INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL CLARITY FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

I help owners make confident decisions with tailored financial insight, clear interpretation, and practical direction. My work centers on giving you the clarity to understand your numbers, evaluate options, and move forward without second guessing.

I bring institutional grade judgment and skill to the local business owner, built on two decades of senior level analysis across thousands of companies and twelve years running my own high fixed cost operation. No complexity, no noise, no hidden incentives – just independent clarity when it matters most.

A senior finance partner for owners who want clarity, not complexity.

Small‑business owners carry the weight of big decisions, yet they rarely have access to clear, unbiased financial insight. Most are left interpreting dashboards, sorting through reports, or relying on advice from people with incentives they can’t see.

I’ve spent my career analyzing businesses of every size – from early stage companies to complex, capital intensive operations. I’ve also lived the realities of running my own highly leveraged, high fixed cost business. That combination – deep analytical experience plus real operating pressure – shapes how I work.

I provide independent, experience driven insight that helps owners understand their numbers, evaluate major decisions, and move forward with confidence. No dashboards as a service. No templated reports. No “skin in the game.” Just clarity.

John Thierfelder, CFA

My Beliefs

Cash is king. Profit is an accounting measure – it means nothing if the bank account is empty
Owners deserve financial insight they can actually use, not charts they’re left to interpret
Every business is different, so every analysis must be tailored
Independence matters — especially when decisions involve brokers, partners, vendors or lenders
Good decisions come from seeing the full picture: upside, downside, cash flow, timing, and long‑term impact
Growth should be profitable, not just busy
One size never fits all

These principles shape every engagement I take on.

What I Do

I help owners make better decisions by giving them the financial interpretation they’ve never had access to. My work is not reporting, bookkeeping, or dashboards – it’s senior‑level analysis applied to the real decisions that shape a business.

I evaluate opportunities, risks, timing, and cash flow so owners can move forward with confidence. I translate complex financial signals into practical direction, tailored to the realities of each business. And I stay independent – no commissions, no incentives, no hidden angles.

My role is simple: I help you understand what’s happening, what it means, and what to do next.

My Role

I work alongside a business’s bookkeeping and accounting team. They handle the record‑keeping, reporting, compliance and taxes; I focus on what those numbers mean for decisions, cash flow, and the future of the business.

My work sits between the books and the big decisions. I build budgeting systems, cash flow forecasts, and long term financial plans that help owners understand timing, risk, and what their choices will mean months or years from now. This is senior level interpretation – not reporting, not bookkeeping, and not tax work.

I don’t replace bookkeepers or CPAs, and I don’t overlap with their responsibilities. I strengthen their work by connecting the financial picture they create to the decisions the owner needs to make.

I’m here to help owners understand what’s happening, what it means, and what to do next.

How I work with owners

I work directly with the owner – not through layers, not through dashboards, and not through templated reports. My work is conversational, ongoing, and grounded in the realities of the business. I stay close to the numbers, close to the timing, and close to the decisions that matter.

I’m not here to overwhelm you with data or build complexity. I’m here to help you see what’s happening, understand the implications, and move forward with confidence. Owners bring the context; I bring the financial judgment.

I help the owner make better decisions by giving him the tools and insight he’s never had access to.

What You Can expect

I keep the work straightforward. You get direct answers, practical insight, and a partner who understands the pressures of running a business. I stay close to the numbers and close to the decisions, so you’re never left guessing what something means or what to do with it.

I’m not here to add noise or complexity. I’m here to give the owner the tools and insight he’s never had access to – the kind that makes decisions easier, timing clearer, and the future more predictable.

Get clarity before your next move

Independent financial insight for the decisions that matter

Grounded in the long-term resilience of the juniper.