Adapted from my post “What Harvey Can Teach Us About ROI…” The callous use of a common phrase in someone else’s blog post shocked me. The writer used the common acronym “ROI”. But he couched it as “Relief on Investment” in describing how to choose a charity to support victims of Tropical Storm Harvey, which at the...
Helping Clients Know When to Let Go
As advisors, we’ve all come across clients who are the founder and leader of their companies, and felt like it was never the right time to let go. Last week I was listening to a great story on NPR about whether Founder CEOs have a shelf life. It focused on the concept of transition as the Co-Founder of Peloton John...
The “Favorite Uncle” Standard of Care
Fifteen years ago, my parents were running three businesses and, within a three-month period, each of them was diagnosed with cancer. Dad with late-stage colon cancer, mom with mid-stage breast cancer. They were suddenly in over their heads, and everything began to unravel. I lived in another state and, like many of...
Do You Want to Know What’s REALLY Going on With Your Clients?
When I meet a new advisor and tell them that I speak about the psychology of business owners and how to make it easier for them to let go when the time comes to exit their business, they usually groan and say something like “Good grief, I spend half my time in every deal playing a part-time psychologist for my...
The Art of Letting Go: What Parents of College Freshmen and Business Owners Have in Common
I was at a networking cocktail party two weeks ago and the investment banker I was talking to kept checking his phone. He apologized at one point, explaining that his wife was driving to another state with his daughter who was starting college the following week. He was, understandably, nervous about them being on...
Is a Groundhog Running Your Deals?
Today is Groundhog Day and millions of folks all over the country will be looking to see if there will be 6 more weeks of winter by watching the antics of a groundhog named Punxatawney Phil. You know, if he sees his shadow, we get six more weeks of winter. If not, then spring is right around the corner. In many a...
SCARY THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
There are lots of things that cause business owners to bolt upright in their beds at 3am scared out of their minds when they’re selling their business. Whether the tale of your next deal is a horror story filled with regrets or has your client telling all their business owner friends about the fairy tale ending...
Is Dying at Your Desk Noble or Tragic?
Earlier this year, I facilitated a retreat for a group of business owners to talk about how to know when it’s time to sell their business and retire and how to navigate that transition without regrets. One of them I’ll call “Brian” announced he had no plans to retire – “Not me,” he said. “I’m planning to...
It’s a Transition, Not a Transaction: Selling Your Business Without Regret (Podcast)
Listen: Your Life, Simplified, Podcast with Mariner Wealth Advisors: Transcript: George Fernandez: Thank you for downloading this episode of "Your Life Simplified". My name is George Fernandez, and I'll be your host for this episode. Here at "Your Life Simplified", we strive to bring you relevant and timely topics...
Slaying the Emotional Dragons Lurking Inside Every Family Business
Once Upon A Time … there was a handsome young prince who married a lovely brunette actress … *** It sounds like the beginning to a beautiful story. Yet, when Prince Harry announced that he was stepping down from royal life, the world seemed shocked. So did the Royal family and their advisors. But, should...