Introducing...

The Entrepreneurship Trap

The Entrepreneurship Trap

by Curtis Hearn, CFP, CEPA

What is The Entrepreneurship Trap?

As a small business owner, you pour your heart into your company—but will it deliver the financial freedom you dream of? Curtis Hearn, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Certified Exit Planning Advisor®, guides entrepreneurs like you to avoid the “entrepreneurship trap” and create a sellable business that unlocks generational wealth. With over two decades of experience and a personal journey through a business exit, Curtis offers practical, proven strategies to help you plan for a successful sale and a secure retirement. Explore his forthcoming book, The Entrepreneurship Trap, and access exclusive resources to start your journey today.
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Check Out the Free Resources

Founder Money Podcast
Real conversations with business owners and advisors about life before and after the exit. Each episode covers a practical question founders face, from valuing a company to managing the money that comes after the sale.
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The Founder Freedom Calculator
Can your business fund your financial independence? This calculator estimates what you have, what you’ll need, and what gap, if any, may be left to fill.
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Questions to Ask a Private Equity Buyer
Selling to a Private Equity Group (PEG) can be a great financial decision… but is it the right decision for you? These 14 essential questions will help you determine if the PEG is the best strategic, cultural, and long-term fit for your business. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to walk into negotiations & your final sale with confidence.
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The Free Business Valuation Tool
Curious what your business might be worth? Fill out our brief 10-minute questionnaire and receive a FREE opinion of value using updated, industry-specific research. With only 12 questions and a couple of basic financial metrics, we can provide a range of value for your business based on decades of expert research and experience in business valuation. Give it a try… it’s 100% free!
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What’s Your Business Worth?

Curious what your business might be worth? Fill out our brief 10-minute questionnaire and receive a FREE opinion of value using updated, industry-specific research. With only 12 questions and a couple of basic financial metrics, we can provide a range of value for your business based on decades of expert research and experience in business valuation. Give it a try… it’s 100% free!
Get My FREE Valuation

Selling to Private Equity?

Selling to a Private Equity Group (PEG) can be a great financial decision… but is it the right decision for you? These 14 essential questions will help you determine if the PEG is the best strategic, cultural, and long-term fit for your business. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to walk into negotiations & your final sale with confidence.

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What's Inside?

Did you know that only 7% of business owners approaching retirement are able to unlock the wealth in their businesses and retire comfortably? But it doesn’t have to be this way. Through the engaging journey of fictional business owner Alex Johnson, Curtis illustrates how to avoid the “E-Trap” by building a valuable (and sellable) business that funds your future. 


This book is a guided tour through the world of exiting your business, including helpful insights on:

  • Setting your long-term financial goals and knowing when you’ve hit them
  • Building a business that attracts “top dollar” offers when you go to sell
  • Navigating the sale process with confidence
  • Building the right deal team to carry you over the finish line
  • Reducing taxes and thereby increasing your sale proceeds
  • Planning a confident retirement full of purpose and fulfillment
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Associate Financial Planner

Megan Green, CFP®, EA

As Associate Financial Planner, Megan supports clients in many aspects of the financial planning process at DeepRiver Wealth. She conducts data gathering activities, performs detailed analyses, proposes recommendations, and identifies potential planning opportunities, all under the supervision and support of senior advisors.

Megan developed an early interest in finance and has built her career around helping others make informed financial decisions. Prior to joining DeepRiver Wealth, she worked as a financial content writer, where she honed her ability to communicate complex financial topics in a clear and effective way. She loves helping clients understand the rationale behind their financial plan, so they feel confident and empowered.

Committed to continuous learning, Megan has received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) designations, strengthening her comprehensive and tax-centric planning expertise.

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“8 Most Common Risks to a Happy Retirement.”

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Client Service Manager

Gabby Hartigan

As a Client Service Manager, Gabby focuses primarily on providing a “white glove” client experience as she acts as a liaison between the financial institutions and our clients. In this vital role, Gabby facilitates a wide range of client needs, including onboarding, account maintenance, client scheduling, money movements, and more.

Gabby’s commitment to excellence, proficiency in technology tools, and dedication to serving her clients makes her a valuable asset to DeepRiver Wealth. “Each client that I work with can expect to be treated with respect and know that I will perform to the best of my ability each day throughout the entirety of our relationship.”

Gabby attended Georgia State University and is a big supporter of the Braves baseball team. For the past three years, she has volunteered at the Shepherd Center Derby Day which is a fundraising event for their Recreation Therapy Program. When she’s not working, Gabby enjoys traveling and working on home improvement projects.

Founder and President

Curtis Hearn, MBA, CFP®, CEPA®

In His Own Words… If I’m completely honest, when I first stepped into the financial industry over 20 years ago, I did so with a great deal of trepidation. Deep down, I felt a small tinge of resignation in trading in my idealistic dreams of being a high school teacher for the cold and impersonal world of finance. And the first several years did little to encourage me, as I learned the hard way that conflicts of interest are rampant in the industry. Sadly, the ways in which the advisor community can abuse the trust of clients are as numerous as the number of products that they sell. Then, just as I was ready to quit the industry, I was introduced to the “fee-only” advisor community—a whole new approach to financial advice. There I found an environment in which clients and advisors work together to reach the client’s goals, and where conflicts of interest are eliminated. I also found a peaceful, collegiate atmosphere, where advisors work together on the client’s behalf, rather than in cutthroat competition. On top of all that, I was blessed to work alongside and be mentored by one of the most insightful and experienced advisors in the country. Under Jon Houk’s tutelage, I’ve found a passion for teaching again, only this time by helping executives, business owners, and retirees break down complex financial problems into simple decisions. I get the satisfaction of helping them stride forward with confidence towards the future, even as the markets and political world shifts around them. Over the last two decades, I completed an MBA, obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, and added exit planning (including the in-depth CEPA certification) for business owners to my service offerings. I’ve also started three businesses, exited one personally, and helped numerous clients through their own business exits as well. I am an incorrigible serial entrepreneur at heart, and I love working with that same community. I also enjoy working with executives and retirees to help them plan for retirement, invest prudently, and leave a legacy worthy of their hard work and reputation.