Episodes

Brady Como on producer debt vs. consumer debt — why bankers are often the least greedy partner in a deal, and what business liquidations teach about underwriting discipline.

Tim Prevost on how banks evaluate commercial deals — going from teller line to community bank CFO, comparable-sale valuation, and why trust still beats spreadsheets in lending.

Joris Delanoue of Fairmint on tokenizing private company equity — cap tables as smart contracts, removing intermediaries, and unlocking secondary liquidity for private equity.

Marvin Travasos of Coastal Pumping Equipment on scaling an industrial business from welder to owner of a 4-location operation — built on people, accountability, and patience.

Jared and Rachel Doise of Legends Born Grill on being husband and wife in business together — building a 9-location restaurant company over 20 years without losing the marriage.

Kristine Goebel of Accompany Suite on why culture risk kills M&A deals — emotional intelligence in leadership, transparency before an exit, and what PE misses post-close.

Mike Flash on selling Dixie Electric — a 40-year family business — without selling his soul, protecting employees, and what comes after the deal closes.

Ted Anthony on IP diligence in middle market M&A — what buyers actually look for in patents and trademarks, laddered portfolios, and why IP protects value but doesn't create it.

David Podell on tax mitigation strategies for business owners — how defined benefit and cash balance plans legally reduce six- and seven-figure tax bills and build net worth outside the business.

Brett Swarts of Capital Gains Tax Solutions on how founders defer capital gains tax on a business sale using the Deferred Sales Trust — and why it beats 1031 alternatives for liquidity events.

Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor, on how global asset allocators work — the allocator-manager ecosystem, the convergence of public, private, and wealth markets.

Larry Attenhofer of Hancock Whitney on how banks evaluate middle market deals — what credit analysts look for, red flags that kill deals early, and how to prepare years before an exit.

Andre Broussard on why business sales fall apart at closing — the psychology behind every deal, the common mistakes founders make, and how CPAs serve as fractional CFOs through the process.

CJ Miller on the role of a transactional attorney in M&A — how the right legal counsel structures deals, manages risk, and prepares business owners for a successful sale.

Edward Bienvenu on how commercial bankers evaluate a business — relationship banking, global cash flow analysis, and why the best deals are sometimes the ones you walk away from.

Paul George on life after selling a business — the identity crisis founders face post-exit, why profit and purpose aren't opposites, and planning what comes next years in advance.

Lance Strother on faith-driven leadership in business — why love is a strategy with teeth, what inventing and partnerships teach you, and why integrity outlasts ROI.

Frank Slavich on how to choose an M&A attorney who protects clients without killing deals — plus the Texas Shootout clause, succession planning, and where AI fits in legal practice.

Dan Daly on going from car sales to a hospitality private equity fund — a $50M Golden Visa fund targeting boutique properties in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Japan.

The FA Mergers team — Jude David, Scott Shea, and Chase Kenner — on common mistakes sellers make in M&A, why inflated valuations kill deals, and what to demand from your sell-side advisor.

Philip Boggia on how to become a full-time LP investor — a decade-long transition from U.S. Marshal to limited partner across real estate, private equity, and private credit.

Joe Zanco, CEO of Catalyst Bank, on leading a NASDAQ-listed bank through mutual-to-stock conversion — employee ownership, why most private banks are acquired, and what successful deals require.

Blaise Zuschlag of Acadian Companies on scaling a family business through acquisitions — from family-run ambulance service to 5,000+ employees, ESOP ownership, and preserving culture through M&A.

William Kellner on protecting sellers from unserious buyers — the deal pitfalls litigators see that everyone else misses, red flags in contract language, and the value of early legal counsel.