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All Episodes

Poised for Exit — 296 episodes

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Title
1

Beyond the Hype: How Private Companies Should Actually Approach AI Adoption

2

AI, Hiring & Business Value: What Mid-Market Companies Are Getting Wrong

3

A Real Exit Story: How Preparation and the Right Advisory Team Drove a Premium Outcome

4

How Business Owners Can Build Philanthropy Into an Exit Plan

5

Exit Planning Starts Day One: How to Build a Business That Can Actually Sell

6

Employee Ownership as a Business Exit Option

7

Partnerships, Not Transactions: The Mindset Behind a Stronger Business

8

Building Your Exit Around Your Future, Not Just Your Business

9

10 Years of Impact: How the Twin Cities EPI Chapter Is Raising the Bar for Business Exits

10

From Invisible to Investable: Why Visibility Matters for Manufacturing

11

Legal Pitfalls That Derail Business Sales and How Owners Can Avoid Them

12

Stop Winging the Future: Why Business Owners Need Intentional Planning

13

What Sellers Should Understand Before Partnering with Private Equity

14

Why Value Must Be the North Star in Exit Planning

15

What Business Owners Must Get Right to Scale a Regulated Service Business

16

Why Most Exits Fail and How Planning Changes Everything

17

Moving to a Lower-Tax State: Strategies and Requirements for Business Owners

18

How Buyers Value Businesses in 2026 and Why Preparation Matters More Than Timing

19

Building a Construction Business with a Small Team

20

Reflecting on 2025 and Planning for 2026: Exit Planning Insights from Poised for Exit

21

Preparing for a Clean Exit: Legal Lessons from Real-World Business Transitions

22

Estate and Tax Planning for Business Exits

23

How to Plan Your Exit Before You Need One: Insights from a Seasoned CEPA

24

The Hidden Cybersecurity Risks Every Business Owner Should Know: Part 2

25

Keeping the Family Aligned as the Business Grows

26

Why Exits Are Transitions, Not Transactions

27

Exit Planner of the Year Joe Seetoo on the Real Work Owners Must Do Before They Exit

28

How to Repair Cash Flow and Rebuild Trust with Your Bank

29

The Hidden Cybersecurity Risks Every Business Owner Should Know

30

Stepping Into a Family Business Built on Service, Safety, and Purpose

31

Rethinking HR and Virtual Assistance for the Modern Workplace

32

Why Clean Financials Build Trust and Drive Better Business Transitions

33

Building Stronger Teams and Business Value Through EQ and AI

34

What to Expect at the EPI Regional Summit 2025

35

How to Pass Down Real Estate Wealth Without the Tax Burden

36

Exit Planning in the Age of AI: Building Smarter Strategies

37

Next Chapter Partners: Preparing Owners for Life After Exit

38

Laying the Foundation for a Legacy

39

Frameworks For Success

40

Behind the Scenes of Starting and Scaling a Business

41

How the M&A Summit Helps Business Owners Plan Their Next Move

42

Smart Risk Management for Growth and Exit

43

The Role Financial Planning Plays in a Successful Exit

44

What Makes a Business Sellable

45

Leading With Grit and Growth

46

Fit For Transition

47

Advisors, Agendas, and the Fear of Letting Go

48

What Works in Family Business Succession

49

Sales Tax and What Sellers Overlook

50

You’re Doing LinkedIn Wrong: A Proven Sales Strategy

51

Why Transparency and Trust Are Your Best Exit Strategies

52

Estate and Tax Planning for Business Exits

53

Private Equity With Purpose

54

What Your Numbers Are Telling You

55

The Human Side of a Successful Exit

56

The Ultimate Sale: Building Value and Living with Intention

57

The Power of Professional Collaboration in Exit Planning

58

How to Prepare Your Sales Process for Exit

59

Unlocking the Path to a Smooth Business Exit

60

Leading Through Change: Balancing AI, Innovation, and Workplace Culture

61

The Power of Partnership in Business

62

Succession Strategies: From Family Business to Legacy

63

Inside Scoop: Updates, Insights, & Future Plans

64

Building a Lasting Legacy: Succession & Strategy in Family Business

65

Exit Smarter: The role of CEO Peer Groups in Business Transitions

66

Your Personal Plan: The Missing Link to a Great Exit!

67

EPI's Chapter Network: A Vital Resource for Owners and Advisors!

68

Guiding Sellers to a Seamless Exit

69

Is an ESOP Right for You as a Liquidity or Exit Planning Strategy?

70

You are the Prize: Attracting Buyers vs Soliciting Them

71

Early Stages of a Generational Transition: Mother and Daughter share their story

72

From The Vault: Private Investigators and Dealmakers are Teaming up More Often than Ever!

73

From The Vault: Why Acquisition Entrepreneurs Should Know Pari Passu (who?)

74

Family Owned Business with a Non-Family Leader: Recipe for Success!

75

Proactive Exit Planning through Internal Collaboration

76

Women Contractors are Trailblazing Entrepreneurs!

77

What's New in Death and Taxes?

78

The Proven Framework to Scale a Durable Business

79

Quarterbacking Your Exit Through Your Trusted Advisor

80

Julie Talks about her Game Changing Programs for Advisors!

81

ProjectWE: Human Centric AI

82

Two Sides of the Same Coin: "The Paradox of Prosperity" and "Exit Regret"

83

Building Inclusive and Secure Digital Spaces with ADA & Cyber Compliance

84

Using a Board of Directors for a Better Exit

85

No Plan B: The All-in Approach of a Boat Burner

86

What does it take to be a female CEO of a Regional Bank? Tenacity!

87

Avoid M&A Pitfalls with Trust as a Guiding Principle

88

Private Investigators and Dealmakers are Teaming up More Often than Ever!

89

Trust Matters Now more than Ever: Learn from the Experts

90

Sold over 330 Businesses and He's just getting Started!

91

Overview of the 7th Annual Owner's Forum: "Go or Grow!"

92

Business Succession Research Completed by the University of MN

93

Women Contractors Who Grow Their Companies by Growing Their Networks

94

The Corporate Transparency Act: What you Need to Know

95

RISR: Empowering the Business Owner's Most Trusted Advisor

96

How to Best Utilize a Board of Directors for your ESOP Company

97

SLATs, CRTs, and IDGTs, Oh My! Utilizing Trusts to Optimize Estate Planning and Business Sale Proceeds

98

Reluctantly Resilient: Tools for Building Resilience in Transition

99

Lessons Learned: Navigating Company Culture during a Business Sale

100

Why Culture Matters when you're Poised for Exit

101

Tax Strategies to Maximize After-Tax Proceeds of a Business Sale

102

Next Level Collaboration in Exit Planning: Dealmakers and Manufacturers Team up for Better Owner Outcomes!

103

Using Data to Drive Decisions for Growth, Acquisitions and Exit

104

A Story of two Brothers, their Music and their Give-Back Mission

105

A Financial Advisor’s Journey from Global M&A to Private Business Clients

106

A Partnership Exit Strategy where Everyone Wins

107

Building our "All Star Network" with Cathy Paper

108

Kendall Qualls and TakeChargeMN: Making Black Lives Better!

109

CFO of YTS companies Shares their ESOP Journey, with Guest Host, Kyla Hanson of JAK CPA's!

110

Selling a Financial Advisory Practice: A Former Financial Advisor Shares Tips and Advice

111

Tiger 21: Your Personal Board of Directors

112

Misbeliefs about Private Equity Partnership: Success Stories Revealed!

113

How CEO Peer Groups can get you "Poised for Exit"

114

Rise of the Non-Technical Entrepreneur

115

Arrowhead Promotion’s Bud Schneider: Pointing the way toward a new generation of leadership!

116

True Story of Rapid, Strategic Growth Supported by Fractional Marketing Services

117

"Our Advisor had our Back" A Nigerian Entrepreneur's Success Secret

118

Replacing Fear with Courage: A Fresh Look at Employee Development

119

Funny Tales and Effective Tactics from an Estate Planner!

120

Entrepreneurs' Organization: A Tribe to Thrive With

121

"Stephen Covey was Right!"

122

Why Acquisition Entrepreneurs Should Know Pari Passu (who?)

123

Digital Transformation Strategy: Creating Digital Solutions to Scale Your Business

124

How to Break Through Your Plateaus and Scale Your Business!

125

You Can't Scale Your Business without a Proven Sales System

126

The Birthday Show!

127

Serial Entrepreneur-Chasing the Hard Problems

128

"Evangelist" for Business Owners gives Advice Beyond Investing

129

167 - Trading Capital Gains for Charitable Gains

130

166 - The Neuroscience of Conversations that Build Trust

131

165 - MN State of Owner Readiness Survey Results with Brent Engelbrekt!

132

164 - Exit Planning Institute, President Scott Snider Talks about Lessons in Entrepreneurship and the future of EPI

133

163 - The Impact of $80B and 87,000 Additional IRS Employees on Business Valuation

134

Selling Companies Since 1908: It's all about Relationships

135

161 - Partners Making it Work: Yard Creations' 20 years of Success!

136

160 - How does Insurance fit in with Exit Planning?

137

159 - What Sellers need to know about Net Working Capital

138

158 - The Ready for Next Cities Program!

139

157 - A Lesson on Business Valuations: What Owners Need to Know

140

156 - I'm IN! Two Upcoming Events for Business Owners and Advisors!

141

155 - Meetings You Want

142

154 - CEO and Founder of ZondraTV shares her Entrepreneurial Journey, fortified by Love, Drive and Grit

143

153 - How to Groom Awesome People Leaders

144

152 - Value Acceleration meets HR Strategy: How they work hand in hand

145

151 - Business Succession from a Forensic Accountant's Perspective

146

150 - Big Transitions Call for Maximum Influence with your Employees

147

149 - Customers + Teams = Amazing Business Outcomes

148

148 - Poised for Exit Celebrates 3 Years! A Look Back and a Look Ahead

149

147 - Expanded Options for SBA Financing!

150

146 - Simple yet Savvy: Principles to Navigate Business Transitions

151

145 - Structuring Deals, Putting out Fires and Getting Clients to the Closing Table

152

144 - From Teacher to Financial Founder: The Inspiring Journey of Stacey Stelter and GTS Financial Services

153

143 - The Great LeadHERship Awakening" with special guest Linda Fisk, CEO of LeadHERship Global

154

142 - African Family Firms Founder, Tsitsi Mutendi on how Family Business is like "Raising the Baobab"

155

141 - Leadership can be lonely: C9 Builds Your Tribe

156

140 - Transitions: When is it time to bring in outside leadership?

157

139 - When should you engage a Family Office?

158

138 - From IRS Agent to Entrepreneur: One Woman's Compelling Story

159

137 - Tax Liability in your Future? Consider a Charitable Land Donation

160

136 - Rollover Equity: What Sellers Should Know

161

135 - There's More Than One Way to Structure Your Exit!

162

134 - What to do about your 401K in a Sale

163

133 - 3rd Generation and Going Strong with a "People First" Focus

164

132 - Build a High Value Authentic Brand

165

131 - Seller Whisperer

166

130 - Should you Sell to the Employees? Taking a closer look at ESOP with Fiduciary, Neil Brozen

167

129 - Merchant Processing: Let's Cut the Expense in 2023!

168

128 - Technology and IT Services: Sell the Golden Egg but keep the Goose

169

127 - Stress Free in 2023!

170

126 - Planning and Future Dollars: Every Owner's Needs are Unique

171

125 - Julie Keyes Recaps 2022 and Looks ahead to 2023!

172

124 - Introducing NV Brands!

173

123 - How to Build a Diverse Network and Why it's Good for Business

174

122 - When is Enough Really Enough? 5 Strategies to Create a Transition Plan

175

121 - Growing up in an Entrepreneurial Family: Julie and her sisters tell their story

176

120 - Passing the Leadership Torch, but Still Driving the Vision

177

119 - Building a People Focused Enterprise with Culture at the Top

178

118 - Your Most Trusted Adviser is not Who you Think

179

117 - Business Transition Planning: Are you Ready? MNCEO's online course!

180

116 - How your CPA is Your Most Trusted Adviser

181

115 - Systematize Your Revenue Streams Through Digital Automation!

182

114 - Pre Due Diligence Leads to the Best M & A Outcomes!

183

113 - Making Sense of Value Creation for Business Owners

184

112 - Minimizing the Payment to Uncle Sam when You Sell your Company

185

111 - Choosing and Preparing Your Successor

186

110 - Women-Owned Start-Up's Have a New Advocate!

187

109 - Lessons and Strategies from a Serial Entrepreneur

188

108 - Making Sense of Long Term Care for Business Owners

189

107 - Structuring Capital With Honour

190

106 - Tips for Attracting High Paying Clients and Customers

191

105 - Stop Helping People - Start Working With Them

192

104 - How to Create Age and Gender Inclusivity in Family Business.

193

103 - Do You Have the Right Leaders in Place to Exit at Highest Value?

194

102 Why Valuation Matters

195

101 How a Cyber Breach can Affect your Company Value

196

100 Growing Your Business Through Strategic Acquisition

197

99 - Understanding Your Ownership Journey

198

98. Remodeling a Remodeling Business!

199

97 - Village Bank: Arm in Arm with Business Owners

200

96 - Financial Peace of Mind, On Demand

201

95 - Why EntreBank?

202

94 - Let’s Talk Culture with Super Bowl Champion & Chief Culture Officer, Ben Utecht

203

93 - Comparing the Deal Market: Today vs a Year Ago

204

92 - A 43-yr-old Startup! When 'Exit' Takes a 180 Turn

205

91 - When is it Time to Explore ‘What’s Next'?

206

90 - Launching the 2nd Edition of Poised for Exit!

207

89 - New Tequila Coming to Town!

208

88 - Proactively Take Control of your Future Exit

209

87 - Better HR Delivers Better Business Results

210

86 - I Didn't Think My Business Was Sellable

211

85 - Your Price is Too Low

212

84 - Chief Stripe Changer Talks about Finding your Fire!

213

83 - Next Generation of Manufacturing: Challenges to Transition

214

82 - Extreme Focus: Benchmarks over Goals

215

81 - The Business of Robots: Coming to an Industry Near You!

216

80 - Build a Sustainable Business by Putting Yourself Out of Job

217

79 - Owners: Are you Doing What Makes You Happy?

218

78 - How to become Poised for Exit in 2022: Advice from a CPA

219

77 - Buy, Lease or Move On: Decisions in Commercial Real Estate

220

76 - Julie Highlights the Best of 2021, our Show Sponsors, and what's coming in 2022!

221

75 - What do we Need in 2022? Leaders & Problem Solvers!

222

74 - From Tragedy to Success: A Woman Entrepreneur Tells her Story

223

73 - What if Your Top Sales Person Became Disabled from COVID?

224

72 - Business Owners & Divorce: A Valuation Conversation

225

71 - Sold His Subway Franchise with 26 Locations!

226

70 - A Wild Mountain Exit

227

69 - How Do You Make Uncomfortable Situations Comfortable

228

68 - Upsizing UpSize!

229

67 - Private Equity and Managed Expectations!

230

66 - Becoming an Authority in a Niche Industry

231

65 - Difficult Conversations: Managing People in Today's Tough Environment

232

64 - What the Tech!

233

63 - Contingency Planning: In Case of Emergency -Break-Glass- Do This!

234

62 - Think You Don't Need Long Term Care Insurance? Think Again

235

61 - Work From Home Employees Need a Buddy System

236

60 - A Second Swing at Entrepreneurship: The Story of Wahiwater

237

59 - Buying or Selling a Business in a Hot Market

238

58 - (Reprise of Ep. 13) All in the Family (Business)

239

57 - (Reprise of Ep. 6) Marketing: Metrics that Drive Revenue

240

56 - Have a Plan! Financial Planning for Business Owners

241

55 - Planning to Merge or Acquire? Here's a Step You May be Overlooking

242

54 - Private Equity of a Different Kind- What is Family Capital?

243

53 - Types of Employee Ownership and Why They're Good for Business

244

52 - Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap: From Employee to Co-founder of a New Bank

245

51 - The 1 Year Anniversary Show Featuring Guest Host Heather Keyes!

246

50 - The Power of Conscious Culture

247

49 - Guess Who's Center Stage in Business Today? HR!

248

48 - The Three Things that Motivate Owners to get Transition Ready

249

47 - ESOP's: Are They For You?

250

46 - The Family Business of Knutson Construction: Building for the Next 110 Years

251

45 - Getting 'Poised for Exit': Understanding Buyer Strategies

252

44 - Entrepreneurs Make Great Philanthropists!

253

43 - Let's Elevate Your Business Value!

254

42 - Wellness Works! How to Deliver Health Programs for your Employees at No Cost.

255

41 - What Do a Family Business, Eating Dog Food and PR Have in Common?

256

40 - Award Winning Columnist, Lee Schafer on Mergers & Acquisitions

257

39 - The Three R's: Repression, Resilience, Resolve

258

38 - Risk Management Insurance: An Effective Tool for Buying or Selling a Business

259

37 - Delegation is an Energy Management System

260

36 - A Fresh Perspective: Why Your Business Needs a Brand AND a Reputation Strategy

261

35 - The Role your Financial Adviser plays in a Successful Exit

262

34 - Preparing Your Financials Ahead of a Sale

263

33 - Entrepreneurs: How to Make 2021 A Strong Year!

264

32 - Identifying & Protecting your Intellectual Property

265

31 - From being "Everything to Everybody" to "Something for Somebody"

266

30 - Cybersecurity & Enterprise Value go Hand in Hand

267

29 - Taking Leaps: Serial Entrepreneurship and Diversification

268

28 - The Mini Media Approach to Building a Business

269

27 - 104 and Many More!

270

26 - Creating Messages that Connect and Matter

271

25 - Business Disruption from COVID 19 & How to Break Through

272

24 - Julie Keyes Interviews "The BS Show" Host Bob Sansevere

273

23 - She Went from Blogger to Publisher: Meet Amy Quale of Wise Ink!

274

22 - Putting 'Care' back into Healthcare for Business Owners

275

21 - Exiting a Business the Hard Way: Horror Stories from a Business Lawyer

276

20 - Commercial Insurance "Cocktails": Hybrid Solutions for Business Owners

277

19 - Julie Keyes' Entrepreneurial Journey

278

18 - Introducing, Scott Snider of the Exit Planning Institute

279

17 - Tax Planning for the Sale of a Business: Plan Early, Save More!

280

16 - Know your Worth: A Conversation about Business Valuation Post COVID

281

15 - Gandalf or Gollum? The Role of Your Business Attorney in Transition Planning

282

14 - From Harlem, to Healthcare, to candidate for Congress

283

13 - All in the Family (Business)

284

12 - Coping with 2020: A Conversation with Walk Talk Therapy

285

11 - Not Your Typical Architect: Constructing Shareholder Value

286

10 - Design your Network for Business Results. Building an IMPACT 100™

287

9 - Being a Woman-Owned Business in a Male Dominated Industry

288

8 - What the Tech is Going on?!

289

7 - Everyone Needs a Friend in Law-Making Legal Help Easy

290

6 - Marketing: Metrics that Drive Revenue

291

5 - Lessons and Tips on Enterprise Growth

292

4 - Client Attraction Chain Reaction

293

3 - From Frustrated to FOCUSED: A Roadmap to What's Next

294

2 - Olympic Connector, Nicki Vincent

295

1 - Grow or Go? Is it time to exit your business or double down with Chris Jones.

296

Consultant and author Julie Keyes debuts her podcast.