Private Equity Advisory Services
A Strategic Asset in Diligence
Helping Private Equity Firms Navigate Financial Services with Confidence
Cornerstone Advisors partners with private equity firms to unlock strategic value across the full investment lifecycle. From due diligence and product assessments to post-investment optimization and positioning, our team delivers deep industry expertise, an independent lens, and actionable insights. We help PE firms make informed investment decisions and empower portfolio companies to thrive in today’s competitive financial services landscape.
Whether it's evaluating a fintech’s roadmap, assessing a bank’s operations, or transforming sales effectiveness post-close, Cornerstone offers a unique blend of strategic, operational, and market intelligence grounded in decades of experience working with banks, credit unions, fintechs, and investors.

What Sets Us Apart
• Independent lens
• 360-degree view of the banking industry
• Data-driven analyses
• Benchmarking excellence
Experience and Results You Can Trust
1,300+
Financial Institutions Advised
100+
Fintechs Evaluated
30+
Investors Supported

Services
Comprehensive Support Before and After the Investment
Our services are tailored to meet the strategic goals of private equity firms at every stage of the investment process—from market validation and product evaluations to post-investment growth acceleration.
Pre-Investment Support
Product & Technology Evaluation: We assess scalability, innovation potential, roadmap alignment, and integration capabilities of software platforms to uncover both opportunities and red flags.
Market Analysis: We conduct detailed TAM assessments, competitive landscape reviews, and financial health checks to ensure investments align with PE firm strategies. We size up the total addressable market, analyze the competitive landscape, and review regulatory considerations to provide a clear picture of positioning and growth potential.
Financial Analysis: We evaluate revenue trends, gross margins, customer retention, and financial health metrics like burn rate and cash flow to ensure alignment with your investment thesis.
Post-Investment Support
Product Roadmap & Sales Optimization: We enhance product strategy, refine roadmaps, and strengthen demo and sales effectiveness to improve competitive advantage.
Operational and Organizational Assessment: We evaluate internal processes, management experience, and hiring strategies to ensure organizational scalability and readiness for growth.
Competitive Positioning & Market Monitoring: We conduct ongoing market analysis to refine positioning and anticipate industry shifts using our extensive network of experts.
Customized Regulatory & Security Analysis: We tailor due diligence and advisory around compliance, risk management, and data security specific to your target’s industry context.
Who We’ve Helped
We serve as an independent resource to leading firms; recently advising:
Meet the Experts Driving Outcomes

Sam Kilmer
Managing Director
Sam is a nationally sought-after speaker, industry research author, a regular contributor to Cornerstone's blog, GonzoBanker, and moderator of the Fintech Hustle podcast. He is often quoted in industry publications and serves as a judge for Finovate and BAI Global Innovation awards. He is an active member of the Association for Financial Technology (AFT).
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