Using RISR to Drive CPA Engagement and Facilitate Exit Planning Conversations

Industry

Wealth Management & Exit Planning

Challenge

Kevin Yingst, an independent advisor working with high-net-worth individuals and business owners, lacked a structured way to guide exit decisions. He needed a way to quantify business value, integrate it into planning, and better collaborate with CPA partners.

Results

Using RISR in a joint advisor–CPA–client engagement, Kevin established a valuation range, identified value opportunities, and elevated CPA collaboration, creating a repeatable process for future business owner planning.

kevinyingst.com

“When you can give clarity on what the business might be worth and walk through it with the client and their CPA, the conversation changes. It moves from general planning to real decisions around exit and next steps.”

Kevin Yingst, CEPA®, AAMS®

Wealth Management Advisor @ Cornerstone Wealth Management

About Cornerstone Wealth & Kevin Yingst

Kevin Yingst is an independent financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Management, an RIA that provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and retirement solutions to individuals and business owners.
The firm operates within an independent advisor model, allowing its advisors to deliver personalized, client-focused strategies without being tied to specific products.

The Challenge

Kevin frequently works with business owners who are actively building or preparing to exit their companies but lack a clear understanding of what those businesses are worth and how that value fits into their broader financial plan.

In one case, a long-standing client who owned a print and shipping business was preparing to sell after years of operation. While the business was stable and diversified, the owner had no formal valuation baseline and limited insight into how operational factors or financial adjustments could impact exit value.

At the same time, Kevin’s CPA relationships remained largely transactional. Tax preparation and compliance work were well covered, but deeper planning opportunities around valuation, exit strategy, and risk were not consistently explored.

Across these situations, several common themes emerged:

Business value estimates and expectations had not been quantified
Exit planning conversations lacked structure and clarity
Clients were not completing data requests independently
CPA collaboration was limited to tax-focused interactions

Kevin needed a way to move from informal discussions to a more structured, data-driven planning process.

The Solution

Kevin began using RISR as both a planning tool and collaborative framework across advisors, CPAs, and clients.

He shifted to a guided approach, collecting financial data directly and building the analysis alongside the client’s CPA. This not only improved accuracy, but further aligned all stakeholders before presenting results.

Using RISR, Kevin generated a valuation estimate based on normalized earnings and industry multiples, helping the owner understand how performance and one-time events impacted value, while identifying key add-backs and adjustments.

He then led a joint discussion with the CPA and client, walking through valuation drivers, risks, and exit options, turning general conversations into a clear evaluation of readiness and timing.

The process also strengthened his CPA relationship, evolving it to receive more referrals by creating a more coordinated, strategic planning engagement.

The Results

RISR strengthened both Kevin’s client engagements and his CPA partnerships by introducing structure and clarity into business owner planning.

Across this engagement by using RISR, Kevin:

Established a defensible valuation range to anchor exit discussions

Identified financial adjustments that could improve business value

Accelerated the owner’s readiness to engage in the sale process