Meet Wayne Zell

Wayne M. Zell, Esq. is an active speaker, award-winning author. He has advised clients over 30 years on business succession, business exits, and estate planning. Wayne, a CExP (Certified Exit Planner) is an expert in complex estate planning, business planning, taxation, and business exit strategies.

His Amazon best-seller and award-winning book, Your Multimillion-Dollar Exit, contains a unique process to help entrepreneurs successfully architect the best exit from their businesses. The book captured the 2024 PenCraft Book Award and the 2024 American Legacy Book Award and has caught the attention of Entrepreneur Magazine as one of four Books for Entrepreneurs Looking to Break the Mold.

In Business Success(ion) Planning matters, Wayne represents the owners of closely held businesses and nonprofits on general business formation and operations, tax and exit planning, mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, and other CEO/founder issues. He serves on the boards of several privately held companies, so he can advise clients directly from infancy through to final sale. His passion for exit planning inspired him to write Your Multimillion-Dollar Exit, an easy-to-follow planner designed to help entrepreneurs build a strong foundation for exiting their businesses on their terms. (Amazon Link)

As an asset protection attorney, Wayne regularly advises his clients in structuring and preparing intricate revocable and irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, life insurance vehicles, charitable giving arrangements (including charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts), private foundations, public foundations, grant-making programs, and other estate planning matters.

Wayne hosts the Blueprint for Wealth videocast/podcast series, interviewing entrepreneurs about their secrets to success. He is featured on YouTube, Spotify, and ApplePodcast. His video and podcast guests include entrepreneurs from various industries.

With over 37 years of experience speaking, educating, advocating, writing, and advising clients on Business Success(ion) planning, he has become the architect behind hundreds of multimillion-dollar transactions.

Published Works

Your Multimillion-Dollar Exit: a Blueprint for Wealth Guide
The Wayne Zell Law Blog

Bar Admissions

Virginia, 1996
Maryland, 1985
District of Columbia, 1988
U.S. Tax Court, 1985
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1987
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1987

In the Media

Pro Bono Activities

McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, Cornerstone Board Member, 2010 - Present
Northern Virginia Family Service: Governance Committee, Chair, 2017 - 2023
Northern Virginia Family Service: Executive Committee, Board Member, 2017 - 2023

Classes & Seminars

Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning, George Mason University School of Business, Financial Planning and Wealth Management Concentration, Fall 2021- Present
Virginia Nonprofit Organizations, NBI Seminars - 2005
Advanced Estate Planning, Lorman Education Services - 2006
Estate Planning (CFP Accreditation), Bryant University / UBS - 2006

Academia

Adjunct Professor at George Mason University School of Business (Estate Planning)

Education

The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia
- J.D. -1985
- Honors: Dean’s List, BNA Law Student Award
University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce, Charlottesville, Virginia
- B.S. -1980
- Honors: Dean’s List, With Distinction
- Major: Commerce (Concentration in Accounting)