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5 Key Traits to Look for in a Financial Advisor

Choosing the right financial advisor is a decision that carries significant weight. Many businesses have felt the strain of financial stress, whether due to unexpected slow-downs, supply chain disruptions, or rapid growth. If you find yourself in such a situation, you might be urged or required to seek professional help. But how do you know who to choose? By cost? By personality? What qualities should you prioritize? It’s challenging to make the right choice if you’ve never faced this situation before and the stakes are high.

 

The 5 Qualities


Core Values

A good financial advisor devises strategies to maximize the value of a company and communicates these strategies clearly to each stakeholder. This proactive approach minimizes unnecessary conflicts, saving time and money that can be better spent on value-creating activities. When evaluating potential advisors, inquire about their experience with and approach to various stakeholders, such as vendors, customers, employees, and lenders/investors. Ensure their values align with yours.

Experience

Navigating financial challenges involves more than just financial models and analysis. A reputable financial advisory firm should have a wide range of business competencies and a proven track record of successfully guiding businesses through challenges similar to yours. Ask potential advisors about their experience with situations like yours and request references. Additionally, a team with real-world experience can empathize with your challenges and develop the best path forward. Make sure to ask about the experience of the individuals who will be working on your project.

Capacity

Ensure your advisor has the capacity to support your business within your required timeframe. Clearly articulate your expectations and request a written scope of work and timeline. Ask how they would handle an accelerated timeline or an expanded scope and whether any additional resources would be brought in outside of the advisory firm’s normal staff. Confirm their approach to resource management and how they prioritize client needs to ensure you receive the attention and support necessary for success.

Ability to Listen and Understand

A financial advisor’s ability to listen and understand your needs is crucial. They should be willing to listen to the issues you are facing and then develop a comprehensive plan to address these issues. Do they ask probing questions and listen to your answers? Do they communicate in a way that is easy to understand and relatable? An advisor who listens well can tailor their strategies to your specific circumstances and simplify complex financial concepts, ensuring you are fully informed and confident in the decisions being made.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

You need a financial advisor who can frame issues within the broader context of your operations and mission. What other issues are present? What sub-issues exist? What are your goals? How will the issues impact other stakeholders? Your advisor should ask questions that demonstrate a focus on overall business success, not just immediate problem-solving. By seeing the bigger picture, an advisor can identify potential risks and opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked, providing a holistic approach to navigating financial challenges and driving sustainable growth.

 

Choosing the right financial advisor can be daunting, but remembering these five qualities can help you select an advisor who best represents your interests and aligns with your core values.

 

At DWH, we understand that every business faces performance challenges at some point. You are not alone. We’re here to help. Reach out to us for a conversation on how we can assist you in thriving, not just surviving.

 


This post is from the DWH archives
Original content written by Heather Gardner
hgardner@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn
Edits made by Jordan Gunn

All companies experience change.
Plan for it with us.

 

 

If you found this topic interesting, our strategic partner, JACO Advisory Group published content you may find relevant as well: 4 Qualities to Look For When Selecting a Financial Advisor to Super Charge Your Business Results

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The DWH Business Assessment Tool Explained

At DWH, we believe that informed decision-making is the cornerstone of business success. Our comprehensive business assessment process is one of our most effective tools in this endeavor. Frequently, clients ask us about this process and its benefits. Here’s an in-depth look at what it entails and how it can help your business thrive.

A Deep Dive into Your Business

Our business assessment is designed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring a holistic understanding of your operations. This meticulous process allows us to identify gaps between your current practices and industry best practices. We then develop tailored recommendations to bridge these gaps, driving your business toward excellence. Here’s how we do it:

Comprehensive Information Request: We begin with a detailed request for information, covering various aspects of your business operations, finances, leadership, and market positioning to ensure we have a thorough understanding of your current state.

In-depth Interviews: Our team conducts interviews with key leaders and stakeholders to gather qualitative insights into leadership dynamics, strategic vision, and organizational culture, providing a deeper context for our assessment.

On-site Observations: Our team visits your business premises to observe operations firsthand, focusing on four critical areas: Leadership, Operations, Finance and Management Information, and Sales and Marketing.

Actionable Insights for Immediate Impact

Upon completing the assessment, we provide you with a comprehensive report that outlines:

Identified Gaps: We offer tailored, actionable strategies to address identified gaps, including operational enhancements, leadership development, financial optimization, and improved sales and marketing tactics.

Recommendations: We offer tailored, actionable strategies to address identified gaps, including operational enhancements, leadership development, financial optimization, and improved sales and marketing tactics.

Prioritized Action Plan: We provide a step-by-step roadmap prioritizing actions based on impact, helping you focus on critical tasks to achieve efficient progress and sustainable growth.

We present this report in a collaborative session with your leadership team, ensuring clarity and understanding. Our goal is to empower you to take decisive action, and we often assist with implementing the recommendations. If specialized expertise is needed, we help you find the right providers to ensure seamless execution.

Driving Value Across Business Stages

Our business assessment tool is versatile and can significantly impact businesses at various stages of their lifecycle:

Distressed Businesses: Our assessment identifies critical risks for companies in financial or operational distress and prioritizes actions to stabilize and improve performance.

Rapid Growth: Businesses poised for growth benefit from our assessment by identifying potential challenges and validating financial projections to ensure sustainable expansion.

Succession Planning: Transitioning leadership is a pivotal moment. Our assessment helps outline a clear path forward, addressing risks and ensuring the business can support the succession plan. For more insights, see our post, Succession Planning: Preserving Company Legacy.

Preparing for Transaction: When preparing for a sale or acquisition, our assessment enhances business value by improving cash flow and reducing risks, making the business more attractive to potential buyers.

Why Choose DWH?

At DWH, we understand that every business is unique. Our approach is rooted in our core philosophy: every stakeholder matters. We listen, analyze, and provide customized solutions that align with your business’s specific needs. For nearly 15 years, we have been helping companies navigate change, improve performance, and achieve their goals.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how our business assessment tool can help your business, please feel free to reach out. At DWH, we’re here to guide you toward your best value, outcomes, and opportunities. Change happens – plan for it, with us.

 


This post was written by Heather Gardner
hgardner@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

 

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A Case Study in Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Culture

The Situation:

DWH partnered with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), a federally recognized tribe in western Michigan, to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture among its members. Recognizing the untapped potential within the community, NHBP leadership sought to empower its members with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to launch, acquire, or scale small businesses.

The Solution:

Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all solution, DWH deployed a nuanced, multi-phase approach tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of NHBP members:

  • Needs Assessment: We designed and circulated a comprehensive survey to gauge interest, evaluate current skill levels, and understand the entrepreneurial dreams of the community members.
  • Curriculum Design: Using the survey insights, we crafted a targeted curriculum complete with topics and training materials that addressed the unique needs of the tribe.
  • Educational Bootcamps: Quarterly full-day workshops were planned, offering structured learning experiences and opportunities for attendees to provide feedback.
  • Personalized Mentoring: For those who had successfully completed the educational sessions, in-depth mentoring opportunities were made available to provide hands-on experience and guidance.

The Outcome:

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, disrupting our planned in-person educational boot camps. Undeterred, we swiftly transitioned to a remote learning model. Despite this pivot, we successfully conducted extensive surveys that gave NHBP an actionable roadmap to harness entrepreneurial talents and interests within their community. All remote training sessions were recorded and archived, serving as a lasting educational resource for the tribe.

 

 

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The 2023 Outlook + Strengthening Your Business

Recession is on everyone’s mind these days. The current economic climate, characterized by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and general economic uncertainty, has raised concerns among business owners and individuals. As an advisor to numerous business owners, I am often approached to provide insight into the situation. However, given the scarcity of available data and the dynamic nature of the situation, making accurate predictions can be challenging. Rather than share our predictions, we would like to provide practical advice to help business owners prepare their companies for economic uncertainty and navigate any potential financial distress. Here are seven steps to build resiliency and weather any storm that may come your way:

1. Communicate with Your Stakeholders

In times of uncertainty, the quality of your relationships with key stakeholders can make all the difference. Do you know who your key stakeholders are?  What do you need from them?  What do they need from you?  Some examples are listed below with questions to ask:

  • Customers and Vendors – Do you understand their pain points? Are you aware of how they build their schedules?  What their capacity is?  Do you have relationships with multiple decision-makers?  Do you understand their financial strength?  Do you regularly meet with them to touch base?
  • Employees – Do your employees understand the vision of your company and its goals? Are they aware of how their actions have an impact on those goals?  Do you have a rhythm of communication with employees?  Do you use key metrics to communicate performance?  Do you conduct regular employee surveys?
  • Bank – Do you meet regularly with your banker and their team? Are you proactive in telling them about any potential changes to the business?  Do you regularly update them on any changes to your financial forecast?  Remember, your bank is a partner, and you want to keep them informed.  You cannot over-communicate with them.  To read more about managing your relationship with your bank, see our post, How to Engage a Key Stakeholder: Your Bank.

2. Build a Strong Leadership Team

Having the right team in place is critical, especially during a challenging situation like a recession. Ensure that your leadership team understands their roles and responsibilities, is held accountable, and has bought into the company’s vision and goals. In one of our previous blogs, Effective Leadership In a Crisis, we discuss how your response in turbulent times will define you as a leader.

3. Utilize a Robust 13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting Model

Understanding your cash flow is crucial in times of economic uncertainty. In one of our previous blog posts, How to Preserve and Improve Liquidity, we discuss how a strong cash flow forecasting model (CFFM) will help you accomplish these primary objectives:

  • Predict cash flow and collateral week over week for at least the next 90 days.
  • Improve decision-making at the transaction level.
  • Improve communication with key internal and external stakeholders.

4. Incorporate Scenario Planning and a Rolling 24-Month Forecast

A rolling 24-month forecast model that includes a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows can help you run scenarios and see the impact of various factors on your business. By incorporating covenant calculations, you can forecast any potential compliance issues with your bank. The models should be constructed so you can run scenarios (lower sales, higher costs, extended terms, etc.) and see the impact. For more information, see our previous blog post, Business Resiliency Through Scenario Planning.

5. Understand Your Cost and Pricing Structures and Review Regularly

Many businesses do not have a process in place for regularly reviewing costing and pricing data, identifying opportunities for improvement, making those improvements, measuring the impact, and repeating. With all the disruption in the supply chain, increase in labor costs, and inflationary pressures it is critical that you truly understand the cost to produce goods or provide services and that you are regularly working to reduce these costs. Additionally, you must ensure that you are capturing cost increases and passing them on to customers when appropriate. Be sure to look at our blog about Understanding Your Cash Conversion Cycle for more info.

6. Look for Opportunities

Change creates opportunities. This may be in the form of the opportunity to acquire a competitor or supplier. It could be discounted equipment or employees that become available when another business is struggling. It could be increased volumes when another supplier can’t meet their obligations to a customer.  Whatever the opportunity, you want to make sure that you are correctly positioned with the staff and resources to pursue these opportunities.  For more information on distressed investing, view our webinar on Key Considerations for Purchasing Distressed Assets.

7. Don’t Wait to Ask for Help

Finally, make sure you’re not waiting to ask for help with any of the items above or other challenges you may have in your business. Lean on your advisors and business network for help preparing for the challenges that might lie ahead. It’s essential to remember that these steps are not just for preparing for a recession; they are sound business practices that can help your company to thrive in any economic climate. By focusing on strengthening your business fundamentals and taking a proactive approach to managing risk, you can set your business up for long-term success.

 

As a group of financial and business professionals, DWH offers expertise and support so companies can embrace change for the better. Built on a core philosophy that every stakeholder matters, we listen to those who shape a business and guide that business to its best value, outcomes, and opportunities.

 


This post was written by Ben Borisch
bborisch@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

All companies experience change.
Plan for it with us.

 

 

 

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Leading with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Successful leaders are undertaking initiatives to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within their organization to assess company culture, structures, practices, and policies – in particular, ones that create bias and an uneven playing field capable of causing damage to organizational health and performance.  The need for diverse talent in the workplace is evident with a clear correlation between DEI practices and organizational effectiveness.  Now, more than ever, it is necessary for executives to develop a shared vision, create learning environments, and embrace these initiatives – both for the sake of ethics and because this is what it will take to compete in the future.  Let’s discover more about DEI and why it is important to an organization’s health.

What is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?   

  1. Diversity is about the presence of difference within a group. This is where differences of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender/gender identity, and religion should be considered for their presence at all levels within the organization.
  2. Equity is all about ensuring equal access to the same opportunities. This is the proverbial “equal playing field” and where barriers to opportunities or resources need to be eliminated. In order to achieve a fairer workplace, it is essential to observe unconscious bias in policies, practices, structures, and resources.
  3. Inclusion is about cultivating a culture that invites and encourages the feeling of being welcomed, valued, and incorporated into the workplace. Inclusion can be more difficult to address because the overall culture of the organization largely determines it. This means that discovering the root causes behind a lack of inclusion can be harder to pinpoint. 

3 Reasons Why Companies Should Embrace DEI 

Among the many reasons to address the issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (outside of the ethical perspective that it is the right thing to do) there are three that stand out:  

  1. “War for Talent in the Workplace” – There is now, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a war for talent in the workplace.  This has only been reinforced during the post-Covid “Great Resignation”.  DEI programs address bringing more diverse talented employees into the organization while also increasing retention as it makes it a more attractive place to contribute to and grow in.  A high performer is more likely to select an organization that has an aggressive DEI program and is more likely to stay because that program allows for them to make a significant difference and values their development.
  2. “Diverse Organizations Outperform Peer Organizations” – There is ample evidence that more diverse organizations outperform similar, but less diverse organizations.  A recent McKinsey study found that diverse organizations outperform industry averages by 33%.  This Is because those organizations that can take advantage of diverse teams will have insights and opinions with that are more accurate and nuanced to the environment than ones from a more uniform perspective.  In addition, teams that can take advantage of diverse knowledge and experience are more innovative and creative as their diverse viewpoints help them come at problems and solutions from different perspectives.  Clearly, organizations that serve ever wider and more diverse consumers will be less likely to understand their customers’ needs and perspectives if those same demographics are not present in the organization serving them.
  3. “Outside Expectations“ – There is mounting pressure for reporting diversity numbers and DEI programs with mandatory Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) reporting for the SEC.  In addition, activist investors are also demanding that organizations make significant progress in addressing inequity and lack of diversity in their investments.  There is also evidence that consumers are increasingly making buying decisions based on issues such as commitment to sustainability and equity. 

What should DEI efforts consist of?   

Diversity is perhaps the easiest concept to understand and measure as it can be accomplished by surveying the organization. Race and gender are typically easier to measure, whereas traits like identity can be more difficult, requiring a more nuanced approach with involvement from the broader organization (most importantly by those who are in those categories). Typically, initiatives include at least some of the following: 

  • Key Metrics – Identification of where they are on key metrics such as employee diversity, retention, representation in key leadership positions, and defining what they intend to achieve by instituting a program. 
  • Training – Global training on unconscious bias and its impacts on relationships, participation, and performance serves as a baseline for further efforts. 
  • Policies and Procedures – An assessment of policies and practices in the organization which might provide barriers for recruiting and retention, inclusion, and creating an unequal playing field should be conducted and addressed. 
  • Mentorship and Sponsorship – Another key element is the creation of mentorship programs that attend to the particular barriers that diverse employees face, including a special emphasis on diversity in high-potential programs. Sponsorship Is advocacy for Individuals to be Included In opportunities to gain experience and visibility. 
  • C-Suite Positions – A focus on ensuring a presence of diversity in the C-Suite and Board of a company is necessary from the start to show commitment and provide advocacy for the program.

Culture is Key 

A genuinely successful DEI program not only hinges on the design of the initiatives but on the culture that it is embedded in. Cultures emphasizing learning and growth far outpace organizations emphasizing authority, control, rules and tradition.  Leaders need to develop a shared vision to be a “learning organization” that provides the space to understand and accept the realities of the current state, then commit to finding avenues to change toward that vision.  The CEO and executive team have the most influence over changing aspects of the organizational culture. Truly, the executive leader must commit to exemplifying the change that is desired for the organization. Changing the culture is a long-term effort that demands that the Board support it and the leadership team must be willing to both embody the change and provide the Initiative to enact It. 

In Conclusion 

It is the primary duty of the leadership of any organization to create an overall safe, welcoming workplace environment for those of all races, creeds, identities, and ethnicities where everyone’s contribution is appreciated and promoted.  To do this the CEO and senior leadership will need to take that intention and do the hard work of actualizing this by uncovering implicit bias in practices, structures, and allocation of resources and create the platform for all to provide their contribution.  Forward-thinking leadership is now taking up this challenge and leading the charge. 

 


This post was written by Jeff Wyatt
jwyatt@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

All companies experience change.
Plan for it with us.

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Understanding Your Cash Conversion Cycle

Group of financial analysts

CCC: What Is It?

The Cash Conversion Cycle (“CCC”) is an important metric used to determine the number of days it takes a company to convert cash outflows (purchase of inventory, manufacturing expenses, etc.) into cash inflows (collections of receivables).  The longer a company’s CCC, the more working capital it will need to fund operations.  This metric is especially important when a company is evaluating the working capital needed to fund expansions, new projects, or growth.

How Is It Measured?

There are three components of the CCC. They include Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO), Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and Days Payable Outstanding (DPO). The formulas for determining these are below:

  • DIO = (Average Inventory on Hand / Cost of Goods Sold) X Days in the Period
  • DSO = (Average Accounts Receivable / Revenue) X Days in the Period
  • DPO = (Average Accounts Payable / Cost of Goods Sold) X Days in the Period

Days in the Period are determined by what information you are using to do your calculation. For example, if you were measuring your CCC using numbers that reflected an entire year, the period would be 365 days. If you were measuring just a month, the period would be 30 days. Once you have determined your DIO, DSO, and DPO, the formula for your CCC is:

CCC = DIO + DSO – DPO

How Can I Improve My CCC?

It all starts with understanding your current state. What is the first thing you do when you are about to embark on a new journey? You look at a map and figure out where you are relative to where you want to be. You will never be able to measure progress if you do not know your starting point. Calculate the CCC for your company using the most recent financial data and the formulas provided earlier. This is your, “You Are Here,” marker.

Can you recall a time in your company’s history when cash was NOT tight?  What was the CCC leading up to and during that period? How does that compare to your current CCC? How does your CCC compare to the standards within your industry? Use the answers to these questions to guide the goal-setting process. Taking steps to improve your CCC leads to improved efficiencies for the company by converting inputs into cash. The goal is to free up working capital, and with the CCC method, you’ll be able to ensure your business has enough cash for when you need it most.

Identify & Quantify Cash Levers

As you begin to establish cash conversion goals, you will discover a variety of “levers” that can influence cash flow. Some common levers are listed below. After reviewing this list, decide which levers are most relevant to your business. Quantify the impact of each lever to determine the potential impact on cash conversion.

Sales & Marketing Levers:

  • Early Payments – Will any of your customers offer accelerated payment terms? Offer early payment discounts, as necessary.
  • Demand Planning – Can you engage with your customers planning and purchasing departments to ensure you have access to the most reliable product demand information? Structure your agreements in ways that allow you to level load your operations.
  • Discounts & Promotions – Do you have opportunities to offer discounts or promotions on slow-moving or obsolete inventory? Are there brokers available to provide immediate cash for this inventory?  Can any of this inventory be re-purposed for other sales channels or product lines?
  • Selling Excess Capacity – What areas of the business have excess capacity? Use this information to offer discounted pricing as needed to fill this capacity.

Supply Chain Levers:

  • Extended Payment Terms – Request extended payment terms from your key vendors. Remove any early-pay discount programs as applicable.
  • Material Lead Times – Evaluate long-lead material items, seeking alternate sources with shorter lead times, or assist your vendors in reducing these lead times.
  • Optimize Order Sizes – Review your planning and ordering process to ensure you are ordering in the most economical batch sizes.
  • Optimize Order Triggers – Establish parameters around raw material on-hand quantities to prevent excessive buildup of inventory. Set up replenishment systems, or vendor-managed inventory systems that allow you to reduce your liabilities.

Production Levers:

  • Production Lead Times – What are your internal production lead times for your highest-cost items? Look for bottlenecks in the process and find ways to eliminate this buildup of inventory.
  • Minimize Finished Goods Inventory – Establish parameters around finished goods inventory, highlighting areas where completed product is sitting on your shelf for more than a few days.
  • Increase Throughout – Are there bottlenecks in your production process? Use this to determine where you might need to add more capacity (human or capital resources).  Find equipment that is under-utilized, working with the sales team to bring in work that can fill this capacity.

Financing Levers:

  • Asset Management – What assets are available that can be used as collateral?
  • Negotiate Advance Rates – Negotiate with your bank to find the best inventory and receivable advance rates.
  • Micromanage Collection Process – Maintain proper oversight over your AR collection process to limit past due invoices that might become ineligible.

Make a Plan

Decide on a goal and create a path that moves you toward that goal. As with any good plan, make sure you have identified key milestones and assigned appropriate ownership to key elements of the plan. Each element should relate to the identified levers. Work through all the levers you previously identified, adjusting your plan as more information is gathered and as progress is made. Maintain clear and consistent communication within your team ensuring all opportunities are fully explored and executed.  Document and measure your progress along the way. As movement is made, priorities will change and new levers will come into play. Re-establish your current state, set new goals, and repeat the process.

Conclusion

Monitoring your cash flow can often be a daunting and nebulous task. You can use the Cash Conversion Cycle measurement as a tool to objectively monitor your company’s effectiveness in managing cash. Using the tools and steps above can help to significantly improve the liquidity of your business and reduce future risk.

 


Originally posted on June 1, 2021, by Jeremy Cosby
jcosby@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

All companies experience change.
Plan for it with us.

 

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Stories from a Financial Advisor

Image of a couch at home

For many people, the idea of hiring an advisor can feel intrusive, threatening, costly, or even downright unnecessary at times. As long-time advisors at DWH, we’ve heard things like…

“I’ve been in this business for 40 years. No one can tell me anything I don’t already know.”
“I don’t want someone I just met telling me how to run MY business.”
“My business is unique, and no one else does things the way we do, so your ‘standard solutions’ won’t work here.”

Although these are common sentiments, we’ve discovered that sometimes the best way to articulate the value of a good advisor is not with clever arguments, but with a story.

First Story: The Couch Maneuver 

I recently went over to a friend’s house to help him move his couch. The house was a bi-level with a small flight of stairs leading to the front door. We transported the couch down the stairs and were trying to maneuver it through the doorway; it wouldn’t budge.  We then stopped for a minute, evaluated the situation, and tried harder.  Still stuck.  After 2-3 minutes, we noticed his neighbor standing just outside the house, entertained by our efforts.  Without hesitation, he said, “move it back up one step, rotate it about 30 degrees and come back down.”  With no better options but to swallow a little bit of pride and take his suggestion, we did as he instructed.  Sure enough, within seconds, we were out of the house, and the couch was in the truck.

This wasn’t his couch, nor was this his house; in fact, I don’t think he’s ever even been inside the house.  He had a perspective we didn’t have that he could use to identify problems we couldn’t see and suggest a quick, simple solution.

Second Story: The Golf Swing

I’ve always been terrible at golf, but for some reason, I’ve noticed this year that I’m getting worse the more I play instead of better.  I was reading articles on how to improve my swing, spending more time at the range, even shopping for new clubs.  None of it mattered.  Still no improvement, in fact, the opposite.  Finally, I decided it was time for me to seek some professional help, so I signed up for an evaluation with a local professional golf coach.

After some brief discussion about the challenges I was experiencing and what I hoped to accomplish, I was directed to a special room with several cameras, four tv screens, and a giant net to hit into.  I was instructed to swing “like I normally do” and hit a few balls into the net.  Cameras from multiple angles recorded my swing so the instructor could then replay the video, dissecting my swing frame by frame.  Every element of my swing, from the setup to the backswing, contact, and follow-through, was compared to a database of “baseline” measurements generated by compiling the average swing of the top 100 professional golfers in the world.  As painful as it was to watch, it allowed me to see how my swing compares to a professional.

I’ve never actually seen my golf swing before, which makes sense as there aren’t exactly a lot of mirrors on golf courses.  Within those 90 minutes, I was able to SEE what was causing that awful slice and begin to make a plan to correct some unhealthy habits.  There was not one magical fix (unfortunately), but a couple of fundamentals that I need to practice, which will start pushing me towards a path of improvement.

Hopefully, by now you can see where I’m going with these stories…

We need trusted advisors in our business (and frankly, in all areas of our life) because a good advisor can provide a perspective only an outsider can give.  They can see things from multiple vantage points (the forest AND the trees) and make comparisons to what the best companies in the world do (a.k.a. “Best Practices”).  A good advisor will leverage the decades of experience you have in your business, or within your industry, to help you see things from a new perspective. And seeing things in a new way is the first step to breaking old habits and creating meaningful change.

When you’re ready, we’re here for you — and for the life of your business.

 

This post was originally written on August 11, 2021, by:
Jeremy Cosby, DWH Partner
jcosby@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

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Succession Planning: Preserving Company Legacy

Business colleagues discussing work

Determining when and how to transition leadership or ownership to family or employees is vital to preserving a company’s value, legacy, and continuing success.

Yet, according to a 2021 survey, fewer than 34% of family-owned businesses have a formal succession plan that has been communicated to stakeholders. Failure to have a plan in place not only puts the family business and family relationships at risk but can also have an impact on employees and the community.

When it comes to developing a strong succession plan, it’s best not to go it alone – it is a team sport involving legal, financial, and business advisors.

By being proactive, you can ensure smooth transitions, optimize strategic development options, and maximize value so that the business thrives for generations. For instance, bringing in a third party to conduct an assessment can help to uncover current challenges and blind spots, not unlike how your trusted mechanic performs a multi-point inspection on your car. This drives an iterative discussion on observed challenges, risks, and opportunities, which are then contrasted with best practices.

Additionally, you’ll want to work with key members of your team to align expectations for the company’s future – that could range from transforming the business for the next generation to specifying a transition plan for leadership positions, to the development of individuals or family members. Whatever the scenario, the goal is to create alignment in vision and strategy.

If your business doesn’t have a plan in place, we can help, as our business advisors have helped many clients develop their succession plans. We can facilitate a planning process that is both strategic and integrates succession in such a way that considers the ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘what’ of your business.

Our planning process includes action points that address near-term gaps and achieve mid-to-long-term objectives – all while reducing risks. We’ll also provide ongoing support with resources and experience to guide process improvements, capability development, and implementation of the plan.

To learn more about our strategic succession planning and transformative processes, click here.

 

If you found this topic interesting, our strategic partner, JACO Advisory Group published content you may find relevant as well: Family Business Planning – Preparing the Next Generation to Lead and Who Should be Next in Line to Lead the Family Business?

 

This post was co-written by:
Marcel van der Elst, DWH Senior Director, and Jordan Gunn, Collaborative Designer

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How to Preserve
and Improve Liquidity

Image of businessman doing financial planning

When it comes to maximizing the value of your business, it’s best to focus resources and energy on improving cash flows and managing risks. The last two years have brought a number of unique challenges to business leaders and liquidity has become a significant topic. Companies are having to make major decisions that will potentially impact cash flows. So how can leaders address this?

Step 1: Develop a Cash Flow Forecasting Tool

When it comes to best practices around preserving and improving liquidity, we like to suggest one approach that has proven to be effective among many of our clients – and that is to develop a robust 13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting Tool. This financial tool helps businesses accomplish three primary objectives:

    1. It predicts cash flow and collateral, week over week, for the next 90 days.
    2. It improves decision-making at the transaction level.
    3. It improves communication with key internal and external stakeholders.

An effective 13-Week Cash Flow Forecasting Model also shows the details of anticipated cash receipts, cash disbursements, and changes in bank collateral through the forecast period. Specifically:

    • Cash Receipts – your company should forecast cash receipts from:
        • When current Accounts Receivable (AR) will be received.
        • When future revenues will convert to cash receipts.
        • Other non-operating cash receipts (e.g., interest income, proceeds from the disposition of assets, draws on a line of credit, etc.).
    • Cash Disbursements – your company should forecast cash disbursements from:
        • Current accounts payable (AP).
        • Future planned expenses*.
        • Other non-operating cash disbursements (e.g., debt service, un-funded capital expenditures, distributions, etc.).*Future projected expenses can be derived from budgets and recent experience, but should also consider anticipated changes to your business (e.g., new program launches, wage increases, new hires, etc.).
    • Bank Collateral – the collateral component is often missed in cash flow forecasting models and can lead to unanticipated liquidity challenges. Cash receipts, cash disbursements, and other business activities can have an impact on the bank’s collateral and, therefore, the company’s liquidity. A good 13-week cash flow forecasting model should take into consideration how changes in AR and inventory impact the bank’s collateral and, therefore, the line of credit (LOC) availability.
    • Cash on Hand – Cash on Hand is calculated using the following formula: Beginning Balance + Cash Received – Cash Disbursed +/- Changes in LOC
    • Miscellaneous – Here are a few other things that you should keep in mind as you build your model:
        • The cash flow should be rolled at least weekly. In times of crisis, you may want to roll it daily.
        • As a result, the model should be easy to create and update.
        • The model should be linked to your accounting system or allow for direct imports of data from the accounting system.
        • Have a weekly clean cut-off, so you are working with the most relevant and timely data.
        • The model should be reviewed at least weekly by the leadership team.

Step 2: Use the Model to Identify Levers

Once you have a functioning model, it is time to use it to find ways to preserve or improve your cash position. We call this process “pulling levers”. Reviewing your income statement will allow you to find opportunities that will improve revenue or reduce expenses. After, you’ll want to look at your balance sheet. The accounts on the balance sheet represent opportunities to accelerate cash receipts or slow cash disbursements. The balance sheet accounts also represent multiple market relationships, every one of which represents an opportunity to renegotiate to improve cash position. Consider what other sources of capital may exist for your business in your network. Examples of levers can include:

  • Cash Receipts
      • Reducing payment terms with customers.
      • Require deposits for new customer orders.
      • The additional cash infusion from owners or investors.
      • Sale of unused or under-utilized assets and equipment.
      • SBA lending or other government assistance.
      • Negotiate increases in collateral advance rates or LOC limits.
  • Cash Disbursements
      • Negotiate new payment terms with vendors or negotiate payment plans.
      • Reduce direct material order quantities or push deliveries.
      • Reduction of labor (headcount or hours).
      • Renegotiation of contracts or agreements.
      • Deferral or reduction of rent and lease payments.
      • Negotiate deferral of principal or interest payments with the bank.

Step 3: Communicate with Stakeholders

Key Stakeholders

Once you’ve built useful forecasts and identified levers, it’s time to communicate the plan to your stakeholders (think customers, vendors, employees, owners, investors, and community members as needed. Remember, your stakeholders are an essential part of your business and share in its success. When communicating your plan to your bank, describe the following:

  • How you developed your cash flow forecast
  • What your forecast shows
  • What steps you’re taking to improve your liquidity and capital position
  • What your current needs are and how might the bank be able to help

It’s better to bring a plan to your bank than to expect them to give you one. This holds for all your stakeholders. Make sure you are clear and considerate in your communication, looking for win-win solutions. You’ll gain confidence from your banking institution by showing exactly how you’ve determined your needs through management tools and decision-making.

This tool is also beneficial for the purpose of discovering the expectations of your customers as well. For instance, if a customer asks to revise payment terms, you can make the modifications in the forecast to determine the impact on your liquidity before agreeing to the change.

Step 4: Start Pulling Levers

Once you have your cash flow model in place and have communicated it to your company’s stakeholders, it is time to start pulling levers. Make sure that you develop an action list for the levers you are going to pull, including a point person for each action and a due date. Review this action list on a weekly basis. It is also essential to ensure you are updating your model as you pull the levers. If you request a customer pay in 15 days and they agree to 25 days, make sure the cash flow forecast reflects that change correctly.

Step 5: Review the Model Weekly and Continue Communication with Stakeholders

Once you have created the forecast, identified levers, communicated the plan to stakeholders, and started pulling levers, it is crucial to maintain this rhythm. Update the forecast weekly and consistently review as a team. Look for changes in the forecast and review the weekly variance report. This will help you improve the accuracy of the model. Additionally, your team should be looking for new levers on a weekly basis. It’s also important to note that in times of distress, the amount of communication with key customers, vendors, employees, financial institutions, and ownership should increase. Continue to update your stakeholders on your plan and your progress.

 

If you found this topic interesting, our strategic partner, JACO Advisory Group published content you may find relevant as well: Navigating Unexpected Business Disruptions by Preserving Liquidity

If you’re wanting to learn more about our cash flow forecasting model or would simply like to talk, please reach out. At DWH, we’re here for you — even remotely.

 

Posted on

5 Qualities to Look for When Choosing a Financial Advisor

Over the past 18 months, many businesses have experienced financial stress.  This may be due to COVID-related slow-downs or shut-downs, supply chain disruptions, or even from tremendous growth.  If you have found yourself in this position, you may have been urged to or required to get some help and may have been provided a list of names to call.  But how will you know who to choose? By cost? By personality? What qualities do you look for? It can be difficult to know what you need if you have never been in this situation before and the stakes are high.

 

The 5 Qualities


Core Values
A good financial advisor devises strategies to maximize the value of a company and proactively communicates a clear strategy and its benefits to each stakeholder. This will minimize unnecessary conflicts, which erode value through the consumption of time and money that could otherwise be allocated to value-creating activities. Ask potential advisors how they work with other stakeholders such as vendors, customers, employees, and lenders/investors.  Try to determine the advisor’s experience and likely credibility with each of these stakeholders.  See if their approach aligns with your values.

Experience
Navigating financial challenges involves more than financial models and analysis. A financial advisory firm should possess a breadth of business competencies and experience successfully guiding the business through the specific challenges you are experiencing.  Ask potential advisors about their experience with situations such as your own.  Ask for references.  Also, a financial advisor who has a team with real-world experience allows them to empathize with your challenges as they assist in developing and executing the best path forward.  So, make sure you ask about the experience of the people who will work on your project.

Capacity
Speaking of team, it is important to make sure your advisor has the capacity to support your business in the time frame you need them to. Make sure you clearly articulate what your expectations are and ask them to provide you a scope of work and timeline in writing.  Ask the potential advisor how they would support you if the timeline needed to be accelerated or the scope expanded.  Ask them if any additional resources would be brought in that were not part of the advisory firm’s normal staff.

Ability to Listen and Understand
Your financial advisor’s ability to listen and understand rather than talk over you with a lot of material is important. Their ego should be left at the door. They should be willing to listen to the issues you are facing and then develop a comprehensive plan to address these issues.  Does the financial advisor ask probing questions and listen to your answers?  Does the advisor speak in a language that is easy to understand and relate to?

Seeing the Bigger Picture
You need a financial advisor who can understand and frame the issues within your broader operations and mission. What other issues are there? What sub-issues exist? What are the goals? How will issues impact other stakeholders? Are the recommended solutions an approach that is sensitive to all stakeholders? Don’t win the battle – win the war. Make sure your advisor is asking questions that show they are focused on the overall business success and not just solving the immediate issue.

 

Choosing the right financial advisor can be intimidating and overwhelming but remember the five topics described in this article when you meet with potential advisors.  This can help you select an advisor who will best represent your interests in a way that is aligned with your core values.

 

All leaders experience performance challenges at some point over the life of their business. You are not alone. We can help. At DWH, we’re here for you. Feel free to reach out for a conversation on how we can be of assistance as you focus on thriving and not just surviving.

 


This post was written by Heather Gardner
hgardner@dwhcorp.com | LinkedIn

All companies experience change.
Plan for it with us.

 

 

If you found this topic interesting, our strategic partner, JACO Advisory Group published content you may find relevant as well: 4 Qualities to Look For When Selecting a Financial Advisor to Super Charge Your Business Results