Meeting/Event Information

For most business owners, their company is the largest asset they will ever own. Yet financial planning often emphasizes managing wealth after a business sale rather than maximizing the value of the business before a transaction occurs.

This session explores how building an investment-grade business can increase enterprise value, enhance exit readiness, and ultimately generate more capital to replace business income with investment income. Attendees will gain practical insights into the key value drivers that sophisticated buyers reward, understand how proactive value creation years before a sale can significantly improve a client's long-term financial security, and learn how financial planners can collaborate with investment bankers, CPAs, and other advisors to help business owners achieve stronger outcomes before, during, and after a liquidity event.

By Attending This Session, Participants Will Be Able To:

1 CFP® CE (Pending)

Zane Tarence
Partner, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Founders Advisors

Zane Tarence, Partner and Head of Strategic Partnerships, is an experienced investment banker, entrepreneur and recognized expert on the growth and monetization of digital media, internet technology and software companies. Over the past 20 years, Zane has led and completed more than 87 technology deals, including facilitating the sale of some of the largest lead generation internet businesses in the United States.

Zane is a noted speaker with Vistage International and Convene. He is the founder of the preeminent SaaS and internet summit, Silicon Y’all. Zane is the author of “17 Reasons Your Company Is Not Investment Grade & What To Do About It.“

Before joining Founders, Zane independently and successfully created and sold two technology businesses to publicly-traded companies, resulting in a keen understanding of the traits necessary to build a valuable company and close an exceptional deal. Zane has more than 25 years of experience as an operator, investor and dealmaker in the technology arena. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Zane began his career at IBM, where he learned the intricate workings of the company’s technology ecosystems and led its Internet consulting practice in the Southeast.

Zane has a Masters in Organizational Management from Southern Christian University and received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University. His securities credentials include series 79, 63 and 24 securities licenses.

Zane currently is a Board member of Reliance Financial Group, Samford Universities Brock School of Business Advisory Board, Birmingham Venture Capital Board, EAP Mentorship, Alliance Consulting and Digital Media Holdings, Zane is involved with several ministries through various roles, including serving on the board of directors for Route 1520 Ministries, course instructor at Family Dynamic, member of the Marriage Ministries at Church of the Highlands, founding board member of 4:8 Fathers “Birmingham Purity Ball” and past board member of AGAPE of Central Alabama. He also is a member of the Technology Advisory Committee at Briarwood Christian School and a past judge for Alabama Launch Pad.

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings are on the 3rd Thursday

Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Federal Reserve Bank, 524 Liberty Parkway
Directions and parking information here

Format: Eat together in a gourmet style cafeteria until 11:55, then move to conference room for presentation. Food is not allowed in conference rooms. Please RSVP and arrive on time to enjoy lunch and the speaker. Soda and tea are included with your lunch; energy drinks are not. 

Registration: $15 members, (see below for Guest Policy)
$160 - 2026 Season Ticket, covers all regular chapter meetings

RSVP: by the Friday before the meeting.
Season Ticket holders must RSVP by email to [email protected].

This is a two-step process. Both registration & payment must be received.

The Federal Reserve is a secure facility. The doors will be opened 11:30 – 11:45.
FPA is committed to pay for each reservation made. If you cannot keep your reservation, notify Jessica by Friday before the meeting. No shows who fail to cancel will be billed $20.

To pay by mail:

Please make checks payable to FPA of North Alabama and mail to:
FPA of North Alabama
PO Box 26607
Birmingham, AL 35260-0607

FPA Guest Policy
Effective 1-1-2014

In an effort to boost membership, we have removed the financial incentive to be a continual guest at chapter meetings. All first-time guests may attend chapter meetings at no charge. A guest’s second and all further meetings require a $50 charge. As an incentive to join, members receive great discounts for chapter meetings, our membership outing, and the Symposium, plus access to free CE in the Journal of Financial Planning. Between the networking, the continuing education, and the advocacy of our profession, we believe that the cost of membership is far exceeded by the value.