2/13 Strategic Partners: Recent Episodes
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2/13 Strategic Partners’ goal is to exceed your expectations by providing holistic advice on the entirety of your financial life. Our podcast is focused around navigating your financial world and helping you with a process that delivers confidence grounded in a clear path forward. We believe that every one of our clients has a unique circumstance that warrants a custom solution.
For more information about our team visit our website: 213strategicpartners.com or contact us at 213strategicpartners@hightoweradvisors.com | 610-850-9050.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps August 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps July 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps June 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps May 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the April 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the March 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Listen to Greg Sarian on Bloomberg Radio: Surveillance interviewed by Paul Sweeney and Bailey Lipschultz.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the February 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps January 2024. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of December 11, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of November 13, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of November 6, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of October 30, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of October 23, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of October 9, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of October 2, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of September 25, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of September 18, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of September 11, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of September 4, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of August 21, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of August 14, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of August 7, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of July 31, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of July 17, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of June 19, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of June 12, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of May 29, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of May 15, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of May 8, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of May 1, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of April 17, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of April 3, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of March 27, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of March 20, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of March 13, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of March 6, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of February 27, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of February 20, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of February 13, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit 213strategicpartners.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of February 6, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of January 30, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of January 23, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of January 16, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of January 9, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
Senior Financial Advisor, Ray Baraldi recaps the week of January 2, 2023. To learn more about our team or to reach out with any questions visit sarian.hightoweradvisors.com.
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder of Sarian Strategic Partners, Tony Parisi, Managing Director at Strategic Exit Advisors, Kevin Wager, Sr. Financial Advisor at Sarian Strategic Partners, and Morgan Buswell, Communications Director of Sarian Strategic Partners, share key planning ideas and strategies for selling a company. They talk about understanding how a buyer will value your business and view risk as well as how to prepare your company for an optimal transaction. They also discuss how business owners should consider priorities related to employees and company culture/value fit, and the fundamentals of the deal. Listen for key pre-transaction financial planning strategies to maximize your equity and income tax planning considerations to reduce your tax burden.
“Our clients' goals are kind of the North Star for the process.” -Tony Parisi [20:11]
“I think it’s really key too to understand the nature of your equity.” -Greg Sarian [22:38]
“There’s a lot of different strategies that people can implement to, again, maximize their outcome.” -Kevin Wager [34:19]
What You Will Learn:
- [03:05] Why an owner would decide to sell their company
- [09:01] Where they see the most challenges
- [11:44] Putting a team in place
- [14:17] Creating value vs providing value
- [17:56] Finding the buyers
- [21:37] What pre-transaction planning strategies to consider
- [24:27] What to consider from a tax strategy perspective
- [30:55] Grantor retained annuity trust and spousal lifetime access trust
- [32:18] What executives who works for a public company should consider
- [35:18] What happens post-transaction
- [41:45] Two tax avoidance with the donor advised fund
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Email us: ssp@hightoweradvisors.com
In this episode, Ray Baraldi, Senior Financial Advisor, and Maddie Rice, Investor Relations at Grayscale Investments talk about the cryptocurrency and the digital assets space. Maddie discusses what cryptocurrency is, its store value and investment possibilities and opportunities. She also talks about the products Grayscale offers.
What You Will Learn:
- [02:37] What are digital assets
- [04:21] Four key use cases for cryptocurrency
- [06:21] Risks associated with cryptocurrency
- [07:50] The various types of cap tokens
- [10:32] Grayscale products and the ETF conversation process
- [14:02] How to contact Maddie
- [14:14] Q&A
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Greg Sarian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregsarian
Email us: ssp@hightoweradvisors.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder and Kevin Wager, Senior Finance Advisor and Jackie Himes, Tax Manager at Stephano Slack, share tax smart planning strategies to think about throughout the year to reduce your tax liabilities. They also discuss what changes occurred in 2021 and how it could affect taxpayers in 2022.
What You Will Learn:
- [04:04] Meet Jackie Himes
- [04:30] Tax changes in 2022
- [09:24] The impact of the Build Back Better Plan
- [12:48] Meet Kevin Wager
- [12:58] Ideas to be tax smart with planning
- [23:37] Things to do when there’s a spike in income
- [33:08] 2022 Tax Planning White Paper
- [33:54] Questions from the audience
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Greg Sarian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregsarian
Email us: ssp@hightoweradvisors.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder, Ray Baraldi, Senior Financial Advisor, and Morgan Buswell, Communications Director, discuss seven mistakes to avoid as your company enters a transaction, whether that’s an IPO, a sale, a merger or an acquisition. Listen as they share ideas to consider for a better outcome.
“You want to make sure you’re getting good advice, and the first thing I can’t emphasize strongly enough is start sooner than later.” -Greg Sarian [13:06]
“Running probability forecasting in our opinion is vital and almost the foundation for how you should be thinking of your financial plan.” -Ray Baraldi [28:40]
What You Will Learn:
- [02:26] Why is this topic important now around a potential tax reform
- [06:57] Why it’s important to have and maintain an accurate company valuation
- [08:19] Forms of equity compensations
- [11:40] Risk at entity and personal levels
- [13:30] The value of having a qualified team
- [17:34] Strategies to think about with tax minimization
- [25:46] Importance of having a strong contingency plan in place
- [28:16] Why you should consider multiple outcomes
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Greg Sarian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregsarian
Email us: ssp@hightoweradvisors.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Scott Gabehart, Chief Valuation Officer at BizEquity, about the importance of having a sound and solid business valuation as a business approaches the pre-transaction financial planning process. Scott draws from his more than 30 years of experience in business valuation work to discuss reasons for needing and/or pursuing a business valuation. Scott and Greg also talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the process and/or the need.
What You Will Learn:
- [01:10] Meet Scott
- [01:51] What is Scott’s work like as Chief Valuation Officer
- [03:00] Reasons for needing/wanting a business valuation
- [06:28] What affects the estimate of the value
- [09:08] How the pandemic has changed the process or need for business valuations
- [12:18] Why is a business valuation is important to prepare for a major event
- [16:45] Changes Greg has seen and anticipates with the new administration
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit BizEquity: bizequity.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Michael Poisel, Executive Director of PCI Ventures at University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Center for Innovation. Michael talks about a few mistakes and oversights that founders and executives of early stage companies make while Greg talks about the oversights that individual executives have made at a personal planning level. They both share what to do and ways to avoid them at the entity level.
“If you want to continue to grow your business, then you’re going to need to invest in your business.” -Michael Poisel [04:14]
What You Will Learn:
- [01:17] Meet Michael Poisel
- [01:44] Michael’s best advice when raising early stage capital
- [03:19] A classic mistake on the operating level
- [04:38] Key factors in succeeding and attributes of strong CEOs
- [08:45] A founder’s need to have a constituency plan and personal risk coverage
- [13:44] What’s important about starting a company with the end in mind
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit PCI Ventures: pci.upenn.edu/venturesteam
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Emily Lucking, owner and founder of Power Center Coaching. They discuss how to create the right mindset as a founder or executive to lead and grow their company towards a transaction. Emily shares some of the challenges she has seen founders face during times of growth and her advice for when they hit a roadblock.
“Helping people to remember why they’re here, what the whole company’s mission is, how you’re changing lives can do wonders for your morale.” -Emily Lucking [06:27]
What You Will Learn:
- [01:05] Meet Emily Lucking and what is Power Center Coaching
- [01:55] Some of the biggest challenges founders face during times of growth
- [03:38] Advice for founders when they hit a roadblock through a transaction
- [05:10] How to balance their culture with the growth in revenue
- [06:39] What can lead to a successful outcome
- [08:39] Key issues to have in mind from a personal planning perspective
- [10:33] Why it’s important for executive or founder to know their number
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Power Center Coaching: powercentercoaching.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Jennifer Hartt, Director of Investments, Health & Digital Health at Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Jennifer oversees their life sciences portfolio and has closed over 150 investments. Jennifer talks about key issues to addressing your checklist at both an entity and personal level as you guide your company towards an event.
“Everyone founding a company and going through this should realize they will make mistakes. It’s not a game of perfection, but making sure that you get enough guidance along the way to help avoid some of them is really valuable.” -Jennifer Hartt [05:59]
What You Will Learn:
- [01:31] Best practices in the early stage towards a successful outcome
- [03:47] Some mistakes Jennifer has seen
- [06:13] Catalysts to get a better outcome
- [09:25] Why it’s important to have a strong sense of equity evaluation
- [14:34] The importance for the executive to consider multiple outcomes
- [19:41] Resources for legal questions or to address issues
- [25:28] When to convert to full-time employees
Resources:
Visit our website: sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Ben Franklin Technology Partners: sep.benfranklin.org
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Stephanie Hyde with PE Risk and Wayne Crowther from Odell Studner about risk management while a company moves through an event such as selling the company or going public. They discuss what to think about at the entity level to mitigate, control and manage risks as well as key planning strategies to reduce risks on the individual side.
“It’s really important that you think about having those insurances in place, what they’re going to cost you on an annual basis and then thinking about what it’s going to cost you when you put those policies into run-off at the time of a transaction close.” -Stephanie Hyde [04:18]
What You Will Learn:
- [02:26] Issues to think about before a company goes public
- [04:32] The one-time and ongoing costs when gearing up for a sale
- [06:47] Things to look for in a purchase and sale agreement
- [08:51] What to decide before a company files an IPO
- [11:21] Why have an contingency plan with personal risk management
- [13:31] Where to secure disability insurance coverage
- [15:16] How they advice during the selection of liability limits
Resources:
Visit our website: https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit PE Risk: https://www.pe-risk.com
Visit Wayne Crowther: https://www.odellstudner.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Ray Baraldi, Senior Financial Advisor, about the future of social security and what it means for financial planning.
“This isn’t going to be something that’s really top of mind here coming out of COVID and some other things that we’re going to see a change in the next three to five years. But certainly, in the 10 years or so, I think this is going to become much more talked about and we are likely to see some change there.” -Ray Baraldi [10:28]
What You Will Learn:
- [01:18] Why discuss this topic
- [02:13] How social security has changed
- [04:21] Some of the biggest concerns
- [07:54] How social security could address this shortfall
- [10:44] How to change the thinking about social security
- [13:48] A tool that strategies your financial plan
Resources:
Visit our website: https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
In this episode, Greg Sarian, CEO and Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Marcia Zaruba-O’Connor, CEO and founder of The O'Connor Group, about guiding your team as your company moves towards an event like a sale or initial public offering (IPO). They share some key issues that founders and executives need to think about well in advance of that transition. Listen as they discuss what important things the company should do at an entity level and how to educate the team at a personal level.
“You need to have a good communication plan about what you’re doing, how you’re putting it together and making sure people feel calm and all too.” -Marcia Zaruba-O’Connor [04:50]
What You Will Learn:
- [02:02] Why it’s important to have an HR team in place
- [03:07] Why it helps to have a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) set up prior to the change
- [04:31] How to guide and prepare people
- [05:43] How recruiting change
- [07:58] Key changes to the equity that an executive needs to pay attention to
- [11:42] Changes to benefits and retirement plans
- [17:48] Difference between a traditional IRA vs a Roth IRA
Resources:
Visit our website: https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit The O’Connor Group: https://tocgrp.com
In this episode of the Sarian Strategic Partners Podcast, Greg Sarian, CEO and Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Sarah Djamshidi, President and Managing Partner at Speedshift Advisors, about pre-transaction planning or exit planning. They discuss why a thoughtful plan is key for a successful outcome and some things to consider that will make a difference at the closing table. Sarah also shares some outcomes she has seen helping over 200 companies as an exit planning advisor for almost 20 years.
“Know your end game. And what I mean by that is, at a company level, is ultimately figure out what you want to do with the company.” -Sarah Djamshidi [15:02]
What You Will Learn:
- [02:21] Why it’s important to have direction for your company’s growth
- [05:04] Reasons to have an exit plan
- [07:08] Some bad outcomes for not having plan in place
- [10:31] Positive outcomes for those who embrace a pre-transaction planning process
- [14:39] Why you should know your end game
- [17:26] Tax issues that founders can plan for ahead of time
- [22:02] Gifting and trust strategies to consider before an exit
- [24:42] How they help a business founder determine their valuation
- [27:30] Other ancillary planning issues to consider
Resources:
Visit our website: https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
Visit Speedshift Advisors: https://speedshiftadvisors.com/
In this episode of the Sarian Strategic Partners Podcast, Greg Sarian, CEO and Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners, speaks with Ray Baraldi, Senior Financial Advisor, about the initial public offering (IPO) process. One trend that has occurred despite the COVID-19 pandemic is that a number of companies have gone public with IPOs. Greg and Ray both discuss important things for executives to consider before, during and after their company goes through the process.
“I think the biggest thing on executives’ minds is taxes.” -Ray Baraldi [09:53]
“What we always advise our clients is the best tax planning is done well before the taxable event to control and mitigate those taxes.” -Greg Sarian [10:29]
What You Will Learn:
- [1:50] How a company’s equity ownership could change from going private to public
- [6:09] Issues executives should consider as they plan how thier capital becomes liquidity
- [9:44] Big tax implications
- [13:17] Some estate planning strategies
- [16:17] What executives should think about when diversifying their company stock after an IPO
- [18:42] The importance of forming an advisory team
Resources:
Visit our website: https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com
As the economy continues to recover from the effects of the slowdown of the COVID-19, we are observing our national debt exceed record levels. In a slower growth environment, founders and executives of early stage, growing companies may need to be more thoughtful and resourceful as they position themselves and their companies for a transaction. In this episode of the Sarian Strategic Partners Podcast, Greg Sarian CFP, CEO & Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners speaks with Ken Taormina about pre-transaction strategies to consider during challenging times.
Ken is the President and Founder of Cortland Advisors LLC and was the CEO and Co-Founder of Nablis LLC.
Ken has been the lead architect in the creation, development, and growth of companies in the professional services areas of global software services, corporate strategy, enterprise information systems, and digital Industrial Internet organizations and teams. He has proven expertise in digital engineering, enterprise, m2m, connected vehicle, mobility, cloud, and data analytics leading global organizations through successful transformation, growth and change.
Starting with their own experiences, they end up giving powerful tips and tricks to sell your company.
Tune in Now!
Conversation Highlights:
[01:55] Planning to sell? (Some important things to consider)
[04:14] The need to hire a law firm.
[06:48] CAUTION : Do not make these mistakes.
[10:21] Make yourself stand out among the crowd. But how?
[12:09] Have you ever thought about the net outcome of your company?
[14:18] Marrying tax planning with philanthropy!
[15:06] Issues with partner/family-owned company.
[19:22] A lack of time?
Remarkable Quotes:
"Selling your company, sell it at the right time!"
"Now is not the time unless you absolutely have to."
Special Reminder
Make sure to check out Cortland Advisors.
Reach out to Ken:
- On LinkedIn
- At Cortland Advisors
If you enjoyed this episode of the Sarian Strategic Partners Podcast, then make sure to Subscribe to our podcast.
Connect with Greg on LinkedIn and check us out at Sarian Strategic Partners.
In this episode, Greg Sarian CFP, CEO & Founder at Sarian Strategic Partners speaks with Lisa McLemore CPA, Tax Principal at RSM about the potential increase in tax rates and how that will affect tax planning for both executives and business owners. She shares some tips on how business owners should plan their taxes for 2020 and forward.
Listen in to learn some strategies on how to minimize tax impact for both people building first-generation wealth or multigenerational wealth.
What you will learn:
- [1:39] How people are going to accelerate tax income while holding deductions for 2021 and forward when the rates move.
- [4:52] The importance of business owners holding losses into 2021 which may be valuable in the future.
- [7:47] The value of using evaluation professionals for those looking to monetize and pursue gifting strategies.
- [8:19] Why this is the best time to move significant money and wealth without adverse tax impactors.
- [10:50] How people are starting to think of more than wealth management and looking more into the lowest state tax rates in a bid to maintain their wealth.
Contact Us
https://sarian.hightoweradvisors.com/