Poised for Exit

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Matthew Kulp , Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at HUB Retirement and Wealth Management , shares why time is one of the greatest advantages an owner can have when preparing for succession. Drawing from both his advisory work and his own firm’s five-year transition process, Matthew explains how early planning gives owners more options, stronger buyer r...

In this solo episode of Poised for Exit , with the Fourth of July approaching, host Julie Keyes reflects on freedom, entrepreneurship, and the responsibility that comes with building something of value. As America nears its 250th birthday, Julie shares a personal message about what freedom means to her as a business owner, advisor, and entrepreneur. Julie looks back on her own entrepreneurial jour...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Ann Marie Liotta , CPA and U.S. Wealth Strategist with Gallagher, and Mike Winn , CEPA and Financial Advisor with Chartered Wealth Partners, join the show to discuss POLI, or Partnership-Owned Life Insurance, a planning strategy designed for high-earning business owners, partners, and leadership teams. The conversation explores why this strategy is sometimes de...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Jen Roth , Founder and CEO of Blue Sparq Marketing , joins the show to discuss how intentional marketing systems can drive sustainable growth and increase business value. Drawing from her experience building and leading marketing agencies, Jen shares how business owners can stop guessing at marketing and build a clear plan that supports growth. The conversation...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Brian Cox , Partner at Traction Capital , joins the show to discuss what private equity buyers are really looking for when evaluating founder-led businesses. Drawing from his experience as both an entrepreneur and investor, Brian shares practical insights into how business owners can better position themselves for a successful exit. The conversation explores th...

In this milestone 300th episode of Poised for Exit , we celebrate six years of conversations with business owners, advisors, and industry experts. Since launching in 2020, the podcast has grown from a local audience to listeners around the world! In this episode, we sit down with Janice Miller , Managing Partner of Miller Haga Law Group and author of Coopertition . Janice joins the show to discuss...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Anna Coskran , President of NTH, Inc. joins the show to discuss why commercial real estate can play a major role in business transitions and exit planning. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience in commercial real estate and construction management, Anna shares practical insight into how real estate decisions can either support or complicate a successfu...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , John Ammann and Tim Urban , CPAs with John A. Knutson & Co. , join the show to explain how R&D tax credits work and why many business owners may qualify without realizing it. They discuss the fundamentals of the federal R&D tax credit, including the types of activities that may qualify and why these credits are not limited to large corporations or t...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Mariano Jurich , Senior Product Leader at Making Sense , returns to the show to share insights on how private companies are navigating the rapid evolution of AI and enterprise technology. With deep experience across product strategy, software development, and business transformation, Mariano offers a practical perspective on what’s changing and what actually ma...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Hilary Spreizer , Owner and CEO of The Latitude Group , shares her unexpected journey from employee to owner after purchasing the company during the uncertainty of COVID. She discusses the challenges of transitioning from leading sales and revenue generation to building the operational structure needed to scale a growing business. Hilary explains how strategic h...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Shaun Jackson , business broker with Calhoun Companies , steps in as guest host to interview his client, Dale Doriott , former owner of Injection Molding Solutions . Together, they walk through Dale’s real exit story and the key factors that led to a premium outcome. Dale shares how he built the business over decades, including navigating the 2008 financial cri...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jennifer Vickerman Akaolisa , Gift Planner at Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation , joins us to discuss how philanthropy can become a powerful part of business exit planning. With a background in financial services and more than a decade of experience in philanthropy, Jennifer helps individuals, families, and business owners create giving strategies that align...

In this episode of Poised for Exit, Stacey Bartelson , Financial Advisor at Edward Jones , discusses why business owners should start planning their exit from day one. She shares how many owners focus on growth but overlook the long-term strategy needed to successfully transition or sell their business. Stacey explains that enterprise value goes far beyond financials, highlighting the importance o...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Steve Storkan , Executive Director at The Employee Ownership Expansion Network , discusses how employee ownership is gaining traction as a business exit strategy. He shares the growth of employee ownership across the U.S. and explains why more business owners are considering it as part of their transition planning. Steve breaks down how increased awareness, new...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Darin Lynch , Founder and CEO of Irish Titan , shares what it really takes to build a strong, scalable business. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Darin explains how focusing on “business first, online second” has shaped his company’s growth and long-term value. Darin breaks down how prioritizing partnerships over transactions, along with a clear and...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , Jon Marquet and Brenna Johnson of Trust Point Inc. dive into a crucial yet often overlooked part of the exit journey: what happens after the deal closes. They explain why an exit plan is about much more than maximizing your sale price; it’s about aligning your business, financial, and personal goals to create a sustainable, fulfilling next chapter. Jon and Bren...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we welcome back Todd Krough , Private Wealth Advisor with UMB Bank and President of The Twin Cities Chapter of the Exit Planning Institute . Todd shares how the chapter has grown over the past decade into one of the most active and collaborative EPI chapters in the country, bringing together advisors and business owners to improve the outcomes of business trans...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we sit down with Deepa Krishnamurthy , Co-Founder and CEO of Nterprisers, Inc. about the often unseen world of U.S. manufacturing. While many people picture large factories, most manufacturers are small, privately held businesses that operate quietly within local networks. Deepa shares how her experience in manufacturing and private markets led her to build a p...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we sit down with Ailana McIntosh , Business and Real Estate Attorney at Hellmuth & Johnson . Ailana shares her unique journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial immigrant family to building a career helping business owners navigate the legal side of starting, operating, and ultimately selling their companies. Her background gives her a firsthand understa...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we are joined by John Schwalbach of Freedom Financial Partners, who leads a conversation with his client, Jennifer Zick , Founder and CEO of Authentic® . Together, they explore what shifts for a business owner when planning becomes intentional rather than reactive. As Jennifer’s company matured and began generating meaningful value, new questions surfaced about...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we sit down with Ben Axelrod , Managing Director at Borgman Capital ,to explore what business owners should truly understand before partnering with private equity. With a background spanning M&A advisory and investment leadership, Ben offers a thoughtful perspective on how financial buyers approach transactions and long-term partnership. We discuss common m...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we are joined by Karim Ghandour , Founder & CEO at Legacyline , a Dubai-based transition readiness firm serving founders across multiple jurisdictions. Karim shares how his background in estate planning and cross-border advisory work led him to a powerful realization. Most business owners do not truly understand the value of their company, even though it is...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we sit down with Judy Praska, Owner & President of three Fastest Labs locations in the Twin Cities metro. Judy shares how she scaled her testing services business from one location to three, what surprised her most along the way, and the operational details business owners often overlook until growth exposes the cracks. Scaling a service business, especiall...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we sit down with Michael Winn , Co-Founder and Partner at Chartered Wealth Partners in Beverly Hills, to discuss why many business exits fail and how outcomes are often determined long before a deal is signed. Michael explains how missed tax strategy, poor advisor sequencing, and a lack of owner readiness can undermine exit results, even when transactions close...

In this episode of Poised for Exit , we’re joined by Mark Kravietz , Managing Partner and Founder of Aline Wealth , for a practical discussion on what business owners need to understand before relocating to a lower-tax state. Mark explains why changing residency for tax purposes is far more involved than many owners expect and why simply spending “six months and a day” in a new state is rarely suf...