Hi everyone!

The AIBD summer conference was a great forum for meeting with designers and learning from the classes and presenters. This conference also provided helpful information about what to do with your business when you are ready to semi-retire!

Some of the key points about semi-retiring included becoming aware of your own fear factors. If you are considering fully retiring or semi-retiring, consider these actions:

• Set time-sensitive goals in priority order.
• It is helpful to create a business plan with an end date.
• Test your own options and concepts.

It is essential and extremely important that you consider how a buyer looks at buying a business in these times. The generational priorities have changed and the possibility that you can sell your business might be smaller than you thought you could once realize. General advice is to evaluate what exit planning might look like for you.

• Be aware that your non-tangible assets can be valued – your reputation, clients, connections and relationships with builders, intellectual property, and more.
• Tangible assets can include plans and copyrights.

If you plan to stay in your current design business part time, as some designers are considering, you can half-retire and spend time on other interests!

Another session on lighting presented immerse experiences! The results were stunning and brought the homes to life with joy around every corner!

We also got to see the golden ratio tool/ruler. An interesting tool for the design industry! You can order it online.

Hope this helps you if you are considering half-retiring!

Thanks for reading!

Bernie