When Franklin Nova says we’re built for the long game, this is what we mean.

Castle Learning wasn’t just a client. They were our first.

It started with a phone call. One of the company’s advisors reached out just as Brian was transitioning out of Deloitte. The founders included four partners, and they were working through the buyout of one partner from the business. They needed a clear, trusted valuation to move forward and we stepped in.

That initial engagement turned into a lasting relationship built on trust, shared strategy, and a steady focus on what’s next.

Over the next several years, we supported Castle through a range of compliance and planning work. Eventually, the bigger question surfaced:

What comes next?

The partners were beginning to think about retirement. Ideally, they wanted to transition ownership to employees. We helped them explore that possibility by modeling options, assessing fit, and discussing what internal succession might look like.

But as the process unfolded, it became clear: while some employees were interested, none had the financial means or risk appetite to move forward.

Other realities set in too. Lifestyle considerations. Shifting priorities. A desire to preserve the business while easing out of day-to-day responsibilities.

At that point, we shifted into sale-readiness. We guided Castle through valuation, buyer outreach, and the full transaction process, ultimately leading to a successful acquisition by Harris School Solutions.

What started as a single valuation became a 10-year partnership.

This is what Franklin Nova was built for. Not just getting to a deal, but helping business owners navigate the full journey of growth, transition, and sale with clarity and care.