Coastal CFO Advisors

Pre-LOI Financial Due Diligence for Small Business Buyers

Nate Smieja

CFO Advisor helping first-time buyers vet deals and succeed in ownership.

Emphasis on 5 areas of financial due diligence to check in every CIM before signing an LOI.

5 Key Areas Every Small Business Buyer Must Review

Identify inflated SDE, risky customer concentration, and other red flags that derail deals.

Spot the Red Flags SMB Buyers Often Miss

See how small changes in addbacks flow into SDE and valuation, protecting you from overpaying.

How Addbacks Impact Business Valuation

Understand how deal structure, revenue style, and buyer fit shift multiples in real transactions.

Why Multiples Flex From Buyer to Buyer

In this exceptionally interactive, roll-up-your-sleeves program, you will transition from a traditional financial analyst to a strategic financial modeler and advisor, capable of building complex and dynamic integrated Excel models that capture the intricacies of business operations. WHY THIS COURSE:In this practical, examples- and discussion-heavy course, you will learn &amp; apply the principles&nbsp;that experienced management consultants and FP&amp;A leaders use in financial and operational business modeling. This experience will walk you through the step-by-step methods for data acquisition, model structuring, and building integrated 3-statement financial and operating models. It focuses on modeling for performing and underperforming businesses, not investment banking transactions. SHOULD I JOIN THIS COURSE:Whether you are a financial analyst, Controller, Director of FP&amp;A, or CFO, you will build greater confidence and critical thinking skills. While other financial modeling training mostly focuses on model-building, how financial statements connect, and plugging in numbers from super-clean data, this program will walk you through real-life scenarios and the strategic financial considerations you'll be making in your work. This is not a foundational course. And despite the title, it does not require advanced skills -- it requires advanced, higher-level thinking. The people who enroll tend to have a decent amount of professional experience. Despite this, there is no specific level cutoff and anyone, from any background, will get a ton out of it. Because the program is live and cohort-based, it provides a hands-on and immersive experience with a 20-year finance practitioner and a group of smart, driven professionals just like you. The modeling techniques learned are the same techniques and methods employed in small entrepreneurial businesses, mid-market companies, and Fortune 1000s. The ability to build powerful financial models is no longer just for investment bankers and Excel gurus. It's a necessity for corporate finance and FP&amp;A professionals too. WHY LEARN FROM CARL:Carl was originally engaged by one of the leading management consulting firms in the U.S. to design and develop a business modeling curriculum for experienced advisors. He understood that the program would be invaluable for financial professionals of all types, including turnaround and restructuring consultants, FP&amp;A advisors, CFOs, private equity analysts, and accountants. -------------------------------------------------------📆 COHORT SCHEDULE:------------------------------------------------------- 10 Sessions, 2 hours eachTuesdays and Fridays, 9am - 11am CDT -------------------------------------------------------Total Live Commitment: 20.0 hoursTotal CPE: 20.0 credits------------------------------------------------------- January 2026 Cohort: ▪️ Tuesday, Jan 13th▪️ Friday, Jan 16th▪️ Tuesday, Jan 20th▪️ Friday, Jan 23rd▪️ Tuesday, Jan 27th▪️ Friday, Jan 30th▪️ Tuesday, Feb 3rd▪️ Friday, Feb 6th▪️ Tuesday, Feb 10th▪️ Friday, Feb 13th -----------------------------------------------------------Seidman Financial is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org. Seidman Financial is a division of Seidman Global LLC.

What this course is all about...

What We Cover

Fridays: October 18, 25 and November 1, 8, 15

Course schedule

Aspiring financial analysts seeking to develop advanced modeling skills for career growth in finance, investments, and banking.

Corporate finance professionals seeking to build robust financial models to support strategic planning, capital raises and allocations.

CFOs and finance leaders looking to elevate their team's capabilities in financial modeling for strategic planning and value creation.

Financial managers aiming to optimize business performance through data-driven decision-making using advanced financial models.

Private equity analysts seeking expertise in advanced financial modeling to assess potential acquisitions and improve portfolio performance.

Accountants looking to expand their skillset by mastering advanced financial modeling techniques beyond core accounting and Controllership.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

A key obstacle for financial modelers is evolving models without adding unnecessary complexity. You'll gain a deep understanding of key financial concepts and model-building principles that will allow your financial models to grow seamlessly without breaking or getting clunky.

Develop exceptional technical expertise in financial modeling

You will learn how to incorporate various aspects of finance -- including accounting, corporate finance, and investment analysis -- into your financial models. This comprehensive approach will allow you to analyze and interpret financial data from multiple end-user perspectives.

Position for the benefit of your audience, not just yourself

You'll learn the foundations of finance and accounting that you need to understand the connections across the 3 core financial statements. You'll get comfortable with how the changes in certain business drivers hit the financials and what the company can do to manage them.

Understand how the 3 financial statements -- the P&L, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows -- connect and influence each other

Microsoft Excel continues to be the gold standard for most financial modeling. While it's not always the perfect tool, learning how to perform in Excel will allow you to leverage your model for use in other platforms.

Master Excel functionality

The goal of financial modeling isn't to build a financial model. The goal is to develop financial intelligence to support business decisions. The development of your financial models will allow you to better understand the drivers and nuances of the business and what can be done.

Gain a thorough understanding of the drivers of financial performance

You'll be exposed to real-world financial scenarios and business cases, which will enable you to develop strong problem-solving skills. You'll learn to analyze complex financial data, identify trends and patterns, and derive insights that can inform quicker business decisions.

Improve problem-solving skills

Financial models are only as good as the underlying data and assumptions. Increase your confidence in front of your peers and leadership by development a thorough understanding of the context behind the assumptions.

Increased confidence in decision support and building defensible assumptions

Crafting the financial model is one thing, but being able to manage it and communicate what is say is something entirely different. You'll learn to identify what's most important to leadership, third-parties, and business partners to present your models effectively.

Effective communication and presentation abilities

You'll be in a cohort-based group of smart people just like you. You'll discover their backstories, what they do for work, how they've gotten to where they are today, and what they can bring to the learning community. You'll be expected to share the same.

Grow your professional network

📈 Build sophisticated financial models that enable you to make strategic business decisions and optimize business outcomes.


Carl Seidman CPA | Microsoft MVP

Principal, Seidman Financial | Microsoft MVP

MSP T1C2 (Jan 2026)

Financial professionals are responsible for getting the numbers right. They're tasked with understanding what they mean and the implications on the business. Many people working in finance and accounting are masters of the analysis, but they fail at the delivery. It's a wasted opportunity. And some of the most qualified technical specialists get passed over for projects and promotions. Effective communication is consistently rated the #1 most desirable skill, not just in finance but in all business. Many finance and accounting professionals aren't effective communicators. They overwhelm their audiences with complex content, leaving them confused. The ability to connect with an audience is vital to the success of both the practitioner and the organization. There are three (3) core elements for delivering effective financial presentations. 1) Technical competence2) Mastering the medium3) Managing the message In this program, audiences will learn from an FP&amp;A practitioner, Second City- and Improv Olympic trained performer and award-winning speaker, blending professional delivery with cognitive science, data-rich content, and executive presence. ----------------------------------------------------📆 COHORT STRUCTURE:---------------------------------------------------- 8 Sessions, 2 hours eachTuesdays and Fridays, 1pm - 3pm CDT ----------------------------------------------------Total Live Commitment: 16.0 hoursTotal CPE: 16.0 credits---------------------------------------------------- March 2026 Cohort: ▪️ Tues, Mar 3 | 1pm▪️ Fri, Mar 6 | 1pm▪️ Tues, Mar 10 | 1pm▪️ Fri, Mar 13 | 1pm▪️ Tues, Mar 17 | 1pm▪️ Fri, Mar 20 | 1pm▪️ Tues, Mar 31 | 1pm▪️ Fri, Apr 3 | 1pm Seidman Financial is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org. Seidman Financial is a division of Seidman Global LLC.

Elevate your confidence, executive presence, and strategy in finance.

Course syllabus

Consultants who advise businesses on financial strategy and need to communicate complex solutions in an easily digestible format.

Finance Professionals responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and analysis who aim to communicate and simplify complex financial topics.

Financial Analysts and FP&amp;A Managers who need to present data-driven insights to cross-functional teams and want to enhance storytelling.

Accountants and Auditors who need to explain compliance and financial standing to client/internal teams and wish to do so more confidently.

Investment Bankers who regularly pitch to clients and investors, and are looking to refine their presentation skills to close more deals.

<ul><li>Learn how to weave data into compelling narratives that resonate with both financial and non-financial audiences.</li><li>Acquire techniques for using visuals like charts and graphs to enhance your story.</li><li>Understand the psychology behind effective storytelling to better engage audiences.</li></ul>

Mastering the Art of Financial Storytelling

<ul><li>Gain insights into the best practices for presenting financial data visually.</li><li>Discover how to select the right chart types and design elements to make data more impactful.</li><li>Learn the do's and don'ts of color schemes and typography for better readability.</li></ul>

Effective Data Visualization Techniques

<ul><li>Equip yourself with strategies to handle sensitive topics like budget cuts, layoffs, or missed forecasts.</li><li>Learn how to maintain composure and effectively communicate during high-stakes discussions.</li><li>Gain skills in conflict resolution to navigate challenging financial dialogues.</li></ul>

Navigating Difficult Conversations in Finance

<ul><li>Understand how to simplify complex financial terms and concepts for broader understanding.</li><li>Develop a toolkit of analogies and metaphors to make financial data more relatable.</li><li>Learn how to gauge your audience's financial literacy level and adjust your language accordingly.</li></ul>

Translating Financial Jargon for Non-Financial Teams

<ul><li>Learn how to tailor your financial presentations to meet the specific needs and concerns of clients or investors.</li><li>Master the art of persuasive speaking to gain buy-in more effectively.</li><li>Understand how to structure your presentation for maximum impact.</li><li>Gain tips for handling Q&amp;A</li></ul>

Enhancing Presentation Skills for Client Pitches

<ul><li>Discover how to establish yourself as a trusted financial advisor within your organization.</li><li>Learn techniques for effectively validating data and recommendations.</li><li>Master the art of delivering bad news.</li></ul>

Building Credibility through Financial Communication

<ul><li>Understand the role of EI in effective financial communication.</li><li>Gain practical tips for reading your audience and adapting your communication style accordingly.</li><li>Learn how to manage your own emotions to remain composed and focused.</li><li>Master techniques for building rapport.</li></ul>

Leveraging Emotional Intelligence (EI) in Finance

🗣️ Delivering effective financial presentations is notoriously difficult. Learn how to master the art of communication in finance.


Capitol Broadcasting | Cohort 1

MSP T2C1 (Mar 2026)

40% OFF EARLY-BIRD&nbsp;HOLIDAY DEAL. JOIN NOW! Join 500+&nbsp;students breaking through the 0 to 1 startup wall. Get the tools &amp; network you need to find and validate a B2B SaaS product-market fit.

Join the lucky 10% of founders who found the PMF and built successful startups

Mondays & Wednesdays

Schedule items can also be used to convey commitments outside of specific time slots (like weekly projects or daily office hours).

Weekly homework projects

Saas Startup Founders from 0 to 1 who want to save years of research and don't run out of money before the next round

Enterprise Innovation Labs looking to expand the company's product offering with innovations fast and cost-effectively

Startup Accelerators and Incubators who want to boost their ROI by increasing alumni's chances of successful exit

Startup Studios with Saas startups in their portfolio. Who want to de-risk their investment and successfully cash out on the next round

What you’ll learn out of this course

Less figgly-wiggly theory, more practical advice. Understand the practical framework, decide on your next steps, and get to action with helpful templates and lead sourcing hacks.


  An Actionable Guide

How do you know if you've found a product-market fit? We go through several real cases and learn the red and green flags: to separate reality from wishful thinking. How to diligence your customer validation qualitatively and quantitatively with sales funnel analysis templates.

Real Success and Failure Cases Analyzed

Finding customer discovery prospects is hard. We will start to build top-quality prospects flow together. You don't have to settle. By the end, you will have all the hacks, websites and tools to source leads at scale on your own.

Streamlined Customer Discovery Leads Search Process

Searching is more fun with friends. Learn from others' mistakes, get support and advice. Your founder peers will hold you accountable in your search and exchange great lifehacks.

Brothers-in-Arms Community / Network

Learn How to Find and Validate the Product-Market Fit for your B2B Saas Startup

Tetiana Nikitenko

Cohort 2

Cohort 3

Start Winning with AI. Are manual tasks, missed signals, and scattered workflows slowing you down? You’re not alone. Many sellers feel time-strapped, stuck prepping late at night, and frustrated by deals that stall or slip away. We designed this course because we’ve been there too. Sellers don’t need another tool to manage, they need real ways to focus on what matters: closing deals faster and with confidence. Join us, and leave with practical skills you can apply immediately to your own pipeline. What You’ll Learn: In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use AI to: Prioritize high-value leads so you stop wasting time on low-quality ones. Personalize outreach that gets replies and builds momentum. Prep smarter for meetings with POVs, discovery questions, and clear next steps. Create urgency that closes deals and moves buyers off the fence. How We’ll Do It: This isn’t theory, it’s action. In each 90 minute session you’ll: Work directly with AI tools on your active pipeline, not hypothetical case studies. Experiment side by side with peers, learning what works and swapping best practices. Get guided playbooks, templates, and exercises you can use immediately. Walk away with a network of sellers you can count on long after the workshop. Build with sellers like you. Apply it to your own deals. Leave with a playbook. What You Will Do: Build smarter lead lists with AI enrichment to zero in on high-value opportunities. Craft personalized outreach that gets replies by turning prospect data into tailored messages and sequences that stitch together their data and your solution. Generate meeting prep packs with AI-driven POVs, discovery questions, and next-step outlines so you walk in ready. Create urgency in deals by surfacing buyer pain, ROI triggers, and cost-of-inaction signals that move buyers forward. Why Join? This course is built for ambitious sellers who are tired of manual prep and missed opportunities. If you’re ready to: Save hours of wasted time Show up to every meeting prepared to win Shorten your sales cycle Close more deals with confidence Join us. Seats are limited. Don’t just sell, start winning with AI.

Close More Deals, Faster with AI-Powered Sales Workflows

Live Workshop Dates:<ul><li>Oct 28th</li><li>Oct 30th</li><li>Nov 4th</li><li>Nov 6th</li></ul>

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Sellers who want to be more efficient with their time. Who want to speed up their sales cycles to close more revenue and earn more money.

Sales Leaders who want to reduce friction in the sales process and have sellers spend more time with the right prospects to win more often.

Revenue Enablement drivers who want to leverage AI to equip sellers with the most effective tools, skills and processes to win more deals.

This course is for B2B Sellers, Sales and GTM Leaders, Revenue Enablement Drivers, and Founders.

Stop Wasting Time on Leads and Deals that Don't convert or Drive Revenue. Start Winning with AI.

Tired of wasting time on low-quality leads? <ul><li>Hone your ICP and prioritize high-quality leads with AI.</li><li>Boost conversion rates and improve qualification.</li><li>Enrich and expand your lead lists.</li></ul>

Find Better Leads with AI

Struggling to cut through the noise with generic messages? <ul><li>Boost response rates with AI-driven personalization.</li><li>Generate prospect-specific email copy that resonates.</li><li>Prove you know buyers before you ever meet.</li></ul>

Personalize Outreach Messaging with AI.

Rushed between back-to-back meetings or stuck prepping late at night? <ul><li>Surface buyer pain points, triggers, and priorities quickly.</li><li>AI-generate outlines, POVs, and discovery questions.</li><li>Walk in ready with clear next steps to advance the deal.</li></ul>

Get Meeting-Ready with AI

Deals dragging because buyers stick with the status quo? <ul><li>Expose blockers and highlight the cost of inaction.</li><li>Align around buyer priorities and ROI with tailored messaging.</li><li>Position next steps as critical milestones to accelerate momentum.</li></ul>

Lightning Lessons

Pre-LOI Financial Due Diligence for Small Business Buyers