Your ExitMap Blog Contributor
Exit Planning Articles by John F. Dini, CBEC, CExP, CEPA

Layers of Disclosure:
A Business Owner’s Guide to Sharing Information in a Sale

 If you’re selling a privately held business, disclosure is rarely just a matter of completing a checklist. It’s more like managing a series of “layers” that unfold over time. The timing, depth, and framing of what you share can affect how buyers value your company, how much leverage you retain at the negotiating table, and often overlooked how stable your business remains while the transaction is moving forward. A practical way to think about disclosure is this: you should expand what you share only as the buyer becomes more committed, receives greater legal protections, and the deal becomes more certain. In other words, disclosure should ... Read more

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The 3% Problem in Advisory Work: A Guide for Business Owners

 As a business owner, you belong to a unique group that makes up only 3% of the population. Yet, many advisors treat you like any other client—using the same approaches they apply to executives, professionals, or retirees. This is a fundamental misunderstanding that can impact your business and personal goals. Why You’re More Than Just an Asset You are not simply a high-income individual with concentrated wealth. Your business is not just an investment; it’s an integral part of your identity, your livelihood, and your daily purpose. It is the source of your authority, reputation, and even your personal satisfaction. Navigating Identity, Not Just Assets ... Read more

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Exit Planning: If Not Now, When?

 You’ve probably said it yourself: “Talk to me in five years.” It’s the most common response advisors hear — and it makes sense. You’re heads-down building, not winding down. Exit planning feels like a conversation for later. The business is performing. You have time. And honestly, it’s a lot to think about. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: later is exactly when most exits go wrong. You’re already doing exit planning — just not deliberately Think about the early-stage tech founder. Obsessed with product, grinding 80-hour weeks, convinced the exit is the last thing they should be thinking about. Yet their investors demand an exit strategy ... Read more

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What to Watch Out for When Getting Outside Advice

 When you bring in an outside advisor — whether it’s an accountant, attorney, consultant, or broker — you’re doing the right thing. You’re acknowledging there’s something you don’t know and going to find someone who does. That’s smart ownership. But there’s a trap hidden in that process that most business owners never see coming. Every Expert Has a Favorite Tool There’s an old saying: to a hammer, everything is a nail. Think about it this way. You go to your doctor and say, “My shoulder has been killing me — I need help.” The doctor genuinely wants to help you. But whether you walk out ... Read more

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NQDCs – Funding and Forfeiture

 In our article on March 20th, we discussed Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans as a tool to compensate key employees for achieving long-term goals. One component of such plans is the fact that they are frequently unfunded and legally considered an unsecured promise to pay. Nonetheless, both plan sponsors and recipients often want a funding mechanism to set aside assets, manage cash flow, or hedge the liability. In addition, employers typically want conditions under which they can rescind the plan for cause, including failure to achieve the objectives the plan was designed to incentivize. Funding Mechanisms For cash-based plans, there are four common ways to ... Read more

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