004: What You Need To Do Before Exiting Your Business with Peter Christman
By Aline Wealth Management on September 18, 2019
After 22 years as an investment banker, Peter Christman founded the Christman Group, where he helped middle-market business owners prepare for exit planning while maximizing value. As he did this work, he realized something huge: many founders were losing massive amounts of value by failing to do a number of things before – and not after – selling their businesses.
Peter took what he learned and founded the Exit Planning Institute, where he provides financial advisors with the best industry content, ongoing practice support, and owner education resources. His CEPA program is now the most widely endorsed and accepted exit planning program in the world, with over 600 certified advisors in over 10 countries.
He’s also the author of The Master Plan Exit Strategy for Successful Business Owners: Discover a Strategic Planning Formula, an international bestseller in eight countries, and The $10 Trillion Opportunity, where he teaches business advisors how to develop comprehensive, integrated exit plans for business owners.
Today, Peter joins the podcast to talk about co-founding the Exit Planning Institute, the big reasons people fail at succession and exit planning, and action steps business owners can take right now to begin preparing for an exit.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Why Peter has always relied on mentors for guidance at every stage of his career.
- Why a huge number of business owners are deeply unhappy after exiting their company – and what CEPAs are doing to help fight this.
- Lessons Peter learned from his father – and why he believes it’s so important to return phone calls.
- The reason Peter hasn’t retired yet – and why he loves to see other people succeed.
INSPIRING QUOTE
“If you have a good tax person, even a $20 million deal, they could save you millions on good planning ahead of the transaction or liquidity event instead of after.” – Peter Christman
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