Many business owners focus on building wealth (accumulation) but neglect the crucial final phase: wealth distribution. In this podcast, expert wealth advisor Scott Chelberg, President of Retirement Solutions , dives deep into exit planning which is really just strategic planning for business owners who are nearing retirement. Learn the essential steps to maximize your business’s value and ensure you have the income to support your ideal retirement lifestyle. Scott explains how to quarterback your financial team, coordinate your experts, and why you need to think about taxes now—including how your money will be taxed when it comes out of your investments. What you will learn:
- Why exit planning should start 5 years or more before you plan to sell.
- The difference between a typical investment advisor (accumulation) and a true wealth advisor (holistic planning and distribution).
- The 4 C’s of value that drive a business’s worth, beyond just the balance sheet.
- How to structure your income distribution into different ‘silos’ to manage risk and tax burden in retirement.
Ryan Smith, Principal and Founder of ThinkSBA and host of the My SBA Loan Pro Podcast, sits down to share his journey from a banking background to becoming a highly successful, niche SBA loan broker. In this deep-dive, Ryan discusses how a single declined loan was the catalyst for starting his own business, why he chose to focus exclusively on SBA loans, and the massive advantages of being a specialized expert versus a generalist. He also offers invaluable advice for small business owners and acquisition entrepreneurs on navigating the complex world of SBA lending and how he ensures his clients get the lowest interest rate and best terms for which they qualify.
Key Takeaways:
• The moment a single loan decline led to the creation of ThinkSBA.
• Why niching down from “Holistic Lending” to SBA was the crucial decision for success.
• The advantage of being the “Speedboat” that can pivot quickly, unlike the “Titanic” big banks.
• How his personal experience of acquiring a business and signing a $5 million SBA loan adds unmatched credibility.
• Why the market is shifting from real estate to business acquisition and franchising.
• Powerful strategies for using the SBA 504 loan program to buy real estate with zero capital injection.
• The future role of AI in enhancing analysis to free up human talent for revenue-generation.
• The importance of a client-first culture and why bigger isn’t always better for service quality. If you’re looking to finance a business acquisition, buy commercial real estate, or just want expert advice on SBA lending, this episode is a must-watch!
Key Chapters:
• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:47 – What Inspired You?
• 1:51 – Defining the Niche
• 4:21 – Traditional Lending Problem
• 8:38 – Mission Definition
• 11:39 – Biggest Transition Challenges
• 14:41 – Problem Solving
• 18:23 – Loan Volume Products
• 19:54 – Differentiation
• 22:42 – Borrower Profile
• 27:35 – SBA Misconceptions
• 29:56 – Lending Trends
• 32:00 – Capital Allocation
• 34:03 – Pre-Qualification Timing
• 36:58 – Lessons Learned
• 39:56 – Future Landscape
More ThinkSBA Resources
https://calendly.com/thinksba – Schedule Call
https://g.page/thinksba – Google Business Page & Reviews
https://thinksba.com/faq – Frequently Asked Questions
https://mysbaloanpro.com – My SBA Loan Pro Podcast
http://youtube.com/@thinksba – YouTube Channel
Securing the Lowest Rate & Best Terms on Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate