For RIAs, CFPs, Exit Planning Advisors
Your Business Owner Clients Don’t Just Have Assets. They Have an Exit.
Most advisors don’t get involved until after the deal closes.
B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ gives you a structured way to be part of the conversation long before the exit and stay indispensable after.
THE PROBLEM
By the Time You Hear About the Transaction, Someone Else Is Already Leading the Wealth Conversation.
A banker was.
An attorney was.
A new wealth advisor was.
You manage the portfolio but not the conversation around the business.
That's the gap.
For many advisors, that gap means missing the most significant wealth event in a client’s life.
Investment bankers, M&A attorneys, and tax strategists get involved early. They bring their own networks, including wealth advisors.
By the time you hear about the transaction, key relationships are already in place.
And when the sale closes, the conversation shifts from business value to personal wealth, often with someone else leading it.
THE SOLUTION
The Framework That Puts You in the Room.
A practice-ready framework that gives RIAs and CFPs a structured, repeatable way to lead business value and exit conversations. So you’re positioned before, during, and after the liquidity event.
JOIN THE FOUNDING COHORT!
Limited to 20 Advisors
If you’re ready to bring this into your practice, this is the best place to start.
We’re offering advisors the opportunity to implement B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ —with guidance along the way.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
The Essentials Package
Everything you need to start using the conversation framework with clients.
Full Framework. Lifetime Access ($6000 value).
One-time fee provides Advisors with life-time access to all modules including 70+ videos and client-facing tools-- ready to use immediately. This is a limited-time, special offer for Founding Cohort only.
6 Months of Direct Support ($5000 value).
Monthly 1:1 sessions with course creator, Laurie Barkman, CEPA. Bring real client situations. Get practical guidance. This is limited-time, special offer for Founding Cohort only.
Client Tools & Templates ($4000 value).
Accelerate business value using 70+ client guides, exercises, and videos designed for practical conversations with business owners.
Advisor Implementation Starter Kit ($3000 value).
Launch your framework starting with practical turnkey templates including onboarding, planning, and client communications. Begin implementation using our Monetization Guide.
Client Seats (Optional)
We offer a scalable option for Advisors to purchase client seats. This enables you to guide your clients through the framework when you're ready.
Total Value: $18,000
Founding Cohort Price: $1,000 one-time
Cohort offer expires June 30. Limited to 20 Advisors.
HOW IT WORKS
How It Fits Into Your Practice
Learn the Framework
Get life-time access to B.U.I.L.T. By Design™—modules, tools, and conversation guides. (Founding Cohort offer only, standard one year term)
Apply It in Client Conversations
Use the framework in meetings with clients, right away.
Go Deeper with Client Engagement
Invite clients into a guided process and work through each phase together.
WHAT YOU'LL MASTER
The Framework That Puts You in the Room.
A practice-ready framework that gives RIAs and CFPs a structured, repeatable way to lead
business value and exit conversations. So you’re positioned before, during, and after the liquidity
event.
FREEDOM PHASE: Help Your Client Plan For Life After the Business.
Guide clients through the mindset and operational shifts that make an exit possible.
Identify what’s driving your client’s readiness to transition
Spot dependency on the owner and reduce key-person risk
Define life after the business
Clarify financial goals and the “freedom point”
SUCCESS PHASE: Turn Their Business Into a Transferable, Sellable Asset.
Guide clients through the factors that make a business attractive to a buyer.
Understand buyer types and deal structure
Identify key value drivers and growth opportunities
Strengthen cash flow
Address transferability risks across customers, team, and operations
You’ll build a strong foundation to lead conversations that many advisors don’t yet approach in a structured way.
HOW ADVISORS ARE USING BUILT BY DESIGN
Advisors are already bringing these conversations into client relationships.
"B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ opened my eyes to a major opportunity I was missing. I’ve started applying the framework with clients navigating transition events.”
Michael Laliberté
MSPFP, MPAS, ChFC, CEPA
Coastal Family Wealth Advisory
"B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ gave me a foundation to expand beyond traditional planning and become more valuable to my clients.”
Ethan Stewart
CFP, CEPA
Centennial Financial Group
"B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ gave me a foundation to expand beyond traditional planning and become more valuable to my clients.”
Ethan Stewart
CFP, CEPA
Centennial Financial Group
Individual experiences may vary. These examples are not guarantees of outcomes.
WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE SAYING
Real feedback from business owners who went through B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ with their financial advisor.
GETTING STARTED
Your Practice. Enhanced. Starting Today.
Founding Cohort gives you immediate access to the full framework, 6 months of direct support from Laurie Barkman, CEPA, and every tool you need to operationalize exit planning conversations in your practice. Provides a new high-value capability.
$1,000
(one-time)
Founding Cohort pricing available for a limited time.
TOTAL VALUE = $18,000
Includes:
Full framework. Life-time access for founding cohort ($6,000 value)
6 months of direct support ($5,000 value)
Client tools and templates ($4,000 value)
Advisor Implementation Starter Kit ($3,000 value)
Optional client seats ($100/month per client)
IS THIS FOR YOU?
This is a fit if:
You work with business owner clients but don’t have a structured approach to transition conversations
You’ve seen clients navigate a sale without you involved
You want to engage earlier in the wealth creation process
You’re ready to expand beyond portfolio management
You want practical tools—not just theory
This is not a fit if:
You’re looking for quick results without applying the framework
You prefer to focus only on investment management
You’re not interested in deeper client conversations
You want guarantees rather than a process to follow
About the Course Creator
Laurie Barkman
Founder, Business Transition Sherpa®
Laurie Barkman is a strategic advisor, former CEO, and founder of The Business Transition Sherpa®. She works with business owners to build companies that operate independently of them—and to prepare for successful transitions when the time comes.
A Certified Exit Planner (CEPA) and M&A Advisor, Laurie has led a $100 million company through acquisition and has worked directly with owners navigating these decisions.
Her work brings together operational experience and practical guidance, helping advisors engage clients around business value and transition during one of the most significant financial moments of their lives.
Have questions?
Have questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is B.U.I.L.T. By Design™ for?
Financial advisors who work with business owner clients and want a structured framework for value-building and transition-readiness conversations.
What will I gain from this program?
You'll have a practical framework, supporting tools, and conversation guides designed to help you engage business owner clients around succession and value-building topics.
How is the program delivered?
Entirely online, with self-paced modules, videos, and downloadable templates.
Will I get support?
The B.U.I.L.T. By Design Essentials includes six months of 30-minute support calls with course creator, Laurie Barkman, CEPA. (Included for a limited time only)
Can I use this system with my clients?
Enrolled advisors can invite clients into your own guided portal by purchasing client seats for $100/month per seat (minimum 12 months license).
What is the expected time commitment for clients?
Clients should expect to commit 2–4 hours per month, including bi-weekly sessions with you as the financial planner and light independent work between meetings.
Are there additional resources available for clients?
The Business Transition Handbook is an excellent companion to B.U.I.L.T. By Design. It’s available for purchase on Amazon. For customized orders or quantities exceeding 20 copies, contact [email protected].
Is my access transferable or shareable?
This proprietary framework is licensed for individual advisor use only. Access is non-transferable and should not be shared with colleagues, teams, or third parties.
What are the licensing terms?
Life-time access is only available for Advisors who join the Founding Cohort. Standard licensing for Advisors is one year licensing term.
Client seats are available for one year licensing terms which are renewable under the subscription agreement.
To review the License Agreement, click here.
Who created B.U.I.L.T. By Design™?
The proprietary framework was developed by Laurie Barkman, founder of The Business Transition Sherpa, a former CEO who led a $100 million company through a successful acquisition, adjunct professor, Certified Exit Planner Advisor (CEPA), and M&A Advisor specializing in business succession.
Will this qualify for CE credit?
Not at this time, but we are actively working on it. Stay tuned for updates.