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News & Posts

One of the most common concerns I hear about retirement is the fear of being bored.  Given the weeks, months, and years ahead that need to be filled with something other than your job, it’s understandable.  To make matters worse, many of us know a relative or friend who was aimless and miserable in retirement….

Link to register.  Please indicate that Mark Gross invited you. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M3HItgtJRS2sCTy_bUWBvw Tuesday, December 5, 2023. 10-11:30 AM Central. Multiple attendees from one firm can attend but in order to receive CPE credits, each one needs to register separately and join on their own separate devices. Take a deep dive into the following topics. PADs. Partial…

Do you dread networking for new business?  Here are some techniques to help you refine your approach so that networking becomes more enjoyable and productive. Several years ago I co-founded a networking group attended by experienced, successful professionals. What I didn’t anticipate was that many of these highly competent and engaging people struggled with networking….

Just because you run a successful business doesn’t necessarily mean that you will exit from it successfully. Planning can increase the odds that you will transfer your business on terms you’re comfortable with.  Yet very few business owners engage in proactive exit planning, failing to establish arrangements for a thoughtful transfer of ownership that protects…

INTRODUCTION Effective sales strategies are crucial for success in the dynamic landscape of modern business. Business owners recognize the pivotal role that sales teams play in revenue generation and customer acquisition. As a result, they must invest in training programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of their sales force. Two complementary approaches are “Sales…

INTRODUCTION To maximize performance, it is essential that sales leaders provide comprehensive ongoing training and coaching to their sales team to become a high-performance sales organization. In this article, we will explore the 8 types of sales training high-performance sales leaders deploy to ensure their teams have the knowledge and skills necessary to excel. These…

The Dual Imperative: The Significance of Having a Business Plan and a Sales Plan for Startup Success Introduction Launching a Startup is an exhilarating journey that requires careful planning and execution. Entrepreneurs must develop two crucial blueprints to establish a solid foundation for success: a comprehensive Business Plan and a focused Sales Plan. While the…

Pre-retirement coaching is designed to help late career professionals and business owners sort through the head and heart side of the retirement transition.  For those who have never availed themselves of coaching, the process might seem like a black box.  How does coaching help a person get from point A to point B?  This chart…

Throughout my career as a psychologist, I treated many people who found themselves dissatisfied with their life in retirement.  They had given little thought to the magnitude of this transition and their aimlessness was palpable.  It struck me that a handful of preparatory discussions before they retired might have saved them from significant discomfort not…

Join us on May 10 for a Lavelle Law Breakfast Briefs presentation in Schaumburg. Attend this free seminar as Lavelle Law attorneys Steve Migala and David O’Leary collaborate with Steven Ryan of GreatBanc Trust Company to discuss strategies for determining if an ESOP is the right structure for your business, or perhaps your client’s business….

Whatever happened to the original 11 companies Jim Collins featured in his 2001 book Good to Great? As part of a review I recently published of Collins’ original book, I uncovered a few unexpected surprises that have occurred since.  Spoiler Alert: One dropped 88%, another dropped 99%, and a third declared bankruptcy. Book Overview. Good…

Although there’s a strong parallel between creating a winning culture in Sports and Sales, winning cultures come in all shapes and sizes. There’s an important yet subtle distinction between creating a winning culture centered around winning at any cost and winning the right way. The difference between the two is often overlooked and dealt with…

I’m having a lot of client dialogue on Cash Balance Plans (CBPs).  A CBP is the third sleeve of a Retirement Plan – following the standard 401k and Profit Sharing sleeves of traditional plans.  The contribution limits are substantial allowing participants the ability to contribute significant $s pretax and to grow those contributions tax deferred….

Background Historically, Sales has been one of the most impactful yet overlooked aspects of Exit Planning. In this article, I address the critical nature of Sales & Marketing Alignment within the Exit Planning process. Sales & Marketing Alignment A while back, I worked with a VP of Marketing whose favorite saying was, “Nothing happens until…

Many relatively new macroeconomic and socioeconomic factors have changed how companies recruit, engage, and retain top talent. Factors include: Highly competitive labor market Wage inflation The Remote Workforce The Gig Economy The Great Resignation Has your recruiting process kept current with the changing business landscape? What does your strategic sales recruiting process look like, and…

Since selling your business is likely the most significant and financially impactful transaction of your life, I share the Top 3 Sales Priorities every business owner must take to maximize their company’s sales price at Exit. Background – Unfortunately, Sales has been one of the most impactful, yet overlooked, aspects of Exit Planning. Exit Planning…

Last month we discussed the natural propensities of the different types of salespeople and how some salespeople benefit from additional training or support – for example, Appointment Setting services that maximize the effectiveness of a sales team full of “Closers.”  If you recall, we highlighted the three traditional types of salespeople: Hunters – Those who…

Does your B2B Sales Team need help generating leads? There are many different types of B2B Sales teams. Direct Sales, Field Sales, Territory Sales, Indirect Sales, Channel Sales, Solution Sales, National Accounts, Global Accounts, etc. Most sales organizations create segments based on a few distinguishing client characteristics that delineate customer types so that sales teams…

For many of us, work is a primary source of accomplishment and pride.  Throughout the course of our career, we point to projects completed, problems solved, and people helped.  If you’re contemplating retirement, it’s easy to imagine you will find yourself missing the satisfaction that comes from a job well done, not to mention dwelling…

There is something I’ve noticed when people tell me about their first year of retirement.  Occasionally they will mention adjusting to living on a fixed income, but more often it’s the non-financial side of things that occupies their mind. In some instances they sound pleased. For example, they’re eager to talk about new hobbies, interests,…

Ninth article in a series . . . If you work as a business advisor, you know that engagements can be unpredictable.  Whether helping the owner take advantage of a changing marketplace, or optimizing the business to prepare it for sale, these initiatives typically involve significant planning, coordination, and effort from both advisors and their…

Eighth article in a series . . . If you work as a business advisor, you know that engagements can be unpredictable.  Whether helping the owner take advantage of a changing marketplace, or optimizing the business to prepare it for sale, these initiatives typically involve significant planning, coordination, and effort from both advisors and their…

Seventh article in a series . . . If you work as a business advisor, you know that engagements can be unpredictable.  Whether helping the owner take advantage of a changing marketplace, or optimizing the business to prepare it for sale, these initiatives typically involve significant planning, coordination, and effort from both advisors and their…

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