planning is part of what makes Kravietz so successful. As managing partner of Aline Wealth—a top wealth management company for entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits—he prides himself on bringing a human touch to his work. In 2020, when the stock market was down, it wasn’t just his clients experiencing a major disruption—his staff was worried, too. He leaned into the humanity of it all: staying transparent, communicating well, and letting all parties know that he wasn’t going anywhere.
It's those human connections that have also made Kravietz a standout in the exit planning industry from a collegial standpoint. He started the Greater New York EPI chapter—EPI’s third—and is the longest-running president. He was EPI’s Planner and Volunteer
Lessons from Mark
“My parents taught me to be helpful, considerate, and caring,” says Kravietz. “Having lost my parents early, I’ve always strived to treat others with empathy and respect as a way to honor them.”
Rule the Air
In 2018, Kravietz realized there were no podcasts on exit planning, so he started the “Find Your Exit” podcast.
We Were Young
“When our EPI chapter was in its infancy, there was no handbook: it was just go and do. Now, we’re starting to be recognized by owners.”
Think Differently
“Everybody looks the same to the business owner. What CEPAs provide are different objectives, pre- and post-planning efforts, and most importantly: a process.”
Trust the Process
“You have to go through your own struggles to develop resilience. I’ve been through the 1987 crash, 1991, the dot.com crash, and then a great recession and pandemic. Those experiences make or break you.”
Grind it Out
“My mantra is FILO: First In, Last Out. Others may be smarter—but no one works harder.”
About the Circle of Excellence
The Circle of Excellence—a new yearly recognition of the people who have created the exit planning profession—is meant to acknowledge the people who have built community and the body of knowledge we all use to advise business owners.
In our inaugural year, we inducted nine members to the Circle of Excellence at the 2024 Exit Planning Summit. Throughout 2024, we’ll profile each of them to highlight their contributions to the field of exit planning.
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