The original version of Fishing for Value: The Case Study, authored by Scott Snider with Nancy McCarthy, debuted at the 2018 Exit Planning Summit in Nashville, TN.
Written by Scott Snider, lifetime entrepreneur and exited owner, with contributions by ten industry experts in the Exit Planning Institute community, resulting in a realistic, practical, and compelling tale of ‘Chuck Barrows’ based on hundreds of real-life business owner experiences.
Happy 65th Birthday to Chuck Barrows, a lifetime entrepreneur and business owner of a Midwest manufacturing firm. He built the business from the ground up, achieving success and industry notoriety over his 35 years. A true leader and influencer, Chuck is proud to own and operate a $30-million-dollar business with high social capital and an employee culture that produces results. But today, Chuck is asking himself the hard question, “Is it time to move on?” and his business-savvy (second) wife, his works-in-the-business son, his semi-estranged daughter, his key managers, and many other players are anxious to know the answer. Just like any business, Chuck has a lot to consider in all aspects of his life. What should Chuck do…and when?
Follow Chuck’s journey through the Triggering Event as he balances the business, financial, and personal challenges all owners face when they begin the process of Discovery, Prepare, and Decide. How should the story of ‘Barrows Ltd.’ end and if you were his advisor, what would you do differently?
This eBook has been used by hundreds of advisors across the country to help bridge the exit planning knowledge gap for clients considering transition. Fishing for Value effectively illustrates the need for a proactive exit strategy. Download your digital copy today on Amazon by visiting www.FishingforValue.com.
I’d like to extend a special thanks to Nancy McCarthy of Write Advantage for her creative influence and editorial expertise. You have been my partner and advisor throughout this process. What started as a simple idea has become a researched, insightful real-life tale of the all-American business owner.
Just like in exit planning itself, it takes a team. I would like to thank and acknowledge the team of experts who helped make the story of Chuck Barrows, owner of Barrows, Ltd. come to life: Christopher M. Snider, CEO/President of Exit Planning Institute, creator of the Value Acceleration Methodology, and author of Walking to Destiny: 11 Actions an Owner Must Take to Rapidly Grow Value and Unlock Wealth; Sean Hutchinson, CEO of SVA Value Accelerators; Judi Cunningham, Visiting Scholar of Cox Family Enterprise Center and Founder of the Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors; Bobby Kingsbury, Principal at MCM Capital Partners; Kyle Madden, Partner at KLH Capital; Michael Trabert, Partner at Skoda Minotti; Ken Haffey, Partner at Skoda Minotti; Scott Miller, President and Founder of Enterprise Services, Inc.; Laura Malone, Director of Gift Planning at American Endowment Foundation; Daniel Shaughnessy, Senior Wealth Director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management; along with the hundreds of Certified Exit Planning Advisors that I work with each year that have offered insight and inspiration along the way.
The EPI community is fortunate to be rich with thought leaders like you. Thank you –Scott Snider, Author of Fishing for Value
“This Methodology is Going to Supercharge My Practice!” -Justin Goodbread, CEPA, CFP®
Official ‘Exit Planning’ Definition: Exit planning combines the plan, concept, effort, and process into a clear, simple strategy to build a business that is transferable through strong human, structural, customer, and social capital. The future of the business owner, his/her family, and the business itself are addressed by exit planning through creating value today.
Exit planning is not just a plan (or a keyed-in report to print out for an owner). It is a strategy rooted in execution that grows value while expanding options so that an owner can transition the business on his/her terms when they are ready. It aligns the business, personal, and financial needs of the owner. Good exit planning utilizes the Value Acceleration Methodology™ to move clients through discovery, prepare, and decide gates. Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPA) educate the owner on all of the exit options and enters an engagement with an exit-option-agnostic perspective as to truly serve the business owner’s diverse needs. CEPAs collaborate with a seasoned, multi-disciplinary team of professionals to support the success of the business owner and use each other’s specialties and expertise to the benefit of the project. [view the award-winning methodology]
“Why did I earn CEPA when I already had an exit planning designation? Simple, the network. The quality of the EPI advisor network is unmatched.” -Paul Meyer, CEPA, CBEC
Do you consider your COIs or your referral network as the #1 source for new business? Look no further for your next membership affiliation. Formed in 2005 to serve educational and resource needs of financial planners and wealth managers, CPA/accountants, attorneys, commercial lenders, M&A advisors and business brokers, management consultants and other business advisors, the Exit Planning Institute is considered the standard trendsetter in the field of exit planning across the globe. It is the only organization that offers the Certified Exit Planning Advisor Program (CEPA) and qualifies for continuing education credits with twelve major professional associations, making it the most widely accepted and endorsed professional exit planning program in the world. [find a CEPA in your area]
“As a CPA, nothing is more important than exit planning.” -Bill Kenedy, CPA/ABV, CFF, CEPA
Our founders paved the way for the organization we are today. In the past three years alone, EPI has grown by more than ten times. We support and enable thousands of professional advisors who are leading the way in their local marketplaces across the globe. We invite you to join the community and experience the EPI difference.
We are powered by a dedicated staff, industry experts, and market leaders, that are passionate about providing top professional advisors the best industry content, ongoing practice support, and owner education resources. From humble beginnings, EPI has grown to become the exit planning market leader while staying focused and true to our mission. We are an education company that certifies and supports more than 900 CEPAs (and counting) as well as thousands of advisors worldwide through national, regional, chapter, and virtual education. Explore our history and make plans to play a part in our future. [explore the EPI history timeline snapshot]
“You want to have the best credential in the industry. So my advice is that you have to go with Exit Planning Institute.” -Vincent Mastrovito, CEPA, CBEC
Do you want help in an increasingly commoditized or oversaturated marketplace? Do you want just another designation for your business card or do you want the credentialing education that helps you adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing industry? You’ve come to the right place.
The Exit Planning Institute creates an exit planning “ecosystem,” and due to the diverse nature of exit planning, EPI has fostered a hyper-engaged exit planning community. This community includes CEPAs, other collaborative advisors, strategic alliance partners, academicians, the media, and business owners from across the globe made up of 15 countries, 44 U.S. States and representing over a dozen different professional disciplines. To serve this elite and cross-functional community on one major platform, EPI produces the best content as it relates to exit planning, succession planning, and value acceleration, provides ongoing advisor support and practice development, and creates connectivity to transitioning business owners. [connect with us today]
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Program is the most widely endorsed and accepted exit planning designation in the marketplace today. Experience the EPI difference and determine if earning the CEPA designation is the next strategic move for you to reinvent yourself in a changing marketplace. Visit www.EarnCEPA.com today.