By: Steven E. Zeller, CFP, AIF, CExP, NQPC

Proper business exit planning needs to be completed through an established process. Over the years of providing this type of planning for business owners, we have developed a methodical and straightforward exit planning process. In the first phase of the exit planning process, the “Create a Game plan” phase, the last step is choosing your required outside advisors for your exit planning needs. Every owner has unique exit planning needs and requires different advisors at different times. The Exit Planning advisor should be well organized and capable of helping you select the right advisors for your needs.

Assembling the team of trusted advisors is usually implemented after “the initial steps” section and “the preliminary valuation and needs assessment” section is completed in the exit planning process, as illustrated below.

Exit Planning is a team sport, and many areas of specialties come into play in developing an exit plan. Assembling a team of vetted advisors is an important step. There are some guidelines for selecting them.

The first is, obviously, their competence and experience, which there are several ways to determine, which you likely know already.

The second is compatibility – This is more of an opinion of mine. Still, I think it helps to choose advisors experienced in exit planning and aware of your needs and how to accommodate them. Additionally, they are someone you connect with and can work as a close and effective team member with you.

Third, are they real participators in what they do? Do they speak at conferences? Are they published? Are they at all pioneering within their profession?

And lastly, can they work as a team with your other advisors? Now, that is often not considered, but if you as an owner, can make that happen, it can help increase the strength of your team.

I have tried to have a group of advisors available for the owner if they need it, and they are advisors that I have vetted for them, I know them, and I trust them, and I can instantaneously refer them if the owner needs them. I currently have a list of 12 to 15 different advisors with 12 to 15 different specialties.

The great thing about knowing the advisors is I can increase their awareness of how our firm provides Exit Planning for business owner clients and have the opportunity to educate them on our abovementioned process. The ability of advisors to collaborate as a team for the business owner, share ideas, and look over each other’s shoulders productively, without conflicts, is huge.

Additionally, I can brief any of the advisors I have established relationships with on the potential needs they need to address for the client and oversee completing those tasks.

A number of potential outside advisors could be needed in an exit planning project. Usually, only a few are needed. But it is a good practice for the exit planning professional to have a collection of them, vetted, that may be utilized when the occasion calls for them.

If you find this topic interesting, please reference my previous articles on Business Exit Planning. If you have any questions or want help putting together an exit planning team, please get in touch with me at szeller@zellerkernba.com . Visit our website at www.zellerkernba.com.

Steven E. Zeller is a practicing Business Advisor for Zeller Kern Business Advisors located in Sacramento, California. They provide Business Exit Planning services in the Sacramento area and throughout the Central Valley of California, Nevada, and Idaho. They also provide advice for building the value, scalability, and transferability of a business. They are also experienced in Family Legacy Development. www.zellerkernba.com

Exit planning services, business valuation estimates, and family legacy development services offered by Zeller Kern Business Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser, are separate and unrelated to Equitable Advisors. Tax, legal, and formal business valuation services provided by third-party CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals are separate and unrelated to Zeller Kern, 2237 Gold Meadow Way, Suite 100, Gold River, CA  95670, 916-436-8270. Zeller Kern does not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult a legal or tax professional regarding your individual situation. This material is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor, attorney, or accountant. Consultation with the appropriate professional should be conducted before any financial commitments related to the situations above are made.