The Summit Series

In this episode of the Summit Series, Craig Huston sits down with Wes Shelton, Managing Director at SM2 Advisors, to explore why most business owners aren’t ready to sell—and what it really takes to exit well. With hundreds of deals behind him, Wes breaks down the differences between brokers, M&A advisors, and investment banks, and shares why 80% of businesses never sell. From working capital...

In this episode, Craig sits down with wealth manager Greg Edwards to unpack the crucial financial blind spots business owners often miss—and how to fix them before it’s too late. With over 30 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, Greg shares what every owner should know about preparing their business (and family) for a future transition—whether that’s scaling,...

What happens to your business when the unexpected hits? In this episode of the Summit Series, Craig Huston sits down with Dennis Smith and Mariana Seiler-DeJager of Tripp Scott law firm to unpack the Five D’s that can either derail your business or define its legacy: Death, Disability, Divorce, Disagreement, and Distress. This candid conversation goes deep into real-life legal pitfalls that threat...

In this powerful conclusion to our conversation with Tripp Scott law firm, Craig Huston dives deeper into the remaining Five D’s—Divorce, Disagreement, and Distress—and how they can quietly erode (or intentionally protect) the value of your business. From navigating a partner breakup to surviving economic downturns, this episode reveals the strategies that resilient business owners use to plan ahe...

In this kickoff episode of the Summit Series, host Craig Huston sits down with Addison Watson, founder of Summit Legal Consultants and an expert transaction attorney, to pull back the curtain on what really happens during a business sale. Addison shares stories from both billion-dollar deals and Main Street exits to spotlight a common truth: smaller business owners often face bigger risks because...