Walter H. Gilligan, MBA

Walt is a Senior Director at SD Capital, leading the full-service investment banking firm helping middle-market companies create and maximize business value. We offer strategic evaluation and execution of various downstream sales and monetization pathways. Walt joined SD Capital in 2023 bringing 25 years of experience in management consulting, transaction services execution and business turnaround situations. Walt is responsible for the Value Advisory stage where we guide owners through the complex process of preparing for sale, de-risking, and growing their companies.

Walt brings significant experience in creating strategic value creation plans, financial analysis, detailed business planning, communication, project management and client engagement skills.

Prior to joining SD Capital Walt played a key role with a Fortune 100 company called the most acquisitive company in the world by Bloomberg. As part of the Corporate Development team, Walt supported 100’s of acquisitions and integrations across multiple business units including systems integration, management consulting, software engineering and government contracting service lines. Walt has partnered with private equity firms and lending institutions in the business turnaround arena to assess distressed companies, create turnaround plans and implement action plans to create value in those scenarios.

Walt also worked for General Electric where he completed the Financial Management Program, “FMP” a two-year master class in the financial and business management process of one of the world’s best managed companies.

Education

MBA – Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland

B.A. – Political Science, Dickinson College

Professional and Community Involvement

Member—Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions “AMAA”

Member—neXco National

SHARE

Do you have a hobby/personal passion?
My family.

What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
The people you work with matter most.

People would be surprised to know that I…
I’ve worked with Jack Welch!

What is the best or most interesting thing about your career?
Consulting project for my favorite NHL team – Go Devils! Beat the Rangers!!

Do you have a “motto”? (spoken or unspoken)
Two things can be true at the same time.

Walter Gilligan

Our Thoughts On

FEATURED

Big Problem: A Not-for-profit Client Out Of 401(k) Compliance.


Big Thinking: Allowing More Contributions By Highly Paid Employees.

Shareholder JASON LUMPKIN serves as a Practice Unit Leader for SDAdvantage Retirement Solutions. He has more than 17 years of qualified retirement plan experience, primarily serving middle market, closely held businesses. His background includes plan design, documentation reporting, participant education, and ongoing administration for defined contribution plans, including employee stock ownership plans.
While working with one of our non profit clients, Jason’s team discovered that the organization was failing non-discrimination testing due to poor 401(k) participation among its employees. To address the issue, we recommended the implementation of a second retirement plan, a 403(b) plan, that would cover only the highly paid employees, allowing them to contribute the maximum amounts without concern for the limits imposed by the 401(k) plan’s non-discrimination testing. “These top employees were no longer constrained by the limits of the 401(k) plan testing results,” Jason said. “Plus, the organization no longer had to be concerned about the non-discrimination test. We also avoided implementing a “safe harbor” design in the 401(k) plan, which can result in costly employer contributions and vesting provisions that favor short-term employees.” Schneider Downs provides Big Thinking and Personal focus in delivering a variety of services for large and small businesses, both publicly and privately held, as well as nonprofit organizations, government entities and more. Through our commitment to thought leadership and knowledge management, we deliver the solutions our clients need with a personal commitment to service.

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