ABOUT US
Advisory Partners is a boutique M&A advisory firm dedicated to bringing valuable guidance to business owners with $1MM-10MM in EBITDA. We understand that life is about more than wealth. That’s why we combine decades of small business advising with years of experience as a buyer and investor, bringing our clients a unique perspective that enhances their value, presents qualified buyers, maximizes proceeds and delivers a positive experience from beginning to end.
OUR VISION
A world in which owners of closely-held businesses can transition from those businesses with no regrets—getting the value and treatment they deserve for their years of hard work.
OUR MISSION
To transform the world of M&A advisory services from impersonal to personal, transactional to relationship-based, numbers to people.
MEET YOUR TRUSTED PARTNERS
FOUNDER - Nick Arellano
Growing up in a small suburb of Minneapolis, Nick Arellano learned the value of hard work at an early age laying carpet with his father and working in both of his grandfathers’ small businesses. Surrounded by small and mid-sized business owners, he realized that regardless of their education level, these people shared a common trait of working hard to build successful niche businesses.
Unfortunately, he also saw these business owners have a hard time finding quality advice specific to their situation and size. They were bigger than mom-and-pop businesses, but smaller than big corporations. Nick wanted to dedicate his life to helping these “Just Right” businesses, which are actually among the most sought-after entities for buyers and investors.
Nick’s mission started in earnest when he became a financial advisor focused on small business owners looking to sell in 1-3 years. It continued when he spent nearly a decade at Morgan Stanley and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Nick then became a buyer of small businesses himself, which gave him a deeper understanding of how and where sophisticated investors/buyers see value in businesses. Finally, he decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial journey—one where he could fully share his deep insights to help Hometown Business Owners across the country.
Today, Advisory Partners lives up to its name by being both advisors and partners—working toward a world where business owners get the value and treatment they deserve for their lifetime of hard work. The firm’s mission is to transform the world of mid-sized M&A services from impersonal to personal, transactional to relationship-based, numbers to people. For buyers and investors, it opens unparalleled access to companies poised to deliver long-term value. For business owners, it offers the best way to maximize their value and exit their businesses with money in the bank, a smile on their face, and no regrets.
Erick Vicario | Analyst
Erick brings a background in finance and strong competitive spirit to the team.
Erick has spent the past few years working with various financial services firms including fintech startup Cred iQ (PA), brokerage firm Laidlaw & Co (NY), and financial advisor Lincoln Investment (NJ), to round out his base of industry knowledge.
Erick graduated from Cabrini University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Entrepreneurship. While there, Erick was also a scholar athlete and four-time all-academic team recipient while playing baseball. He is currently a CFA level one candidate.
Tom Korzenecki | Special Advisor
Tom shares over 30 years’ M&A experience with Your Legacy Partners’ clients and members. For 22 years, he served as the Founder and CEO of a FINRA registered investment bank specializing in M&A. In addition, Tom held multiple leadership roles in a variety of industries including energy, manufacturing, agriculture, chemicals, and financial services, including two multi-billion-dollar public enterprises. He was the owner/operator of four privately held manufacturing companies.
Tom holds a Master of Business Taxation with an emphasis in Corporate Tax from the University of Southern California, an MBA from the University of Chicago and the University of Houston and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He served on the board of several organizations and is a mentor for second year MBA students at the University of Southern California.
Our Promise To You
SHORTEN
• We pledge to understand and appreciate everything you’ve put into your business, and to honor that hard work and sacrifice.
• We pledge to be your advocate and always have your back when it’s time to put your succession plans in place.
• We pledge to build a relationship, not simply execute a transaction.
• We pledge to market your business as if it were our own.
• We pledge to help you understand the buyer’s mindset so you can make the best choices.
• We pledge to make working with us a rewarding experience from beginning to end.
