The playbook for selling your company just changed—again.

What separates those who merely survive from those who exit with maximum value? The answer may surprise even seasoned founders.

In this episode, Anthony Caporrino, U.S. Transaction Advisory Group Co-Leader at Alvarez & Marsal, reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets to smarter M&A, how analytics are rewriting the rules, and what it really takes for owners and investors to achieve a clean exit.

You’ll discover…

• The single biggest mistake even mature companies make when prepping for a sale
• What founders should be doing years before considering an exit (and why most miss it)
• How “operator experience” trumps traditional consulting in maximizing deal value
• The new analytics tools that give buyers (and sellers) the ultimate edge
• Why rep & warranty insurance is changing dealmaking—and what it means for your next negotiation

Not every deal needs an army of lawyers and sky-high fees to get across the finish line…
So how are today’s owners navigating increasingly complex M&A—and why is buyer behavior making it more challenging than ever?

In this episode, Dennis O’Rourke, Partner and Chair of the Corporate, M&A and Securities Practice Group at Moritt Hock & Hamroff, shares why lower middle market companies don’t have to compromise on expertise or affordability—and explains how a dramatic shift in buyer dynamics, fueled by the rise of “other people’s money” (OPM), is adding new layers of complexity to deals.

You’ll discover…

• The surprising impact of buyers using investors’ and lenders’ capital—and why that’s changing diligence
• Why “simple” deals are rarely as straightforward as sellers think
• How to access big-firm legal expertise without big-firm price tags
• The hidden tension between buyers and sellers (and one way insurance is helping bridge the gap)
• The critical moment to bring in a specialist M&A lawyer—before it’s too late

Most business owners see their website as a digital business card—but what if it could become your company’s top-performing employee? Digital assets make or break deals in today’s M&A world, yet are still one of the most overlooked sources of value, risk, and growth potential.

In this episode, Paige Wiese, founder of Tree Ring Digital, reveals how optimizing your company’s digital presence can unlock hidden value, improve M&A transitions, and future-proof your growth—whether you’re buying, selling, or scaling.

You’ll discover…

• The costly mistakes most business owners make with their digital assets during M&A.
• How neglecting your website can quietly erode your company’s valuation.
• The surprising M&A pitfalls that even experienced IT teams routinely miss.
• Why Tree Ring Digital and a managed service provider are NOT interchangeable (and what’s at stake if you confuse the two).
• The next big digital risks (and opportunities) owners can’t afford to ignore in 2025.

The private equity secondary market is booming—but most people don’t realize how dramatically it’s evolved, or where it’s heading next. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or totally new to secondaries, this episode peels back the curtain on one of the fastest-growing corners of the financial world.

In this episode, Mike Bego, Managing Partner of Kline Hill Partners, joins host Patrick Stroth to give an insider’s perspective on how the secondary market for private equity is shifting, why secondaries are suddenly top-of-mind for investors, and what you can expect from this year’s milestone industry event, Secondaries Day.

You’ll discover…

• Why the secondary market exploded from a $5 billion niche to a $200 billion+ industry—and what still holds it back
• What really goes on behind the scenes of an LP-led versus a GP-led secondary transaction
• The unexpected career path that brought Mike Bego to the forefront of secondaries—and the practical lessons he learned from dot-com bust, “Chernobyl”
• The biggest misconceptions and emerging risks in continuation vehicles (and how to spot the red flags)
• How Secondaries Day is shaping the conversation and community for private equity insiders—from power networking to charity lunches and even pickleball

From screen printing to seven acquisitions—what does it take to build a powerhouse in the decorated apparel industry? And what surprising lessons can scaling a “niche of niches” teach about entrepreneurship, technology, and M&A success?

In this episode, Jeff Cooperman, Founder of Front Nine Capital, reveals his journey from CPA to serial acquirer—exploring how he’s turned overlooked, mom-and-pop apparel companies into a thriving, tech-forward organization ready to supercharge growth in a fragmented market.

You’ll discover…

• The surprising question Jeff asks every business owner before making an offer
• How a single “epiphany moment” can redefine a company’s trajectory overnight
• The secret upside to acquiring legacy businesses with minimal tech presence
• Why mergers and acquisitions in small markets are seeing unprecedented momentum
• The game-changing insurance tool that’s making deals safer for small business sellers than ever before

Most M&A Advisors aim for the billion-dollar deals—so who’s serving the true engine of American business?

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the world of lower middle market M&A, where relationships, turnaround expertise, and strategic partnerships make all the difference.

In this episode, Bob McCormack, Founder of Murphy McCormack Capital Advisors, reveals the unique challenges and overlooked opportunities in family-owned business transactions—and why collaboration (not competition) is the future of deal making.

You’ll discover…

• Why Murphy McCormack says “no” to 9 out of 10 potential engagements—and what happens to the businesses who aren’t ready (yet) to sell
• The inside story on Cornerstone International Alliance’s deal-sharing model and how it transforms client outcomes
• How emotional intelligence and post-closing support can make or break an owner’s life-changing exit
• The reasons rep & warranty insurance is finally making inroads with private business owners—and who’s still pushing back
• The untold macro risks (like tariffs) that are reshaping manufacturing deals in real time

Would you trust your company’s future to a team that’s obsessed with precision, storytelling, and preparing for every possible scenario?

In the high-stakes world of SaaS M&A, the difference between a good deal and a great one can change the course of a founder’s life—and their legacy.

In this episode, Diamond Innabi, Principal at Software Equity Group, reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets that drive SEG’s 94% “first pass” success rate in vertical SaaS deals—plus the underrated factors that buyers and sellers often overlook (at their peril).

You’ll discover…

• The one storytelling move that instantly sets a SaaS business apart from every other deal on the table
• What most founders don’t know about “tension”—and why it may be the key to unlocking next-level M&A outcomes
• How SEG’s “overstaffed” model creates winning deals (and what happens when other firms focus on volume instead)
• The surprising region of the US most SaaS founders call home—and why it matters for buyers and investors
• A new insurance hack that finally levels the playing field for smaller deals in the lower middle market

Most business owners think accounting is just a necessary evil—until it costs them millions.
What hidden traps are killing the value of your business before you even go to market?

In this episode, Jason Kruger, Partner at Citrin Cooperman’s Business Process Outsourcing Practice, exposes how overlooked accounting gaps can sabotage your exit—and how precision financials can supercharge your company’s valuation.

You’ll discover…

• Why “good enough” bookkeeping could quietly slash your business sale price
• The secret financial move that doubles your company’s EBITDA multiple
• How deal momentum evaporates—and the one invisible risk that keeps buyers up at night
• The new evolution in rep & warranty insurance that’s changing deal dynamics for small and midsize firms
• What top buyers always spot in financial statements (and how you can make your next sale a “no-brainer”)

Navigating a business exit can feel like flying into a storm with no landing strip in sight—especially when millions are on the line and expert advice is scattered. What’s the secret to engineering a “clean exit” that safeguards both your wealth and your legacy?

In this episode, Joe LoPresti, Founder of Arlington Wealth Management, reveals the game-changing strategies behind holistic wealth management for business owners on the cusp of a major business sale—and why the fractional family office approach is rewriting the rules for lower middle market entrepreneurs.

You’ll discover…

• Why most business owner advisors work in silos—and how this creates dangerous planning gaps you might not see coming.
• The #1 mistake founders make when exiting their business, and how proactive planning turns risk into opportunity.
• A behind-the-scenes look at “fractional family offices,” and how they unite specialists for life-changing results.
• The overlooked power of sell-side advisory and new insurance tools that can protect—and even boost—your post-sale windfall.
• The untold story of how Arlington Wealth Management partners with business owners from the “20-yard line” all the way to the end zone.

NOTE: Arlington Wealth Management is a Registered Investment Adviser ("RIA"). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. All investments carry risk, and no investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect from loss of capital.

Unlocking the secrets of successful online business acquisitions…

How does one navigate the intricate world of mergers and acquisitions, especially in the ever-evolving tech industry?

In this episode, Andrew Gazdecki, founder of acquire.com, shares insights on building and operating the leading online platform for buying and selling online businesses.

Andrew reveals:

• The compelling story behind acquire.com's unique domain acquisition
• Key strategies for launching and scaling a marketplace platform
• How acquire.com connects aspiring entrepreneurs with the right acquisitions
• The human element in M&A transactions and how it's integrated into an online platform
• Emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of acquisitions in the lower middle market