Capitaliz – a platform specializing in digital solutions for business valuation, succession, and exit planning for independent entrepreneurs and advisors – has appointed a new president for North America.
Jared Johnson, who joined Capitaliz after leading the Business Enterprise Institute, will oversee the firm's operations and strategy in the region, focusing on business development and enhancing client success through advisory relationships.
"Jared’s appointment is a key part of our strategy to strengthen our position in the Americas,” Craig West, Capitaliz's founder and chairman, said in a statement.
With a background in exit and succession planning, Johnson's tenure at BEI saw him expand resources for advisors, broaden the institute’s membership, and champion the importance of exit planning as a discipline. His professional career also includes strategic roles at Convergys, Citibank, and AOL.
Johnson’s hiring occurs as a concerning number of independent entrepreneurs find themselves in a race against time. In a January presentation to the Senate, Exit Planning Institute president Scott Snider relayed a raft of alarming statistics from the National State of Owner Readiness Survey, which found 50 percent of business owners had no plan whatsoever for their inevitable exit.
The survey also revealed a three-fifths majority of business owners (60 percent) did not understand their exit options, while 80 percent had no formal exit strategy in place, contributing to a substantial number of companies either not selling or being forced to exit as a result of external conditions.
That urgency for succession planning is also mirrored among the advisor community, with a recent Cerulli research report estimating that 38 percent of the financial advisors in the US – representing 42 percent of assets – would retire within the next 10 years. Meanwhile, the pipeline for new blood coming to the industry is looking comparatively weak, as the industry’s “rookie failure rate” stood at a jaw-dropping 72 percent.
To help business owners and advisors – including accountants, financial advisors, and wealth managers – address these challenges, Capitaliz offers a suite of tools and insights designed to quantify current business valuation, pinpoint key drivers of value, and recommend strategic steps to enhance business value.
“It's crucial for our growth and our commitment to providing solutions for business owners and advisors facing succession challenges," West said.
Chasing productivity is one thing, but when you're cutting corners, missing details, and making mistakes, it's time to take a step back.
It is not clear how many employees will be affected, but none of the private partnership’s 20,000 financial advisors will see their jobs at risk.
The historic summer sitting saw a roughly two-thirds pass rate, with most CFP hopefuls falling in the under-40 age group.
"The greed and deception of this Ponzi scheme has resulted in the same way they have throughout history," said Daniel Brubaker, U.S. Postal Inspection Service inspector in charge.
Elsewhere, an advisor formerly with a Commonwealth affiliate firm is launching her own independent practice with an Osaic OSJ.
Stan Gregor, Chairman & CEO of Summit Financial Holdings, explores how RIAs can meet growing demand for family office-style services among mass affluent clients through tax-first planning, technology, and collaboration—positioning firms for long-term success
Chris Vizzi, Co-Founder & Partner of South Coast Investment Advisors, LLC, shares how 2025 estate tax changes—$13.99M per person—offer more than tax savings. Learn how to pass on purpose, values, and vision to unite generations and give wealth lasting meaning
