The Valuation Playbook: Ted Jenkin on the Metrics and Mistakes That Matter

With Ted Jenkin – Co-Founder, JPTD Partners Overview What drives valuations—and what mistakes kill deals? M&A advisor Ted Jenkin joins Louis Diamond to share practical insights on maximizing value, understanding multiples, avoiding seller pitfalls, and the critical prep work every advisor should be doing now. Listen in… > Download a transcript of this episode… NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.   About this episode… More advisors than ever are considering growth and life after their business—whether that means selling, merging, or simply planning for succession. Maximizing value and finding the right fit takes more than just timing; it requires the right strategy, the right partner, and a clear understanding of what truly drives value. Ted Jenkin knows that journey firsthand. A serial entrepreneur and former financial advisor, Ted built and successfully sold his own advisory firm—learning firsthand what it takes to navigate the process as a founder. Now, he’s on the other side of the table, serving as an M&A consultant at JPTD Partners and a sell-side M&A advisor through Exit Stage Left Advisors, all while helping other advisors navigate the high-stakes world of valuations and deal-making. If Ted’s name seems familiar, you likely encountered his sharp analysis and direct, no-nonsense commentary on Fox News, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal. As both a practitioner and educator, Ted offers a rare blend of tactical insight and real-world experience. In this episode, Louis Diamond dives into the conversation with Ted to discuss what every potential seller or advisor seeking to maximize their long-term value needs to understand, including: Valuation—and what multiples really mean. The biggest mistakes he sees sellers make—and how to avoid them. The role of marketing—and how he used smart strategy and tactics in his own practice. The buyers to look for—and what the best ones have in common. The factors that really drive multiples—and how market influences can impact valuations. The work you can do before you go to market—and why it may be more important than anything that happens during a deal. Whether you’re just starting to consider an exit, already in discussions, or advising clients through their own transitions, this conversation is filled with valuable insights. Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.   Related Resources How to Set Up Your Business to Maximize Enterprise Value Jason and Louis Diamond explore strategies for maximizing enterprise value, whether or not an advisor plans to move. Learn actionable insights, key business practices, short-term vs. long-term tactics, and real-world examples. How to Maximize Your Career Enterprise Value This formula provide a process by which an advisor can “calculate” the sum total of 4 key factors—to conceptualize what their career enterprise value really is and how to achieve it. The 2025 Annual Report on Transitions and Deals for Financial Advisors – 2024 Activity Data Data-driven insights and analysis on advisor transitions, deals, and the evolving wealth management industry landscape.   Ted Jenkin Co-Founder Ted Jenkin is a serial entrepreneur. He is a Partner of JPTD Partners, an M&A consulting firm for financial advisors,  President of Exit Stage Left Advisors, a sell-side M&A firm, and a Partner at Exit Wealth, one of the premier ultra high net worth wealth management companies in the country. Ted is a national television expert and one of the opinion editorial writers for Fox News, regularly appearing on Varney & Co. He also appears on News Nation, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal. Ted has a nationally syndicated entrepreneur television show called The Roadmap on America’s Small Business Network. He is an Amazon best-selling author and has six advanced designations from the College for Financial Planning (CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, AWMA®, AAMS®, CMFC®). Today, Ted lives in Atlanta, GA.   Also available on your favorite podcast app and other media sites.