Silvertree, LLC

10/14/2026

Many business owners spend years building value in their company.
But when was the last time you asked whether your business would provide the options you want if you decided to step away tomorrow?
Thank you to Portage County Business Council, Inc. for the opportunity to lead a conversation around "Value Before the Deal" and the decisions that can either create or limit future choices for business owners.

We appreciate everyone who participated and shared their experiences. The thoughtful discussion made for a valuable morning, and we're grateful to support a stronger business community throughout Central Wisconsin.

10/08/2026

Retirement was never really about "doing nothing."
For most successful professionals, it's about freedom.

Freedom to spend more time with family.
Freedom to travel when you want.
Freedom to pursue projects that excite you.
Freedom to decide how you spend your time each day.

The real question is:
At what point does work become optional?

Not because you have to stop working.
But because you've built enough financial independence that you can choose.

Many people spend years wondering:
Am I closer than I think? Do I have enough? Am I actually on track?

The interesting part is that a few intentional conversations can often provide far more clarity than years of uncertainty.

Would knowing where you stand change how you think about the future?

10/07/2026

Sometimes fresh air and business development go hand in hand. Thanks Chuck Price at Blue Collar Consulting, LLC for a fantastic afternoon out at Sand Valley Golf Resort. Always a joy talking shop with you !

09/29/2026

💧 Wonderful Water Run 2026 💧

One of the things we love most about Central Wisconsin is how people come together to support causes that make a lasting impact right here at home.

This weekend, Adam, Tammy, and Elena had the opportunity to volunteer at the Wonderful Water Run, while Jon and his wife, Sarah, took on the half marathon.

We're grateful for organizations, volunteers, sponsors, and participants who invest their time and energy into protecting the water resources that make our communities such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's event a success. We're already looking forward to next year!

09/22/2026

A question every business owner should ask:
If an unexpected opportunity or life event occurred tomorrow, would your business be ready?
Most owners are focused on running the business.
Few are intentionally measuring and building enterprise value.
On October 14, we'll discuss why enterprise value should be the North Star, regardless of when or whether a transition ever occurs.
Join us at the PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL BUSINESS X-CHANGE. Register at the link below:

BUSINESS X-CHANGE PRESENTATION OCTOBER 14, 2026 Business X-Change meets regularly throughout the year. Our October X-Change will be held at the Portage County Business Council office. Business X-Change allows business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from...

09/16/2026

For years, I believed the business worked because I was in the middle of everything. It didn't. I was the ceiling.

Learning to delegate was the hardest thing I've done as an owner. But it changed the growth of the firm, and it gave me my personal life back.

It also changed how I think about succession. A company built around one person is harder to hand off, and it may not be worth what the owner assumes it is.

Authority Magazine asked me about succession planning. I ended up talking as much about letting go – the "what's next" question a lot of owners avoid – and why the personal plan and the business plan have to move together.

If you still find yourself inspecting every task you hand off, you may see some of yourself in this one:

Building a real business is not about proving you can do everything yourself. It is about building a team, empowering people, and creating…

09/09/2026

The happiest retiree I know is a 75-year-old who mows grass for his retirement job.
Not because he needs the money. Because he likes it. He fishes, he works outside a few hours a week, and he sleeps fine at night knowing the financial side is handled.
Nobody talks about that version of retirement. The industry sells beaches and golf courses. Real retirement, the good kind, usually looks more like freedom to spend your days exactly how you want, whether that is a boat, a garden, or a mower.
The money is not the goal. The money is what buys the choice.

09/02/2026

Most people think successful decisions start with finding the right opportunity.

But what if they actually start with asking the right question?

Jason Glisczynski recently shared this perspective in Plastics Today:

"Will this strengthen enterprise value?"

While he was speaking specifically to business owners, the principle applies far beyond business.

Whether you're evaluating a new investment, planning for retirement, considering a major purchase, or deciding what comes next in life, the best decisions tend to come from clarity rather than activity.

Before moving forward, it may be worth asking:

Will this move me closer to the future I want to create?

It's a simple question, but perhaps not an easy one.

What's one decision you've made that had a bigger impact than you expected?

Read the full interview here:
https://www.plasticstoday.com/industry-trends/plastics-manufacturers-must-balance-growth-with-personal-wealth-protection

08/27/2026

Financial planning conversations tend to focus on numbers. Portfolio balances, tax brackets, contribution limits, and withdrawal rates. Those numbers matter. They are also not the whole story.
The reason someone saves for 30 years is not to watch a number grow on a screen. It is to have the freedom to spend a Wednesday afternoon with their grandchildren. To stop checking email on vacation. To know that if something happens, their family is protected.
At Silvertree, the plan starts with the life you want, not the product someone wants to sell you. The numbers serve that vision. They are the mechanism, not the destination.

08/27/2026

On August 14, our Branch Forward event at the Food & Farm Exploration Center reminded us that meaningful relationships are built through shared experiences—not just meetings.
Together, we enjoyed delicious food, learned about the flavors and culture behind Floribbean cuisine, celebrated two birthdays, and watched new friendships form around the table. It was an evening filled with curiosity, connection, and plenty of reasons to smile.
We’re proud to create a client experience that goes beyond the expected—because financial guidance may begin with the numbers, but lasting relationships are built by bringing people together.
If you have a friend, family member, or colleague who would appreciate this kind of personal and connected approach, we would be honored by an introduction. There is always room at the table for someone you care about.