Be the Preferred Choice

Innovative Approaches to Business Brokerage

In today’s competitive landscape, attracting and retaining clients as a business broker or M&A strategist requires more than just buy-sell advice or investment strategies; it involves becoming a strategic partner in clients' successes. Business owners often find choosing the right broker overwhelming, so standing out necessitates a shift from conventional valuations and advice to a holistic, client-centered approach.

By understanding clients' motivations, family dynamics, and emotional influences, brokers can enhance their advisory role and transform the client experience. Leveraging resources like ISPA helps brokers evolve from a commoditized service provider to a trusted advisor, aligning strategically with clients to achieve their personal and business goals.

Drive Client Loyalty and Practice Growth

Considering the sale of a business can be emotionally charged, with owners often feeling pressured by market conditions, political or manufacturer/franchisor mandates, or uncertainty about how to transition their business to family or trusted leaders. As a sell-side business broker, guiding owners through the complex decision-making process of whether to sell or keep their business provides immense value. This approach helps minimize indecision and prevents last-minute deal cancellations due to emotional readiness

Today’s business owners seek more than basic buy-sell advice; they want trusted advisors who understand their aspirations and motivations. Adopting a holistic approach, informed by the Succession Matrix, allows brokers to offer comprehensive services that address both immediate needs and long-term goals, redefining the advisory experience.

VALUE-ADD SERVICE
OFFERING

Adopting a holistic planning approach positions business brokers and M&A specialists as strategic partners for clients whose businesses are vital assets and passions. Using the Succession Matrix methodology, brokers harmonize valuations, market analysis, and buy-sell advice with personal and business strategies.

By leveraging ISPA programs, they offer enhanced services such as portfolio management, growth strategies, and seamless transition guidance, ensuring growth, wealth preservation, and client satisfaction.

NAVIGATING FAMILY &
BUSINESS ISSUES

Navigate complex family and business dynamics that can hinder deal closures with tailored strategies designed to align expectations. With expertise in strategic advisory and succession planning, brokers provide deep insights into pressures impacting family relationships and business partnerships, offering guidelines to alleviate tensions and enhance opportunities for successful transactions.

CLIENT LOYALTY &
REFERRALS

Generate referrals from satisfied clients and professionals by comprehensively understanding their business needs and personal motivations. By fulfilling their business and personal aspirations, you not only foster loyalty but also create new opportunities for growth.

Enhance Your Team's Potential with ISPA®

Transform Technicians Into Advisors

In today’s competitive job market, attracting top-tier talent is challenging. ISPA® resources provide a robust recruitment and advisory development program for junior associates. These resources offer a clear pathway for growth, enhancing skills beyond basic buy-sell advice and fostering an advisory mindset. By utilizing ISPA® resources, firms can develop skilled professionals from the ground up and differentiate themselves as leading experts for business owners.

Comprehensive Advisory Development Resources:

Equip your team with:

Marketing and Sales Guides: Attract and retain clients effortlessly.
Implementation Tools: Simplify and streamline the advisory process.
Advisory Strategies: Tailored strategies for business advisory, growth & succession planning.

Elevate your firm with ISPA®, differentiate your practice, attract top talent, and provide a clear development path. Integrate our resources to become a leader in business advisory. Join ISPA® and watch your firm thrive.

ISPA Advanced Planning Tools

Maximize Practice Growth

In a rapidly evolving professional landscape, the International Succession Planning Association (ISPA®) is redefining business advisory for brokers.

Join ISPA® to access exceptional opportunities with our Certified Succession Planner™ (CSP™) credential and the innovative Succession Planning Assessment™ (SPA™). Elevate your advisory practice, boost client satisfaction, and drive revenue growth. Generate consulting fees, client loyalty and referrals with our extensive resources, including marketing and sales guides and planning tools across the Succession Matrix®.

Incorporating ISPA’s advanced planning tools into your practice establishes you as a forward-thinking advisor committed to your clients' long-term success. Our specialized resources expand your perspective and equip you with a process-driven approach, enhancing the value you deliver. Join ISPA® today and redefine the future of business advisory.

Your Gateway to
Specialized Expertise

Position yourself as an industry authority by exploring the unique benefits of our CSP credential. Elevate your credibility, solidify your expertise, and become the go-to expert in the competitive market of succession planning.

Beyond Certification, An Analytical Tool on Steroids

Uncover the depth of our SPA™, an analytical powerhouse that goes beyond certification. Foster meaningful client engagement and gain actionable insights.

Not Just Tools, a
Strategic Partnership

Experience the immediate impact of joining ISPA® through the Succession News & Applied Practice Resources. Hit the ground running, positioning yourself as a highly experienced value-add succession planner.

Strategies for Practice Growth & Stability

To truly stand out as a business broker or M&A strategist, embracing a proactive, consultative mindset is essential. Relying solely on waiting for owners to call when they decide to sell is a high-risk, long sales cycle. At any moment, a referral from a friend or another advisor can undermine your efforts. By anticipating challenges and guiding business owners through emotional, family, and interpersonal dynamics, you provide proactive solutions and empower clients to make the best choices without feeling cornered.

In today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, brokers who offer forward-thinking, comprehensive services not only mitigate risks but also discover new growth opportunities. By shaping industry trends rather than just following them, these brokers build lasting trust and loyalty, making a profound impact on their clients' lives and legacies. Join ISPA® to transform your approach and become a leading force in business advisory.

Join the ISPA Today!

Ready to revolutionize your approach to business brokerage? Join ISPA® today and embark on a transformative journey.

Elevate your practice, distinguish yourself in the market, and achieve unparalleled success in the dynamic landscape of business advisory and succession planning. Succession planning has never been this transformative—seize the opportunity and revolutionize your future as a member of the International Succession Planning Association®.

Key Benefits of Leveraging ISPA Resources:

Fortify client relationships for enhanced retention and satisfaction.
Catalyst for revenue growth through various avenues.
Differentiate yourself, offering a unique value proposition to clients.

The Benefits Are Tranformative

Transform Your Buy-Sell Practice with Business Advisory Excellence

Are You Looking to Grow Your Practice?

Check Out These Other Free Downloads

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Get this free resource of 12 powerful questions you can ask to identify client motivations and influence business owners to take action. Grow your business by having better discussions with prospects and clients immediately.

20 YEAR
CASE STUDY

Want to get into the specifics of what it takes in succession planning? Gain insights into the inner-workings of a real long-term family business succession planning case study and a business engagement that was worth over $75,000 per year.

3 STRATEGIC PROJECT EXAMPLES

You need to have a plan. We outlined three of our best examples of projects you could learn from and potentially apply in your business. From objective to successful outcome, these family business examples help you build strategies.

"The most important item I gained by obtaining training in succession planning was an understanding of the legion of drivers that impact a successful succession plan. It gave me the ability to understand my clients’ motives better (which in many instances are not fully articulated). I did not pursue succession planning as a separate business endeavor but used the knowledge to assist my clients in engaging professionals that could help them move forward.

New business and retaining clients are not an issue. Influencing clients to act was. The more I know about building, operating, valuing, protecting, and eventually passing on a business, the better I can serve my clients in achieving their goals."

Leon M Rogers, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFE, CVA, CSP
Managing Member, Tetrick and Bartlett

JOIN US ON LINKED IN

This group is dedicated to connecting advisors, consultants & counselors who are or have an interest in working in the business succession planning field to globally promote the key concepts and to help the succession planning community learn, leverage resources & outperform. This group will promote an environment for sharing ideas, leveraging resources and will provide access to cutting edge professional development and planning resources.

VISIT THE LINKEDIN GROUP

"I was always trying to find better ways to speak with business owners about succession planning. This training helped me transition from selling to asking better questions. This also enhanced my listening skills and I pivoted to teaching/consulting to their issues. I was better able to help privately held businesses move through the process of Succession, Exit and Transition.

The majority of a business owners wealth is locked in their business. To help them move, spend, transfer and distribute their wealth you need to be able to address and serve them where they need you. Our future is dependent of the continued success and growth of our Entrepreneurs."

Michael C. Valdez, AIF, CLU
Founder & President- Business Transition Council

SHOULD YOU JOIN THE ISPA MEMBERSHIP?

Succession planning is a major priority for business owners right now. Are you prepared to help your clients navigate their long term needs as effefictively as possible?

LEARN MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

What will the online learning experience be like?

We know that learning online can be tough sometimes, which is why we brought in experts in virtual training to help us build more than just videos over powerpoint. You will have a wide variety of methods to learn including videos, interactive lessons, quizzes, and surveys. Our goal is to ensure that you grow through the learning, not just go through it.

Can I learn at my own pace?

The Certified Succession Planner program will be delivered on-demand and as a continuous enrollment model which means you can enroll any time and learn at your convenience.

Who is providing the training?

Training has been developed by the Authors and Contributors of numerous succession planning textbooks and training programs. Additionally, the ISPA Board has contributed feedback, time, and resources to help ensure the success of the programs. Learn more about the ISPA and team here.

Are there assignments or deliverables?

The program does not have any deliverables for you to complete and submit directly to the ISPA, however as you go along, you will need to demonstrate your comprehension through ongoing competency tests which will allow you to progress further.

What is the expected time commitment?

You can expect that each module should take you approximately 1-2 weeks to complete, depending on the time you put in. We suggest you commit to 1-2 hours per day and around 10-15 hours per module in total. We also understand that each learner will work at their own pace.

What are the requirements to join the program?

The topics covered in the Certified Succession Planner program are not entry-level, meaning that we recommend that you have a combination of both professional and educational experience in executive coaching, law, finance, or accounting.

What technology do I need to access my materials?

The CSP program has been built on a platform that is both desktop and mobile friendly, so most laptops and desktop computers will be sufficient to work through the materials. While you may access the content easily on your mobile device, we do recommend a desktop computer. You also might want to use a printer to print out the supplemental resources like textbooks, guides, workbooks, etc.

Is there support if I get stuck?

Anytime you need help, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and we will do our best to work with you on your challenges.

BEYOND BUY-SELL