Credit unions continue adding members at a record pace. Membership grew by a record-high 4.5% as of end-2018 (up from 4.1% in 2017)], fueled by strong U.S. economic performance, an optimistic outlook on the U.S. economy, low unemployment rates, and high levels of consumption. With 116.2 million members across all 5,375 federally-insured credit unions in […]
If the recession hit tomorrow, would your organization be ready? While this may be a scary thought, rather than panicking or ignoring the issue, you should focus on proactively seizing opportunities today to ensure the success of your credit union and your members in the future. John Dearing, Managing Director at Capstone, discusses this important […]
“At our last strategic planning session, we realized we needed to do something else in addition to organic growth to meet our company’s five-year goals,” Dan* recently shared with me on the phone. Like many middle market companies, organic growth was stagnant, and the company’s progress had plateaued. Dan saw the gap between where the […]
Hello and Happy New Year! Welcome to the first post in 2019. I always love the new year because it’s a great time to take a step back, reflect and refocus. Far too often business leaders get caught up in the day-to-day of running a company, putting out fires, or jumping to the next big […]
As a leader, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to simply keep doing something because that’s the way it has always been done. It is easy to fall into this trap without even realizing it. Everyone is busy and it can be tempting to default to autopilot and keep going about “business […]
Innovate, Collaborate, Succeed! The theme for the New Jersey Credit Union League’s (NJCUL) 83rd Annual Meeting & Convention could not be more exciting or more closely aligned with Capstone’s values of helping organizations’ grow. John Dearing, Capstone Managing Director was invited to speak at the NJCUL Convention on October 23 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His […]
Companies that grow in meaningful ways always take on a highly strategic approach to growth. This is because focus produces results. Lack of focus is like wandering around without any purpose or any clear direction of where you want to go. While you may walk for many miles, you’ll never reach your destination. On the […]
The possibilities may be endless, but your resources are not. For many business owners with limited time and money, deciding which ideas to pursue can be a challenge. Here are three ways to prioritize your options for growth: 1. Start with your company vision The best way to make sure you’re moving in the right direction […]
It can be easy to get stuck in the rut and slip into a routine. Far too often leaders stay the course simply because “it’s how we’ve always done things.” However unintentionally maintaining business as usual can be extremely dangerous for the future of your organization. The reality is that as time passes, your markets, […]
Microsoft has agreed to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. This is a massive transaction in the marketplace and is the largest acquisition by Microsoft to-date. At $196 per share, Microsoft will pay a 50% premium over LinkedIn’s closing shares on Friday, June 10. LinkedIn will continue to operate as a separate entity. There is also $725 […]
As a leader, it can be difficult to determine the best way to grow your business. Some leaders find themselves stuck in the same rut and struggle to generate new ideas to spur growth. They realize business as usual or what worked 10 years ago will no longer work in today’s market. On the other […]
Instead of investing in growth, companies this year have been holding more than $1.4 trillion in cash – close to a record $1.65 trillion in 2014. Oracle’s $56 billion cash stockpile is 1.5 times its sales and Cisco’s $60 billion in cash is 1.2 times its sales. Eleven companies have cash reserves double their annual […]
Expedia will buy HomeAway, a vacation rental site, for $3.9 billion. With this acquisition — its largest since buying Orbitz in 2014 for $1.3 billion — Expedia will compete more directly with Airbnb. Airbnb, through which people rent their homes to travelers, has become more popular in recent years, both with consumers looking for a […]
Most companies are seeking growth outside of their core business through organic means or mergers and acquisitions, according to a new survey by McKinsey. What’s interesting is that although many companies want to expand beyond their mainstay business, most do not have the capabilities to do so. Here are three best practice steps noted for successfully […]
When thinking about the best market for acquisition, many tend to focus on the market (or markets) in which they already operate. People feel very confident about what they know, for good reason– experience, past success, existing relationships, etc., but sometimes focusing on only one market means your perspective is myopic. There is little harm, […]
“We have a strong vision and a clear plan for growing the company in the future,” Sarah, the CEO, told me with complete confidence during a recent strategy session. Her CFO disagreed: “We have no vision.” Various members of her executive team shared similar sentiments privately with my team and me. Many expressed anxiety; they […]
I am excited to announce a new resource we’re launching on March 5: M&A Express. M&A Express is a series of high-impact videocasts that teach the essentials of M&A success in 20 minutes or less. Each videocast will cover one key aspect of growth through acquisitions. After every videocast, I will be present for a […]
Are you unusually busy? If you’re like most people the answer is yes! With the holiday season upon us, we are most of us inundated with commitments to work, family and friends. While it might be easy to get caught up in the bustle of the season, I recommend pausing to plan your growth path […]
Next year will be a strong one for strategic acquirers. A KPMG survey reports 82% of executives expect to execute at least one acquisition in 2015, up from 63% in 2014. This is consistent with what Capstone has been seeing in the marketplace. Our survey of midmarket executives earlier in 2014 revealed that, 60% of […]
Have you considered all your options for growth? I have found that some leaders are limiting their potential for company growth because they fail to examine all the possible ways to achieve it. Some are stuck in copycat mode, constantly mimicking the strategies of their competitors and playing catch-up. Others struggle to come up with […]
