Touchstone Talks

Deborah Agrafojo

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INVESTISSEMENT

Business advisory podcast that discusses the latest trends and projectors with leading influencers in that space.

26 MARS

Ep 18: The Buyer's Perspective on Acquiring a Family Business

In this episode, Deborah sits down with John SantaCroce, who last year acquired Minore’s Meats, a third-generation family business. John shares a firsthand perspective on how acquiring a family-owned business can create control over your future while unlocking opportunities to improve operations, modernize systems, and drive growth. He highlights what it really takes, from defining clear acquisition criteria and building the right advisory team, to navigating challenges during the deal process and leading a people-first culture post-close. He brings a unique perspective on balancing tradition with innovation as he positions Minore’s for its next chapter. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

29 min
12 MARS

Ep 17: Environmental Regulations Are Changing - What Business Owners Should Understand

Environmental Regulations Are Changing: What Business Owners Should Understand In this episode, environmental attorney Deborah Brancato, Partner at Carmody Law, discusses major changes in Connecticut’s environmental regulatory framework and what they mean for business owners. With the Transfer Act sunsetting, she explains how the new approach is designed to encourage environmental cleanup while creating clearer expectations around environmental responsibility and property use. Deborah also shares practical insights on how environmental issues can arise during normal business operations, property ownership, and transactions, and why it’s important for business owners to understand potential risks and plan ahead. Deborah also shares insight from her involvement in developing the new program and what it means for business sales going forward. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

33 min
26 FÉVR.

Ep 16: Finding the Gaps - How to Strengthen Your Employee Benefits Strategy

In this episode, Jeff Weiner, President and CEO of HKM Associates discusses his unique approach to insurance brokerage. Now entering his 45th-year serving businesses ranging from as few as 2 up to 100s of employees. Licensed in 42 states, Jeff is known for his “white glove” service model. Some key take aways: Don’t assume your current benefits plan is “fine.” There are often hidden gaps, inefficiencies, or better pricing options in the market. A fresh review can uncover what you don’t know you don’t know, especially around networks, billing issues, and plan designSwitching plans to save money doesn’t have to mean forcing employees to change doctors. Thoughtful plan design built around how your team actually uses healthcare can reduce friction and increase buy-in.You have more flexibility than you think. Group health plans are generally month-to-month, PEOs can offer pooled buying power, and there are multiple ways to structure benefits creatively depending on your goals.With no-fee analysis, direct employee access to his cell phone, and a strong community-driven approach to networking and philanthropy, Jeff focuses on making a meaningful impact for both employers, their teams and the community. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

30 min
12 FÉVR.

Ep 15: Financial Readiness - What it Really Means for M&A Success

In this episode, Janice O’Reilly, CPA, CGMA, Partner at AAFCPAs, discusses what financial readiness really means for business owners when the time comes to sell their business. With the day-to-day demands of running a company, many owners focus on their financials primarily for tax purposes, often without realizing how those same numbers will be viewed by a potential buyer. Janice explains the key financial data points buyers focus on during a transaction, including how revenue is recorded, expenses are allocated, working capital is assessed, and liabilities or accruals can surface late in the process. By engaging advisory support early, business owners can better understand their financial picture, set realistic expectations, navigate the complexity of a transaction, and reduce the likelihood of unexpected issues as a deal progresses. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

27 min
29 JANV.

Ep 14: Marketing for Business Owners - Fill the Funnel, Nurture Leads, Close Faster

In this episode, Deborah sits down with Susan Catalano, Managing Partner of JQLaCorte, LLC, a full-service digital marketing agency supporting financial, professional services, and manufacturing businesses. Susan breaks down why marketing is one of the most important growth levers for business owners, helping fill the top of the funnel, nurture leads over time, and ultimately make it easier for sales teams to close. She explains the balance between traditional marketing and digital marketing, emphasizing that the “right” mix depends on where your customers actually are. Susan also shares what business owners can expect when building a marketing engine from typical ROI, to the importance of regular website updates, credible content strategies, and adapting to major shifts like AI-driven search results. For owners thinking ahead to an eventual exit, she highlights the value of creating a consistent, scalable lead generation system that isn’t overly dependent on the owner and how marketing audits, phased improvements, automation tools and fractional/outsourced teams can help get you there. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

30 min
15 JANV.

Touchstone Talks: Ep. 13 - From Idea to Exit: Building a Business That Lasts

In this episode, David Wallace, author of Build Your Own Business(BYOB) and Program Manager for Exit AdvantageSM discusses how his book guides entrepreneurs from idea and passion to execution and building businesses that can grow beyond the founder. He shares the importance of early self-reflection to assess whether entrepreneurship is truly the right fit, market understanding, and planning, as well as shifting from working in the business to working on it through strong teams, processes, and structure. Wallace also explains how Exit Advantage helps owners strengthen their businesses to increase value, emphasizing that growth requires adaptation, clear goals, and planning for exit from the start to create resilient, valuable companies ready for the future. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

25 min
1 JANV.

Touchstone Talks: Ep. 12 - Demystifying ESOPs: What Business Owners Need to Know Before Selling

Demystifying ESOPs: What Business Owners Need to Know Before Selling In this episode, Deborah is joined by Rich Glassman of ESOP Plus LLP. Rich shares his extensive knowledge of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), what he considers to be the best-kept secret in the tax code. Learn why ESOPs are a good option to explore when selling your business. Rich breaks down what an ESOP is, how it works and how it benefits the seller and the company. He addresses some misconceptions including complexity, cost and risk as well as future requirements and costs for the ESOP going forward. Drawing on his background in banking, management, a family-owned business and ESOP law, Rich encourages owners to keep an open mind, seek experienced advisors, and thoughtfully consider whether employee ownership could be the right option for your exit. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

33 min
18/12/2025

Touchstone Talks: Ep. 11 - M&A - Taking Control of Your ‘Online Assets’ Pre and Post Sale

In this episode, Rick Vidallon, Creative Director @ VISIONEFX, discusses how businesses can better manage and protect their digital or online assets . He emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over domains, logins, hosting accounts, and passwords, especially when selling or acquiring a company. It highlights best practices such as keeping an updated inventory of online assets, ensuring owners, not just managers, retain essential access. It emphasizes the value of updating websites regularly, ensuring accurate online listings, and using SEO best practices so search engines can properly recognize and rank a business. Even older sites can retain credibility, but fresh content improves visibility. The episode concludes with insights on tailoring social media and content strategies to a company’s audience and industry, and the role VISIONEFX plays in redesigning sites, improving SEO, and supporting content and social postings. touchstoneadvisors.com linkedin.com/company/touchstone-advisors-m-a directlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

28 min

Tout afficher (19)

BANDE-ANNONCE

Touchstone Talks: Bringing Business Owners Real Life Advice

Touchstone Talks delivers real-world insights from trusted advisors and professionals to help business owners prepare for the future. Each conversation is designed to guide owners through the key components of a successful exit strategy—always with the goal of maximizing the value of their life’s work. By educating and empowering business owners, we create the foundation for successful transitions and lasting impact. touchstoneadvisors.comdirectlinemediaproductions.com/professional-podcast-production

25/08/2025

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1 min

Business advisory podcast that discusses the latest trends and projectors with leading influencers in that space.

Création

Deborah Agrafojo
Années d’activité

2025 - 2026
Épisodes

19
Classification

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Copyright

© 2025
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Touchstone Talks