Dew Wealth Management

Theme #3 from 2024: The Rise of ESOPs in a Slowing M&A Market One of the biggest trends I observed in 2024 was a surge in interest in ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans). With high interest rates cooling the M&A market, entrepreneurs are using ESOPs as an alternative way to: 💰 Get chips off the table 👥 Tie in key talent by offering them equity 🏢 Keep the business in trusted hands— you can keep running the show Interestingly, most are skipping the C Corp structure and the tax-free rollover under Section 1042. Why? Because the simpler S Corp ESOP transaction is more efficient and easier to manage for many entrepreneurs (and an ESOP is complicated enough as is). In today’s environment, ESOPs aren’t just an exit strategy—they’re a way to create alignment and drive long-term value for everyone involved. 👉 My takeaway - I don't see the M&A market changing substantially in this "higher for longer" rate environment and would expect to see continued interest in ESOPs in 2025. #Entrepreneurship #ESOP #BusinessExitStrategy #MergersAndAcquisitions #TalentRetention #FractionalFamilyOffice

Theme #2 from 2024: The Smartest Entrepreneurs Focused on Intentional Wealth Transfer When it comes to generational wealth, the smartest entrepreneurs I worked with in 2024 didn’t leave it to chance—they were highly intentional. They used dynastic trusts to pass down not just wealth, but values. Here’s how: ✔️ No outright distributions. Keeping assets in trusts protects wealth and ensures strategic management ✔️ Beyond staged distributions. Simply giving heirs funds at 25, 30, and 35 isn’t enough when your net worth is in the 8-figure range ✔️ Incentive trusts. They designed trusts to reward the behaviors they want to see—starting new businesses, supporting philanthropy, embracing religious or educational pursuits, and more This is about more than money. It’s about shaping the future for your heirs and ensuring that your legacy stands for something bigger. 👉 My takeaway - transferring wealth is a messy topic, but when done right and with clear intentions, the outcome can be powerful #Entrepreneurship #GenerationalWealth #WealthTransfer #IncentiveTrusts #LegacyPlanning #FractionalFamilyOffice

Theme #1 from 2024: The Smartest Entrepreneurs Focused on Profitability Working with over 200 entrepreneurs in 2024, one of the themes that stood out: the smartest entrepreneurs made the pivot to focusing on the bottom line, not just the top line. Here’s why: 📉 Ever since iOS 14, ROAs have been hit hard and Customer acquisition costs have skyrocketed, making paid ads far less profitable 📈 Political spending sent ad costs further soaring in 2024 - hurting client's profitability 💼 High interest rates slowed M&A. Buyers aren’t paying premiums for top-line growth anymore—they want profitability The result? The smartest entrepreneurs stopped chasing reckless revenue growth at all costs. They shifted their focus to driving profits and building sustainable businesses. As we kick off 2025 ask yourself: ❓ Are you building a business that thrives on profitability, or are you still chasing top-line growth that doesn’t add value? 👉 My takeaway - I don't see these trends stopping anytime in the next few years #Entrepreneurship #Profitability #BusinessGrowth #DigitalMarketing #MergersAndAcquisitions #FractionalFamilyOffice