Making a plan in advance, naming the people or organizations you want to receive the things you own after you die, and taking steps now to make carrying out your plan as easy as possible later

Typically refers to companies with an enterprise value between $250 million and $1 billion

A roll-up merger is when a private equity firm acquires several companies in the same industry and merges them to achieve economies of scale. By creating a larger, more efficient entity, these mergers aim to boost market presence, cut costs, and potentially raise profitability.

Seller notes are loans from the selling owner to be paid back by the business over time, and which offer some tax advantages, and may pay higher interest than a traditional loan.

A county is a primary administrative and political subdivision of a state, serving as an intermediate level of local government between the state and smaller units such as municipalities. Counties typically provide regional services including law enforcement, courts, public records, and road maintenance across both incorporated and unincorporated areas. While a municipality (such as a city, town, or village) is a self-governing local entity usually contained within a county's boundaries, the two serve different governmental functions—municipalities handle urban services for their residents, whereas counties address broader regional needs. In some cases, a city and county may consolidate into a single jurisdiction, as seen in San Francisco or Denver, but more commonly they operate as distinct layers of government with overlapping geographic territory.

QV allows participants to allocate credits among choices according to their preferences, with votes calculated quadratically. This means that more passionate preferences are weighted higher, which can protect minority interests and balance power dynamics within communities.

A cash flow statement provides a detailed overview of how cash moves in and out of a company, crucial for assessing its financial health and operational efficiency. The CFS focuses on cash flow from operating, investing, and financing activities.

Rollover Equity refers to the exit proceeds reinvested by a seller into the equity of the newly formed entity post-acquisition. An equity rollover is therefore designed to align the economic incentives among participants in the post-transaction entity.

Pertaining to unique EO considerations for businesses in Iowa such as tax or other incentives

A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

Equity is what belongs to the owner(s) of a firm and theoretically includes all that the owners have invested in the company over time, including funds used to start the company, annual earnings that have been retained in the company over the years, and any ongoing investments that have been made to replace and improve the organization's assets. It also sometimes includes intangible assets such as brand name or good will.

The inventory turnover ratio gauges a company's inventory management efficiency by showing how often it sells and replenishes inventory annually. It's calculated by dividing the cost of goods sold by the average inventory value, providing insights into operational efficiency.

Reg D crowdfunding, under Regulation D of the SEC, allows companies to raise funds from accredited investors through private placements without registering with the SEC. Favored for its flexibility and lack of ceiling on funds raised, making it popular for private placements

also known as a union, labor organization, or trade union, is a group of employees in a certain trade, industry, or corporation that organize to improve their salary, benefits, and working conditions.

Any fees or dues required in order for a company to become EO, e.g., the cost of a formal 3rd party valuation.

The first certification for small business exit planners, specifically tailored to the needs of employee ownership sales. Created/certified by Project Equity.

A Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), also known as a blank check company, is formed solely to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) for the purpose of acquiring an existing company.

The ability of a business to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from disruptive events or conditions, in order to maintain or restore an acceptable level of functioning and performance.

Money owed for a good or service purchased on credit. Accounts payable are a current liability for a company and are expected to be paid within a short amount of time.

A person who records financial transactions. Bookkeepers maintain financial records, noting expenses or revenue, and determining how much one owes or is owed. Bookkeeping is related to, but distinct from, accounting. While accountants create reports based on financial information, bookkeepers record the information itself.

Refers to any EO transaction completed without the use of debt, such as nonleveraged ESOPs in which the sponsoring company contributes cash to the ESOP, which is used by the ESOP to purchase the employer's stock, or the employer contributes its stock directly to the ESOP

The primary responsibility of ESOP fiduciaries is to run the plan solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and paying plan expenses. Fiduciaries must act prudently.

An income statement, also known as a profit and loss statement, is a crucial financial document that summarizes a company's financial performance over a specific period. It is part of the trio of essential financial statements, alongside the balance sheet and cash flow statement.

A grantor, or grant-making organization, is an entity—such as a foundation, government agency, or corporation—that provides financial awards (grants) to individuals, organizations, or projects without expectation of repayment.

a rigorous systems approach to the future that helps people find agency in their own expertise to be better prepared in uncertain times

The cash flow-to-debt ratio shows if a company can repay debt with operational cash flow. It's calculated by dividing the cash flow by total debt. This ratio indicates a company's debt management efficiency, but full repayment from cash flow alone is often unrealistic.

A warrant is a financial instrument that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specific number of shares at a predetermined price (strike price) by a certain time (exercise date).

CDFI Fund is an independent agency administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Fractional ownership allows investors to purchase a share of an asset rather than the entire cost, making it accessible for those with limited capital or seeking diversification.

the aggregate market value of a company represented in a dollar amount