Most business owners understand the importance of attracting and retaining talented employees. What many fail to appreciate is how much risk can be concentrated in just one or two key individuals. Whether it's a top salesperson, lead engineer, operations manager, or other critical team member, the sudden loss of a key employee can create significant disruption to revenue, customer relationships, operational continuity, and future growth plans. In some cases, it can materially reduce the value of the business itself.In this episode, Pat Ennis and Walter Deyhle are joined by Mark Gage to discuss one of the most overlooked areas of business risk management: identifying and protecting key employees. The conversation explores how business owners can assess their exposure to key person risk, understand the role of insurance in mitigating that risk, and implement strategies that protect both the business and its stakeholders.This discussion is especially relevant for founder-led businesses where significant knowledge, customer relationships, or operational expertise may be concentrated in just a few individuals.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What defines a "key employee" from a risk management perspective
• How to identify the employees whose loss would create the greatest disruption
• Why many business owners underestimate key employee risk
• The financial and operational consequences of losing a key employee
• How Key Person Insurance works and when it should be considered
• Determining the appropriate amount of insurance coverage
• Common misconceptions surrounding Key Person Insurance
• How buyers evaluate key employee risk during due diligence
• Strategies for reducing dependency on critical employees
• Why protecting key employees is an important component of exit planning

Guest:Mark Gage, CLU
Vice President | Northeast BrokerageMark has worked in the insurance industry for more than 30 years and specializes in succession planning, estate planning, life insurance contract analysis, and impaired risk underwriting. A Certified Life Underwriter through The American College, Mark works with insurance professionals and their clients to identify appropriate life, disability, and long-term care insurance solutions while representing more than 30 insurance carriers.Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-gage-clu-a48b7a7/  ─────────────────────────────────────────
Ready to assess your own exit readiness? Take the free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment at exitreadiness.com.

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com
─────────────────────────────────────────
Trying to build your exit plan yourself?ExitReadiness® DIY™ provides a proven framework with tools, assessments, and educational resources designed to help business owners make better decisions and create more options for the future. And when judgment and experience matter most, credentialed exit planning professionals are available to help.

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

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Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Most business owners understand the importance of confidentiality during a sale process. What many do not fully appreciate is just how fragile that confidentiality can be once the business is taken to market.

A single conversation, unusual document request, or shift in behavior can create concern among employees, uncertainty among customers, and speculation among vendors or competitors. And once uncertainty enters the picture, business value can begin eroding long before a transaction ever closes. In this episode, Greg Kovsky joins Pat Ennis and Walter Deyhle to discuss how business owners can explore a sale while protecting the relationships and stability that make their company valuable in the first place. Drawing on more than three decades of M&A experience and over 300 completed transactions, Greg shares practical insights into confidentiality, buyer screening, information control, and the realities of taking a business to market without creating unnecessary disruption. Whether you're considering a sale in the near future or simply want to understand how the process works, this conversation provides valuable perspective on preserving trust, protecting value, and maintaining leverage throughout the transaction process. In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What "selling in stealth mode" actually means in practice
• Why confidentiality is critical to preserving business value
• Common mistakes that unintentionally expose a sale process
• How experienced advisors screen potential buyers
• The role and limitations of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
• When employees, customers, and vendors should be informed
• How to protect key relationships during due diligence
• What a well-managed confidential sale process looks like
• Practical advice for owners considering a future sale

Guest Gregory Kovsky
President & CEO, International Business Associates (IBA) Greg is President & CEO of International Business Associates, the Pacific Northwest's oldest and largest business brokerage firm. With more than 30 years of experience as an M&A intermediary, he has facilitated over 300 transactions involving privately held companies and family businesses across multiple industries, typically ranging from $1 million to $30 million in enterprise value. He is also a published author, seminar speaker, and advocate for entrepreneurship. Connect with Greg (Insert website and contact information) 
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Trying to build your exit plan yourself? ExitReadiness® DIY™ provides a proven framework, AI-powered tools, assessments, and practical guidance to help you increase business value, prepare for a future transition, and make more informed decisions. When you need additional expertise, credentialed exit planning professionals are available to help you navigate the issues that matter most.  Check it out at exitreadiness.com.

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

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Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Most business owners know their company depends heavily on them. Fewer understand how much that dependency impacts transferable value, scalability, leadership continuity, and long-term optionality. In this episode, Laurie Barkman joins Pat Ennis and Walter Deyhle to discuss three practical actions owners can begin taking now to reduce owner dependency and build businesses that are more scalable, transferable, and valuable. The conversation focuses on the tension many founders experience: building something successful while unintentionally remaining at the center of every important decision. A business that cannot function without the owner may still produce strong income—but it becomes significantly harder to transfer, sell, or scale with confidence. This episode explores how owners can begin stepping back intentionally while strengthening the business at the same time. In this episode, we cover:

• Why owner dependency reduces transferable business value
• The hidden risks of being central to every decision and relationship
• How leadership teams gain confidence and accountability
• Practical ways to create operational independence
• Why scalable businesses create greater freedom and optionality for owners
• The connection between self-sustaining companies and stronger exit outcomes

Guest: Laurie Barkman — Growth Strategist, Certified Exit Planner, M&A Advisor, Author, and Founder of The Business Transition Sherpa® Laurie helps engineering, architecture, and design services firm owners build scalable, self-running businesses that create more time, freedom, and long-term value. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook and host of the award-winning Succession Stories podcast. Connect with Laurie:
Website: Laurie Barkman Website
Book: The Business Transition Handbook
Successor Assessment: Successor Assessment Survey
LinkedIn: Laurie Barkman on LinkedIn
YouTube: Laurie Barkman YouTube Channel ─────────────────────────────────────────
Ready to assess your own exit readiness? Take the free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment at ExitReadiness® DIY™ Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ENNIS Legacy Partners Connect with Pat: Pat Ennis LinkedIn Connect with Walter: Walter Deyhle LinkedIn
───────────────────────────────────────── DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

AI is quickly moving beyond experimentation and becoming part of how buyers evaluate operational maturity, scalability, and future growth potential. But not every use of AI increases business value. In many cases, owners are implementing tools without a clear strategy, measurable impact, or understanding of what sophisticated buyers are actually looking for. In this episode, Janet Waring, CEO of ArtForm Agency, joins Pat Ennis and Corby Megorden to discuss how AI is beginning to influence valuation conversations—from operational efficiency and market intelligence to scalability and decision-making. The conversation focuses on practical application rather than hype, helping owners think more strategically about where AI fits within long-term value creation and exit planning. This discussion is particularly relevant for owners trying to determine whether AI is simply a productivity tool—or an emerging factor in how businesses are evaluated, differentiated, and ultimately valued. **In this episode, we cover:** * What separates meaningful AI implementation from experimentation * How buyers and private equity groups may evaluate AI capabilities * Where AI can improve operational scalability and efficiency * Risks associated with fragmented or poorly integrated AI adoption * Practical starting points for owners planning an exit within the next few years * Why thoughtful AI strategy may increasingly influence transferable value Guest: Janet Waring, Co-Founder & CEO, ArtForm Agency ArtForm Agency combines strategy, creativity, and data science to help organizations scale through AI enablement, market intelligence, and performance-driven marketing strategies. Janet brings more than 25 years of experience in business development, audience research, positioning, and data-driven growth strategy. Connect with Janet: artformagency.com ─────────────────────────────────────────
Ready to assess your own exit readiness? Take the free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment at exitreadiness.com Learn more about working with Pat and Walter: ennislp.com You can also access free exit-related assessments and educational resources at ennislp.com. ───────────────────────────────────────── 

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Business partnerships are at the center of many of the most complex exit planning decisions an owner will face — whether navigating a sale to key employees, a family transfer, or simply trying to keep a co-ownership relationship healthy enough to survive a transition. AI can help organize information, surface patterns, and even simulate dialogue. But when it comes to the deeply personal, relational, and often emotionally charged work of partner negotiations, there are limits to what technology can do alone. David Gage, Ph.D. — clinical psychologist, mediator, founder of BMC Associates, and creator of The Partnership Charter — rejoins Pat and Walter for this episode in the AI & Exit Planning Series to explore exactly where AI can add genuine value in sensitive partner discussions, and where the irreplaceable judgment of a trained human professional is essential. A conversation that is both timely and practically useful for any business owner navigating co-ownership complexity on the road to exit.

Guest: David Gage, Ph.D. — Founder, BMC Associates | Author, The Partnership Charter | Founder, The Partnership Charter Institute Connect with David: bmcassociates.com 

Learn more about our ExitReadiness® DIY™ platform at exitreadiness.com.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation. Two things to confirm before publishing: air date and duration. Also worth noting — this is a returning guest and an alliance partner, so you may want to reference the Partnership Charter platform subscription your firm uses in the show notes or episode description if you haven't already done so in prior David Gage episodes.

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

The statistics are sobering: 75% of business owners report being unhappy within one year of exiting their business. For owners who have spent decades finding purpose, identity, and meaning in their work — serving employees, customers, and their communities — the transition out can feel like a loss that no financial plan anticipated. 

This episode is part of the ExitReadiness® NEXT ACT Series, a dedicated series on planning for life after the business. David Young, Founder and Managing Member of David K. Young Consulting, LLC, brings more than five decades of business leadership and over 40 years in employee benefits and retirement planning to this deeply personal conversation. A Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) through the Wharton School and IFEBP, and a Texas-based nationally recognized retirement plan consultant, David also brings a rich life outside of work — including Civil Air Patrol leadership and humanitarian aviation serving veterans and underserved communities near the Texas-Mexico border.

He is precisely the kind of guest who can speak authentically to what a purposeful next act looks like, and how to begin building it before you exit. Pat and Joe Markovitch explore with David what owners need to think about — and do — now, so that the business exit they've worked toward becomes the launching pad for a fulfilling chapter, not a loss they weren't prepared for.

Guest: David Young, MPA, CEBS — Founder & Managing Member, David K. Young Consulting, LLC Connect with David: dkyoung.com

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit. 
 

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

For many family business owners, the succession question is more complicated than it looks — especially when some family members want to stay involved, others don't, or there's simply no heir apparent willing or able to take the reins. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan can bring remarkable clarity to exactly these situations. Kelly O. Finnell, J.D., CLU, AIF®, President of EFS ESOP Consultants and one of the nation's foremost ESOP authorities, joins Pat, Walter, and Corby to explore how ESOPs can serve as a powerful and often underutilized tool in family business succession planning. With more than 40 years helping business owners design and execute ESOPs — and author of the preeminent guide The ESOP Coach: Using ESOPs in Ownership Succession Planning — Kelly brings unmatched depth to this conversation. He covers the general parameters for when an ESOP makes sense, the specific benefits in a family business context, how ESOPs can minimize taxes while maximizing shareholder legacy, and why owners with no clear successor should be looking hard at this option.

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Most owners focus on growing value but give far less attention to how that value will ultimately be taxed. The result is often a successful sale that delivers far less than expected. In this episode, tax attorney Ed Cotney joins Pat and Walter to walk through how thoughtful tax planning changes outcomes—not just at closing, but years in advance. This conversation brings clarity to where tax strategy should begin, how deal structure influences net proceeds, and why waiting too long limits your options. In this episode, we cover:

• Why tax planning is a pre-sale strategy, not a year-of-sale exercise
• Common structural mistakes that reduce after-tax proceeds
• How different exit paths (sale, ESOP, transfer) impact tax outcomes
• What owners should be doing now to preserve flexibility later

Guest: Ed Cotney, Tax Attorney
Connect with guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-cotney-14552412/ 

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

ESOPs are often discussed in theory, but far less often understood through lived experience. In this episode, Tim Rettig shares what it actually looks like to transition a business to employee ownership—and what it requires from the owner before, during, and after the transaction. This conversation highlights the alignment between values, legacy, and structure, while also addressing the operational and financial realities that make an ESOP work. In this episode, we cover:

• What makes a company a strong ESOP candidate
• The cultural and leadership implications of employee ownership
• Tradeoffs between ESOPs and third-party sales
• Lessons learned from completing and living through the transition

Connect with guest Tim Retting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timrettig/


“We want you to help you build a business that is sellable and exit successfully on your own terms and conditions.” - Pat Ennis




Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.

Buying a business for the first time is exciting — and overwhelming. The due diligence process can trigger analysis paralysis that kills deals that should close. In this episode, M&A attorney Michael Mercurio of Offit Kurman joins Pat and Walter to walk through what due diligence actually looks like from both sides of the table, what first-time buyers consistently get wrong, and how to stay focused on the risks that truly matter without getting lost in the ones that don't.

Guest: Michael N. Mercurio, Esq., Principal and Chair, Business Law & Transactions Practice Group, Offit Kurman
Connect with guest: offitkurman.com/michael-mercurio


“We want you to help you build a business that is sellable and exit successfully on your own terms and conditions.” - Pat Ennis

Conversations that move you closer to a regret-proof exit.

Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking HERE!

Learn more about working with Pat and Walter at ennislp.com 
Connect with Pat: linkedin.com/in/pat-ennis-25b4a111/
Connect with Walter: linkedin.com/in/walter-deyhle-cpa-abv-cff-maff-cexp-cepa-57386614/

#PatEnnis #WalterDeyhle #ExitReadiness


DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only. 
Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. ENNIS Legacy Partners assumes no legal liability for any loss related to information contained in this presentation.