Name: Jared Friar

With Calder Since: 2024

Current Role: Jared is a Sell-Side Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor at Calder Capital, where he works with business owners preparing for and navigating the sale of their companies. He advises clients throughout the transaction process, from valuation and market positioning through buyer outreach, negotiations, due diligence, deal structuring, and closing.

Jared primarily works with owners of privately held businesses, helping them understand their options, evaluate potential buyers and deal structures, and make informed decisions throughout a process that is often both financially significant and deeply personal.

Background: Before joining Calder Capital, Jared built his career across finance, analytics, strategy, and growth. He began his career in financial services with U.S. Bank and JPMorgan Chase before spending more than a decade at Amway, where he held roles spanning analytics, strategic planning, and performance marketing. His work included translating complex financial and operating data into practical insights for business leaders and helping guide strategic decisions across a global organization.

That background shapes Jared's approach to M&A today. He combines financial analysis with a practical understanding of business operations and strategy, while recognizing that selling a privately held company involves considerably more than arriving at a valuation. He works closely with owners to understand what they want from a transaction, anticipate issues before they become obstacles, and maintain leverage and optionality throughout the process.

Jared earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Western Michigan University and was previously a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) through the Exit Planning Institute.

A Grand Rapids native, Jared spent portions of his early career in Denver and Chicago before returning to West Michigan with his wife, Emily, to raise their family near home.

Outside of Work: Jared enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, fishing, and getting outdoors whenever possible. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys baseball, basketball, football, and golf, along with live music and concerts.

LinkedIn: Click here to connect with Jared Friar