Daryl LaFountain and the growth of a CFO expert? Remember, although you are in growth mode, your primary role as a CEO remains the same. You must keep your company on track toward achieving its vision. This means you need to focus on ensuring you have: A reputable product or service that solves a real problem for real customers. Traction with a diverse or defensible mix of customers (i.e., a reliable client base you can nurture and grow). A strong and trustworthy management team to whom you can delegate. A plan for how you will increase the value of your company over the next five-plus years. As the CEO, your job is to get your company into a strong position so you can pursue whatever opportunities arise. Whether you believe you will eventually go public or decide to sell, it doesn’t matter. Protect yourself from distractions so you can effectively grow and improve the value of your business.
Daryl LaFountain‘s recommendations on improving your business financial situation: Analyze the financial ratios: This is to help improve the economic aspects of your company, as well as organize the finances. Analyzing the financial ratios to keep up with your financial affairs means taking into account the generation of cash flow, debt ratio, economic and financial profitability, and many more. Know your financing options: This is to educate yourself about getting financial tools that can make your company grow. When you have knowledge of your financing options, you’ll be able to make informed financial decisions, especially when you decide to apply for a loan to organize your affairs. As you can see, the ones listed above are some of the habits that you should apply to your own business.
If you don’t learn to manage your own money, other people will find ways to (mis)manage it for you. Some of these people may be ill-intentioned, like unscrupulous commission-based financial planners. Others may be well-meaning, but they may not know what they’re doing, like Grandma Betty, who really wants you to own your own house even though you can only afford one by taking on a risky adjustable-rate mortgage. Instead of relying on others for advice, take charge and read a few basic books on personal finance. Once you’re armed with knowledge, don’t let anyone catch you off guard—whether it’s a significant other who slowly siphons off your bank account or friends who want you to go out and blow tons of money with them every weekend.
Once you have your financial plan outlined and churning along, it’s important to review your plan frequently and make the necessary adjustments if your goals or the circumstances around your life change. For instance, maybe your insurance needs to change, your risk tolerance changes or you get married or have kids. At a minimum, you want to check in on your overall financial plan at least every six months. When you check infrequently, it’s easier for you to deal with unplanned life occurrences, bounce back from setbacks, and accomplish your financial goals. Think about what you do to maintain your personal health – You brush your teeth and shower regularly to keep yourself clean and avoid unnecessary illnesses because we all know that falling sick can lead to other health complications and you definitely don’t want that. And also because you do it so often, it’s now part of your everyday health maintenance habit – well, the same applies to your finances!
About Daryl LaFountain: Daryl is an energetic professional CFO with a background in politics. Daryl has done fundraising, been a candidate, and worked in politically appointed positions in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Daryl has worked for Democratic candidates and nominees in 18 additional states. Reach out to Daryl about Political work if you: Are running for local office and are having trouble with ballot access.