Ian Smith | The Portfolio Partnership

The Benefits of Simplification

by Ian Smith | Jul 6, 2023 | Leadership

We are traveling this week so a little repeat of a popular post from a few years ago. We all admire a leader who can simplify a complex problem into an understandable, simple, explanation of the essential elements. We are motivated by a leader who can set out a clear,...

Two Tools To Explain Your Financials To An 8th Grader

by Ian Smith | Jun 29, 2023 | Basic Finance

The financial analysis of a business can seem complicated but there really is no need for this complication. Every financial story in any currency, in any sector, and in any business model boils down to two things! Volume and yield. Let’s take a simple example...

The Divestiture Playbook

by Ian Smith | Jun 15, 2023 | Divestitures, Divestments, The Divestiture Playbook

We just published our latest playbook – The Divestiture Playbook – a short ebook inspired by the excellent and insightful new book Divestitures by Wharton Professor Emilie R. Feldman. Emilie kindly shared our new publication on LinkedIn stating –...

How Far Can Sales Drop Before You Bleed?

by Ian Smith | Jun 8, 2023 | Uncategorized

A little classic today that you can do at home! Every business has a different set of economics but every business has one common element, they all have a break-even point. First, establish your Gross Margin %. That would be your sales less your variable costs = Gross...

Early Thoughts on AI in M&A

by Ian Smith | Jun 1, 2023 | Acquisitions

Artificial Intelligence is developing at a crazy fast pace with thousands of tools being developed to capitalize on the technology. Subcategories have already emerged including AI Content Detection, AI Enablement, AI Predictive Software, AI Speech Recognition, Data...