ExitReadiness®️ PODCAST

ENNIS Legacy Partners
  • 5.0 (8)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Most business owners will leave their business one day. Few are ready when that day comes. The ExitReadiness® Podcast helps you change that. Hosted by Pat Ennis, CExP™ and Walter Deyhle, CPA, CExP™, CEPA of ENNIS Legacy Partners, each episode features candid conversations with subject-matter experts across M&A, finance, law, leadership, and personal planning — giving you the practical insights you need to build a sellable business and exit on your own terms and conditions. Topics include building transferable value, exit route options, buy-sell agreements, tax planning, business continuity, management development, and what life after the exit actually looks like. Whether you're 10 years out or 10 months out, there's something here for you.  Subscribe wherever you listen — and visit exitreadiness.com to take your free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Role AI Can Play in Sensitive Partner Negotiations Ft. David Gage

    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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    41 min

  2. APR 23

    NEXT ACT Series: Life After the Business Ft. David Young

    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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    36 min

  3. APR 16

    The Benefits of an ESOP in a Family Business Ft. Kelly Finnell

    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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    35 min

  4. APR 1

    A Tax Smart Exit Ft. Ed Cotney

    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 exerciseCommon structural mistakes that reduce after-tax proceedsHow different exit paths (sale, ESOP, transfer) impact tax outcomesWhat owners should be doing now to preserve flexibility laterGuest: 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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    34 min

  5. MAR 12

    A Successful ESOP Story Ft. Tim Rettig

    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 candidateThe cultural and leadership implications of employee ownershipTradeoffs between ESOPs and third-party salesLessons 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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    35 min

  6. FEB 26

    Due Diligence in M&A Transactions: Why First-Time Buyers Should Avoid Analysis Paralysis Ft. Michael Mercurio

    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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    31 min

  7. FEB 19

    What Does a Fractional EOS Integrator Do? Ft. Dave Lokos

    If you're running on EOS® but struggling to execute, you may be missing the Integrator role — the person who translates the Visionary's vision into traction. Dave Lokos, CEPA, CBEC of ExitWell Advisors joins Pat and Walter to explain what a Fractional EOS Integrator actually does, how it differs from an EOS Implementer, and why getting this role right has a direct impact on the transferable value of your business. Guest: Dave Lokos, CEPA, CBEC, ExitWell Advisors Connect with guest: linkedin.com/in/davelokos/ “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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    28 min

  8. FEB 12

    An Often Overlooked Risk in Funding Buy - Sell Agreements – Disability Buy Out Ft. Mark Gage

    Most business owners fund their buy-sell agreements with life insurance — but what happens when a partner becomes disabled rather than dying? In this episode, Mark Gage joins Pat and Walter to discuss disability buyout coverage: what it is, why it's so frequently overlooked in partnership planning, and the costly gaps it leaves in even well-intentioned buy-sell agreements. If you have a business partner, this episode may be the most important planning conversation you've heard. Guest: Mark Gage [verify title and firm before publishing] Connect with guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-gage-clu-a48b7a7/ “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 Pat and Walter: https://ennislp.com/about CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwUmJP3Fm4rYbRAQhYQkpg ExitReadiness Blog: https://ennislp.com/read-our-blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exitreadiness Website: Ennislp.com #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.

    26 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Most business owners will leave their business one day. Few are ready when that day comes. The ExitReadiness® Podcast helps you change that. Hosted by Pat Ennis, CExP™ and Walter Deyhle, CPA, CExP™, CEPA of ENNIS Legacy Partners, each episode features candid conversations with subject-matter experts across M&A, finance, law, leadership, and personal planning — giving you the practical insights you need to build a sellable business and exit on your own terms and conditions. Topics include building transferable value, exit route options, buy-sell agreements, tax planning, business continuity, management development, and what life after the exit actually looks like. Whether you're 10 years out or 10 months out, there's something here for you.  Subscribe wherever you listen — and visit exitreadiness.com to take your free ExitReadiness® DIY™ Assessment.

Information

  • Creator
    ENNIS Legacy Partners
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ENNIS Legacy Partners
  • Show Website
    ExitReadiness®️ PODCAST