Greetings from Ripples Edge!

Hello and Welcome,

We’re delighted to have you on board as we launch the inaugural edition of The Ripple Effect — your source for insights, inspiration, and connection from Ripples Edge Advisors. Whether you’re considering your business legacy or looking to create meaningful impact, this journey is about more than just exit strategies — it’s about the positive ripples every founder can make.

This newsletter is here to spark fresh conversations, keep you updated on what’s new in the world of growth and transition, and encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences. We invite you to follow along, respond, and help us build a community that values learning, legacy, and the ripple effect of smart decisions.

Let’s inspire one another and stay connected as we set in motion the ripples of lasting value.

Okay, now we promise we’re done with the puns….for a while.

Kimberly Wasney & Alex Seydel

Co-Founders, Ripples Edge Advisors

Ripples in Action

Recently, we had a conversation with a founder whose business had attracted a surprise offer from a private equity firm. At first glance, the deal seemed fair enough. But as she talked about her journey, one thing stood out: her genuine pride in her team and her deep concern for what would happen to them once she stepped away.

During negotiations, she asked the buyer about the future of her people. Their response stopped her in her tracks: “You actually care about what happens to your people after you leave?”

In that moment, she realized the deal wasn’t aligned with her values or vision for her legacy.

When she reached out to Ripples Edge Advisors, it wasn’t just to explore her options, but to make sure her exit would be something she could celebrate, not regret. Together, we walked through a strategic exit workshop to clarify her core values, define her ideal outcomes, and sketch a roadmap for a transition that honors what matters most.

Here’s something we hear time and again: the deepest regret isn’t always selling the business — it’s how the sale was handled.

“I wish I hadn’t sold to this buyer.”

“I wish I had listened to my gut.”

Your legacy should never be left to chance. Protecting what you’ve built means making sure your exit story is one you’re proud to share.

Exit Essentials

Want to try a core values exercise on your own?

• TRY THIS PROMPT

  • Name the three best leaders you’ve had in your life. Managers, coaches, peer leaders, whoever. Now list the three traits that made each of them a great leader.

Was it their open communication? Their commitment to innovation? Their focus on the human behind the role?

Start to look for patterns about what you admire in other leaders and you’ll tease out your core values as a leader yourself.

Making Waves

• Did you know that 75% of businesses that go to market never sell? Ripples Edge Advisors Co-Founder Alex Seydel and financial advisor Allie Beckmann of Liberated Financial joined Beatrice Gutknecht on The Art of Positioning podcast to explore why (and how to fix it).

  • Listen here

• Ripples Edge is a proud Bronze Sponsor of the upcoming Professional Women’s Club of Chicago Holiday Progressive Luncheon. In Chicago? Join Kim Wasney as her guest.

  • Register here

• We are opening up three Strategic Planning workshop slots in January. Join us for a half-day session to build your annual plan for 2026.

  • Email us at hello@ripplesedgeadvisors.com for more information.

We’d love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading and being part of the Ripples Edge Advisors community.

Your feedback means a lot—just hit reply to share your thoughts or questions. And if you know a business owner who’s considering their legacy or exploring what comes next, we’d be honored if you’d refer them our way.