John M. Leonetti, CFP, CM&AA, is the owner of Pinnacle Equity Solutions, an exit strategies firm specializing in exit strategy design and execution services to advisors and their privately held business owners. In addition, he is the former owner of Beacon Hill Equity Group, an advisory business that provided comprehensive exit strategy planning and investment advisory services to high-net-worth business owners (he followed his own instructions in successfully exiting that business). He also teaches private finance to MBA students as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University; has been a financial consultant with Smith Barney; a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith; a mergers and acquisitions associate; and a manager in his family business.

Jacket Illustration: Corbis/Lael Henderson