Independence by Design™

You’ve probably heard that business valuation is more art than science. But what if the art is just smoke and mirrors—and the science has been hiding in plain sight all along? 

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In this episode, I’m joined by Graham Stephen and Kyle McCulloch, the team behind Bizval, a company that’s quietly building a tool that may completely disrupt how business owners understand valuation. What makes it so revolutionary? Instead of retrofitting a formula to outdated tax returns or jargon-filled reports, they’re prompting you—the owner—to answer operational questions you already know, then reverse-engineering a legit three-statement model and discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation from that data. 

Most valuation tools ignore cash flow and future risk. Bizval centers it. Instead of proxies, you're getting clarity. If you’ve ever been told your business is worth “4–6x EBITDA” and felt like that answer didn’t mean anything—you’re going to love this conversation. 

We go deep into: 

 
Graham Stephen is a former banker and chartered accountant turned entrepreneurial strategist. After witnessing firsthand how the traditional financial system fails owner-operators, he co-founded Bizval to bring clarity, simplicity, and first-principles thinking to the messy world of valuation. His work helps owners understand their true worth—not just on paper, but in cash terms they can act on. 

Kyle McCulloch brings a rare combination of global macro risk analysis, cyber strategy, and operational grit. From trading floors to turnaround jobs in small businesses, Kyle has built a toolkit that allows him to connect the dots between world events, business systems, and cash flow forecasting. He now helps Bizval clients tie strategy to risk-adjusted value so they can play the right game—and win. 

Chapters:  

Resources: 
 
Graham Stephen https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-stephen/ 
Kyle McCulloch https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemcculloch1/
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 

Sound Bites 

“Cash is gravity—no matter what the market says, your business lives or dies by its future cash flow.” 

“Most valuation tools measure history. Bizval helps you predict what matters: will I have any f***ing money in 12 months?” 

“Owners already know what matters—they just need someone to ask the right questions and make it make sense.” 

What happens when the business you built no longer protects you from the parts of yourself you've been avoiding? Alex McClafferty co-founded and sold WP Curve to GoDaddy—but it wasn’t until after the exit that he found himself face-to-face with an identity crisis, emotional collapse, and a brutal confrontation with his shadow self. 

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In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about what it means to lose your sense of self after a big win, why so many entrepreneurs use their businesses to avoid personal pain, and what it takes to rebuild meaning, discipline, and alignment from the ground up. Alex opens up about the cost of constantly chasing validation, what really drove his burnout, and how he’s since redefined success by giving, not proving. 
 
We also dive into the addictive energy that fuels many high performers, the hidden danger of unresolved ambition, and the path toward true integration—not just surface-level wellness. If you’ve ever felt like your business is both your escape and your identity, this one will hit deep. 
 
Alex McClafferty is the co-founder of WP Curve, which was acquired by GoDaddy in 2016. Post-exit, he went through a full-on personal breakdown that became a catalyst for deep transformation. Today, he coaches founders to scale without losing their marbles—bringing sharp insight, deep compassion, and zero bullshit. With firsthand experience of what it means to lose your identity to your business (and rebuild from the inside out), Alex helps entrepreneurs find clarity, integration, and purpose on the other side of success. 

Chapters:  

Resources: 
Alex McClafferty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mcclafferty/ 
IBD Owner’s Scorecard: Time, Cash Flow, Equity trade-offs https://ryantansom.com/clarify-goals 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

What really happens when an entrepreneur sells their business? For John Rood, it was the start of a deeply personal reckoning with identity, purpose, risk, and time. In this episode, we go beyond the typical exit story and talk about what it actually feels like to step away from the company you built—and what comes next when you’re no longer busy, no longer needed, and no longer sure what’s next.

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John is the author of Beyond the Exit, a book that captures the stories and lessons of dozens of founders who’ve exited their companies and found themselves struggling to rebuild meaning and structure in their lives. In this conversation, we talk about the psychology of letting go, why retirement is a myth, and how most owners get trapped by the very businesses they created—even long after a liquidity event.

We also dig into the false choices entrepreneurs are sold (retire or keep grinding, sell or stay), and how to reclaim your time and purpose without blowing up your identity. If you’ve ever wondered what the other side of a successful exit really looks like, this conversation will change how you think about freedom.

Key Takeaways for Owners

- Exit isn’t about the check—it’s about who you’ll be when the job title is gone.

- You can’t plan your next chapter after the LOI. You have to start before you even think about selling.

- Most owners underestimate how much identity, relevance, and momentum come from their business.
- Purpose after the exit won’t show up on its own—you have to design it.

- Time is your most valuable asset—but only if you know how you want to spend it.

John Rood is the author of Beyond the Exit, a book that explores what really happens to founders after they sell their companies. Drawing from interviews with over 200 post-exit entrepreneurs, John dives deep into the emotional, strategic, and philosophical side of life after business ownership. He previously built and sold a successful marketing company and now coaches a select group of founders on how to navigate the messy middle between liquidity and meaning. His perspective is rooted in experience and research—and he's one of the clearest voices on what freedom, relevance, and contribution look like after the deal closes.

Chapters: 

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Resources:
John Rood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrood1/
Beyond the Exit
IBD Owner’s Scorecard: Time, Cash Flow, Equity trade-offs https://ryantansom.com/clarify-goals
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8

Sound Bites
- "Entrepreneurs are really good at doing hard things—yet they trap themselves in businesses they’ve outgrown." 

- "Freedom doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means choosing how to spend your time—and knowing what makes that time meaningful." 

- "You don’t need another business. You need to figure out why you feel like you do." 

- "Most exits solve for money—but leave owners with unanswered questions about identity, relevance, and contribution."

This episode is fire. Elliott Holland is a straight shooter who has seen hundreds of deals from every angle—searcher, investor, operator, and QofE provider. In this conversation, we cut through the noise to talk about what’s really going on in the acquisition market, why most self-funded searchers fail, and how owners can actually position their business (and themselves) for the next chapter. 

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We dig into why most companies don’t cash flow the way owners think they do, how the wrong expectations destroy good deals, and what it takes to bridge the gap between buyers and sellers. Elliott shares what he’s seeing across the market through his firm Guardian Due Diligence, why real cash matters more than reported EBITDA, and what kind of leaders are needed to keep growing Main Street businesses when the owner steps away. 
 

Whether you're trying to step back, prepare for an exit, or find the right leader to replace you, this episode reframes how to think about buyers, successors, and what actually makes a company valuable in today's market. It's a must-listen if you're planning your next move—or still figuring out what it should be. 
 
This conversation ties directly into the Elevate phase of the iBD™ Magic Model—helping owners replace themselves, build strategic leadership, and unlock true independence across time, cash flow, and equity. 
 
Key Takeaways 

- Cash is king, not EBITDA. Owners need real cash flow clarity before thinking about transitions, exits, or valuations. 

- Searchers aren’t the enemy—they’re the key. When structured properly, acquisition entrepreneurs may be the best shot at long-term succession. 

- The traditional brokered exit path is broken. Creative deal structures, mentorship windows, and phased transitions are underutilized but powerful. 

- Risk must be shared. Deals fall apart when expectations aren’t aligned and buyers are asked to shoulder too much risk without support. 

- Succession planning starts now. The sooner you clean up your numbers and clarify your leadership gap, the more optionality you’ll create. 

 
Elliott Holland is the founder of Guardian Due Diligence, where he helps acquisition entrepreneurs avoid lemons and close deals with confidence. He’s reviewed hundreds of financials, run his own deals, and coached dozens of buyers through the self-funded acquisition gauntlet. Elliott’s no-BS approach cuts through bad data, bad deals, and bad advice—and his coaching programs help real operators buy real businesses the right way. With deep roots in private equity, small business ownership, and financial diligence, Elliott brings the rare perspective of someone who’s seen both sides of the table and knows what it really takes to succeed. 

 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast. 

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around. 

Resources: 
Elliott Holland LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottholland/ 
Guardian Due Diligence: https://www.guardianduediligence.com 
The Business Buying Masterclass: https://www.businessbuymasterclass.com 
IBD Owner’s Scorecard: Time, Cash Flow, Equity trade-offs https://ryantansom.com/clarify-goals 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

 
Sound Bites 

“EBITDA doesn’t pay the debt. Cash does.” 

“Owners want out. Acquisition entrepreneurs want in. There’s a massive opportunity to meet in the middle—if we structure it right.” 

“Most people are fishing in a pond with no fish. Then they blame the bait.” 

“You don’t just buy the business. You buy the risk. And the risk has to be shared.” 

Most business owners are exhausted by marketing that feels like a black box—random tactics, disconnected agencies, and no clear ROI. Kim Clark knows that pain—and she’s built the solution. As the former head of sales and marketing at ITR Economics, Kim helped transform the business from a founder-led consulting firm into a scalable company that exited at eight figures—without relying on Brian or Alan Beaulieu to drive growth. She didn’t just market a product—she built a fully integrated inbound system and tied every activity to measurable outcomes like revenue, value, and cash flow. 

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In this episode, Kim and I break down the system she used to do it. We walk through how to structure your sales and marketing around your actual business model, how to build a funnel that produces qualified leads, and how to track every activity back to business impact. Kim shares how one of her recent campaigns drove $1.3M in attributable revenue—and why she could track it all the way back to specific marketing activities. 

If you’ve ever wondered what a real marketing engine looks like—or how to finally get clarity between sales, marketing, and your growth goals—this is the blueprint. It directly supports the "Maximize Growth" pillar under Build a Valuable Business inside the iBD™ Magic Model. 

 
Kim Clark is a sales and marketing strategist who helped scale ITR Economics from a founder-led advisory firm to a professionally managed company that exited at eight figures. As head of sales and marketing, she built the firm’s first CRM, content strategy, and inbound engine—moving the company from personality-based selling to a system built on data, automation, and strategic execution. Today, she works with business owners to build marketing engines that align with their strategy, team, and long-term cash flow goals—so they can grow without chaos and delegate without losing visibility. Her frameworks are directly aligned with the "Maximize Growth" track inside the Build a Valuable Business module of the iBD™ Magic Model. 

 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast. 

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.  

Resources: 

Website: https://v2amarketing.com/ 

LinkedIn: Kimberly Clark 

Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

 
Sound Bites 

“It’s not that most businesses are doing marketing wrong—they just have the pieces in the wrong order.” 

“Good marketing isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things, in the right order, with the resources you actually have.” 

“If your marketing isn’t tied to revenue, value, and cash flow—you’re not building an asset, you’re just spending money.” 

This episode sets the bar. Pat Hobby, my former business partner, is one of the best CFOs I’ve ever worked with. He’s not just a CPA or an operator—he brings an investor mindset and decades of experience managing financials with the purpose of building long-term value. In this conversation, we break down exactly what a business owner should expect from a high-performing CFO—and why most don’t even know what that standard looks like. 

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We cover the difference between accounting and finance, what good financials actually look like, and why clean books are just the beginning. Pat walks through how to build an effective monthly reporting package, how to integrate the three financial statements, what capital allocation looks like when it’s done well, and how to run a value gap analysis that ties directly to the owner's long-term goals. 
 

If you’ve ever wondered what your CFO should really be doing—or what financial clarity should actually feel like—this episode is your blueprint. This is the gold standard. 
 
Pat Hobby is a seasoned CFO, CPA, and the founder of The CFO Advantage, a fractional CFO firm that helps business owners gain true financial clarity and use their numbers to drive long-term value. He was also the cofounder of Ryan Tansom’s former business, where they built a fractional CFO model serving dozens of clients across multiple industries. Pat has guided companies through ESOPs, private equity transactions, and complex financial transitions, always bringing an investor mindset and operational discipline to the finance function. He’s known for making complex financials simple, actionable, and aligned with ownership strategy. 

 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast. 

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around. 

Resources: 
Website: https://cfo-advantage.com/ 
LinkedIn: Pat Hobby 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

 
Sound Bites 

"The CFO’s job is to make sure the financials are actionable—not just accurate." - Pat Hobby 

"Clean books matter, but if you don’t know how to use the numbers to run the business, they’re not helping you." - Pat Hobby 

"You can’t do capital allocation or drive value growth if your statements aren’t integrated and you don’t have a forecast." - Ryan Tansom 

Many owner-operators begin their journey driven by the vision of personal and financial independence, only to find themselves entrenched in the daily operations, unable to step away without fear of chaos. In this episode, I talk with Rob Dube, co-founder of ImageOne and visionary behind The 10 Disciplines for Managing and Maximizing Your Energy™, about how to break free from the owner-operator trap and achieve genuine ownership freedom. 

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Rob did what most business owners only dream about—he built a business that runs without him and stepped into a life of total operational freedom. We dig into how he structured his team, managed the emotional transition, and aligned his business with his personal goals. We also unpack what it really means to live out the promise of ownership independence, and how that journey led to his next act: partnering with Gino Wickman. 

This conversation resonates strongly with me because Rob's story is the real-life embodiment of what the Independence by Design™ framework is all about. For anyone stuck in the grind, wondering if it's truly possible to step back and still build something meaningful—this episode proves it is. 

Rob Dube is the co-founder of ImageOne, recognized as a Forbes Small Giant and a leader in building owner-independent businesses. He’s also the creator of The 10 Disciplines™, a proven method helping entrepreneurs gain control over their energy and attention to maximize business and personal success. Rob’s practical strategies empower business owners to structure their organizations in ways that allow them to step back, build sustainable wealth, and create lasting legacies. 
 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.  

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around. 

Resources: 
Website: www.imageoneway.com 
LinkedIn: Rob Dube 
Shed and Shine Podcast: https://www.the10disciplines.com/podcast 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

Today I'm talking with Shannon Susko, a serial entrepreneur who developed the 3HAG (3-Year Highly Achievable Goal) and Metronomics frameworks. What sets Shannon's approach apart is how directly it connects your strategic plan and execution rhythms to clear, measurable financial outcomes. It's an operating system built specifically for business owners who understand their numbers but want greater clarity on how daily decisions impact long-term value.

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In this episode, Shannon explains exactly how to align your team’s strategic actions with the financials, creating predictability in your business. We cover the specifics of her methodology and why integrating financial clarity into your strategic planning process is critical for creating real operational independence. If you want to build a business that’s both scalable and owner-independent, Shannon provides straightforward, practical insights you can apply immediately.

Shannon Susko is an accomplished entrepreneur and creator of the 3HAG and Metronomics systems, uniquely focused on integrating strategic execution with financial clarity. She has successfully scaled and exited multiple businesses and now advises business leaders globally on how to align their strategic planning directly with measurable financial results, making owner independence achievable and sustainable.

Chapters: 

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals.

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Resources:
Shannon Susko Website
Shannon Susko LinkedIn
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8

Sound Bites

“Strategic planning is meaningless unless everyone knows how it directly affects the financial outcomes we’re aiming for.” – Shannon Susko

“True operational freedom comes when your strategic rhythms match up perfectly with clear financial targets.” – Ryan Tansom

“Predictable growth isn’t a mystery—it's the result of aligning strategic actions with your numbers.” – Shannon Susko

SBA loans have always been a key tool for financing business acquisitions, but recent changes have opened up new opportunities for both buyers and sellers. If you're thinking about selling your business, acquiring one, or financing a transition, these updates could have a major impact on your strategy. 

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In this episode, I sit down with John Thwing ("The SBA Guy") from Live Oak Bank to break down the biggest changes, including how SBA loans now allow for partial buy-ins, why internal transitions are more viable than ever, and what banks are really looking for when funding deals.  

We also dive into how liquidity is often a bigger risk factor than leverage, why most business owners overestimate their company’s valuation, and how to structure financing to align buyer and seller incentives.  

If you’re considering a transition and want to understand how SBA loans fit into the picture, this episode will give you the insights you need to make a smart, strategic move. 
 
John Thwing ("The SBA Guy") is an SBA lending expert with decades of experience helping buyers acquire businesses through structured financing. As a leader at Live Oak Bank, one of the nation’s largest SBA lenders, he specializes in creative deal structuring, working capital strategies, and helping acquisition entrepreneurs navigate the loan process. Over the years, he’s funded hundreds of business purchases and has become a go-to resource for anyone looking to buy or sell a business using SBA financing. 

 
Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast. 

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around. 

Resources: 

Live Oak Bank https://liveoakbank.com 
John Thwing LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnthwing 
Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  
Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 
Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 
Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 
Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 
Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 
Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

 
Sound Bites 

“Most small business owners take out almost all of their profits—but that doesn’t mean the business can support a leveraged buyout.” – John Thwing 

“Buyers should always be looking at probable deals, not just possible ones. A lot of what you hear online is technically possible, but it’s not how banks actually fund deals.” – John Thwing 

“The balance sheet tells the long-term story of a business. The income statement is the spigot, but the real health of a company is in the tub—the balance sheet.” – John Thwing 

“If a seller waits too long to exit, the business’s health can deteriorate beyond what’s fundable. You don’t want to try selling when things are trending downward.” – Ryan Tansom 

The economy is shifting fast, and if you’re a middle-market business owner, the moves you make today will define your future—whether that’s navigating capital markets, securing financing, or making critical reinvestment decisions. 

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In this Quarterly Economic & M&A Update, I bring together three powerhouse guests to give you real-time insights you won’t find in mainstream media. 

Alan Beaulieu from ITR Economics shares the latest economic data and leading indicators to help you anticipate what’s coming next. 

Jeff Buettner from ButcherJoseph breaks down the current state of M&A—who’s buying, what’s happening with valuations, and how financing trends are shifting. 

Joe Brown from Heresy Financial takes us deeper into the macroeconomic landscape—government debt, money supply growth, and how it all ties back to your business decisions.  

If you’re a business owner looking to understand how these economic forces impact your company’s valuation, financing options, and long-term strategy, this episode is packed with timely and practical insights. 
 
Alan Beaulieu is a Consulting Principal at ITR Economics, has 30 years of experience delivering economic analysis seminars and workshops to business executives worldwide. Known for his straightforward and accurate economic forecasting, Alan has co-authored influential books including "Prosperity in the Age of Decline" and "Make Your Move," which provides practical guidance on increasing profits through business cycle changes. His insights and forecasting expertise have earned him recognition in major publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Business Week.  
 

Jeff Buettner is a Managing Director at ButcherJoseph with over 20 years of valuation and financial opinion services experience. He specializes in ESOP transactions, business valuations, fairness opinions, and financial restructuring across diverse industries. Previously, Jeff spent nearly a decade at Stout Risius Ross as Managing Director in ESOP Advisory Services and began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. A former board member of the National Center of Employee Ownership, Jeff serves on The ESOP Association's Valuation Advisory Committee and regularly presents at industry conferences. He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. 
 
Joe Brown is the CEO and Founder of Heresy Financial, a company he established in July 2019 after nearly five years at Charles Schwab as an Investment Consultant. With a mission to help people control and protect their wealth, Joe created Heresy Financial to combat excessive fees and poor investment advice. He holds a BS in Christian Studies from Arizona Christian University, where he participated in the Servant-Leader Scholar Program. Joe shares financial insights through the company's YouTube channel. 

Chapters:  

Ryan Tansom is a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Independence by Design™, a transformative ownership framework for growth-oriented business owners. After turning around and selling his family business in an eight-figure exit, Ryan spent over a decade dissecting the lessons learned from his journey. His mission is to help other business owners avoid the pitfalls he encountered by providing them with the tools and knowledge to align their business operations with their personal and financial goals. 

With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by owner-operators, Ryan developed Independence by Design™ to empower owner-operators to create sustainable cash flow, grow their company’s equity value, and achieve true independence. He has shared his insights on hundreds of stages, including Vistage, EO, and industry associations, and has reached over 500,000 listeners through his podcast.  

Ryan is passionate about helping business owners get unstuck from the day-to-day grind and design a business that serves their life, not the other way around.  

Resources: 

Alan Beaulieu LinkedIn 

ITR Economics: itreconomics.com 

Jeff Beuttner LinkedIn 

ButcherJoseph & Co.: butcherjoseph.com 

Heresy Financial https://www.heresy.financial/ 

Heresy Financial (Joe Brown’s YouTube Channel): youtube.com/heresyfinancial 

Independence by Design™ Workshop: https://ryantansom.com/independence-by-design-workshop  

Independence by Design™ Ownership Coaching: Ryan Tansom’s Ownership Accelerator programs and coaching https://ryantansom.com/coaching 

Ryan Tansom Website https://ryantansom.com/ 

Ryan Tansom LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantansom/ 

Ryan Tansom Twitter https://twitter.com/RyanTansom 

Ryan Tansom YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ryantansom 

Ryan Tansom 30-Minute Ownership Strategy Call https://calendar.app.google/tsKk7z6ohugDchWq8 

 
Sound Bites 

“We might be feeling the pain now, but understanding where things are headed helps us make better decisions for the rest of the year.” – Ryan Tansom 

“The lending markets are changing—strong businesses still have access to capital, but deal structures are evolving fast.” – Jeff Buettner 

“M2 money supply growth is ramping up again. If you want to understand where the economy is headed, follow the money.” – Joe Brown 

“Business cycles aren’t new. The key is using data to see what’s coming, instead of reacting to headlines.” – Alan from ITR Economics