Brian Parks brings decades of expertise in both financial services and SaaS as the founder and CEO of Bigfoot Capital. Prior to Bigfoot Capital, he has honed his skills in various positions across companies, most notably as the co-founder of Brandfolder. Founded on the principles of stability, support, and partnership, Brian and Bigfoot Capital strive to be a lifeline for SaaS companies, improving their operational health to empower and drive growth. As a founder himself, Brian taps into his own experiences of growth, struggle, and resiliency to guide founders on a path of autonomy in how their companies achieve success.   Key themes included: Balancing tech development and demand Pragmatic product development approach Horizontal vs. vertical market challenges Raising equity vs. debt funding Lending criteria and strategic borrowing Iterative learning and business success Persistence in driving revenue growth — Website: https://www.bigfootcap.com  Newsletter: https://www.bigfootcapital.substack.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parksbrian/  — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Eric Miller understands the complex emotions tied to wealth creation and management, especially for those in service-based businesses. His empathetic approach acknowledges the guilt and shame that can hinder financial success and the importance of overcoming these barriers for growth and sustainability. By guiding business owners to make deliberate financial decisions, he helps them build and preserve their wealth effectively. Eric's strategies emphasize proper compensation, investment in growth, and avoiding burnout, ensuring business owners thrive both emotionally and financially. "There comes a point, I think, in any business where you got to make a decision, am I going to treat this thing as something that has the ability to expand in value? ... because in this universe, you are never going sideways, either going up or you're going down."     Key themes included: Guilt and Shame in Wealth Decision-Making and Financial Impact Business Growth and Expansion Burnout Challenges and Prevention Business Exit Strategy and Preparation Proper Owner Compensation and Wealth Management Investment Caution Post-Business Sale — Website: https://econologicsfinancialadvisors.com/    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Spencer Hilligoss is the CEO of Madison Investing - a real estate investment club with bespoke, curated real estate deals. Spencer founded Madison Investing with a singular mission: to help busy, successful professionals invest passively and secure their most valuable asset of all: Time.  By partnering with in-market, vetted operators, Madison Investing has $2.3B in acquisitions, with over 20,000 units. Investors now have access to cash-flowing private real estate syndications and funds, allowing them to enjoy passive returns as these businesses thrive.  Before starting Madison Investing, Spencer was what some consider a “corporate junkie”, growing operations and sales teams in 5 high growth Fintech companies, over the span of 13 years. In 2019, five months before the pandemic, Spencer broke free from the golden handcuffs to give full focus on serving his investment group and growing Madison Investing. Now, as a full-time investor and entrepreneur, he can spend more time with his family and hone his skills on the electric guitar. He is a registered member of FINRA and a member of the Forbes 2022 Real Estate Council.  "It takes a team of people and immense amounts of capital to go and buy these big buildings, improve them, and hold them for long periods of time at a profit."     Key themes included: Investment Goals Consistent income vs. capital growth Networking Building long-term relationships Real Estate Strategies Acquiring and managing properties Financial Benefits Property improvements and exits Market Timing Impact on investment outcomes Due Diligence Vetting teams and deals Passion and Transition From tech to real estate — Website: http://www.madisoninvesting.com/    Email: spencer@madisoninvesting.com Phone: 415.290.0328  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilligoss/   — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Ryan Duffy is a seasoned entrepreneur who effortlessly leverages his extensive background in Hollywood and tech to drive innovation. He started with a small team at Vidme, ultimately cultivating a company philosophy that prioritized careful, methodical growth. Through numerous ventures, including pioneering an early NFT platform and founding the audio course platform Knowable, Ryan has faced and overcome countless challenges. Now at Medium, he continues to draw from his rich experience to navigate the creator economy with his latest venture, Stack. "One of the hardest things I've ever had to do professionally...trying to explain what an NFT is. And if you think about it, it's like, it's digital, but, like, you own it."    Key themes included: Early NFT Platform Struggles Knowable's Audio Course Challenges Pandemic's Impact on E-learning Vidme's Monetization and Infrastructure Issues Transition to Medium Leveraging Career Skills and Experience New Venture Focused on Creator Economy — Website: www.duffy.work   Contact: https://duffy.work/contact-form  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpatrickduffy/   — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Matt Rinkey is a wealth advisor and certified exit planner who specializes in helping entrepreneurs and real estate investors maximize their business value and achieve their financial goals. With a background in family office, hedge fund, and real estate, Matt brings a wealth of experience to support his clients in building the right strategies for wealth creation and life aspirations. Through his boutique team's comprehensive approach and flat fee model, Matt serves as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, providing guidance on day-to-day financial questions and major life-altering events. His expertise focuses on integrating personal and business planning, exit planning, and creating customized investment checklists to help clients prioritize their business growth and avoid common pitfalls. "So how do we make them better as investors? And that's just not by, hey, send your money here."    Key themes included: 1. Gaining expertise from clients and members 2. Entrepreneurial strategies for tax planning 3. Evaluating financial team and wealth creation 4. Exit planning and maximizing business value 5. Investing based on core values, checklist 6. Integrating personal aspirations with business goals 7. Importance of early planning for entrepreneurs — Website: http://www.illuminationwealth.com/   Contact: matt@illuminationwealth.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattrinkey/   — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Lee is a value creation expert, a skill not commonly discussed when it comes to scaling and preparing for exits. I know you listeners would love to hear about his practical tools and insights on this. Lee is also a 2x bestselling author with over 30 years of experience in the business world and currently the CEO of Execute to Win. He has founded and led seven companies, including Able Aerospace, which he grew from two to 500 employees and 2,000 customers in 60 countries culminating in a 9-figure exit in 2016. "How would you like to create value in the world?"   Key themes included: 1. Value creation as the key business focus 2. Importance of aligning business model and strategy 3. Benson's methodology applicable to all business sizes 4. Benson's entrepreneurial journey 5. Simplicity and focus in business growth frameworks 6. Criticisms of higher education's lack of practicality 7. Fostering value creation mindset in youth — Website: www.etw.com   Contact: bo@evancarmichael.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-benson-5b6101/  X: https://twitter.com/executetowin?lang=en-GB    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Brad Baldridge is a financial advisor specializing in college planning, helping families navigate the complex landscape of college costs and financial aid. With a background in engineering, Brad transitioned into financial advising and found his niche in assisting clients with the increasingly challenging task of managing college expenses. He emphasizes the importance of individualized approaches to college planning, considering each student's unique needs, abilities, and career aspirations. Brad's expertise extends beyond college planning to comprehensive financial portfolio management, offering a holistic approach to financial advising for his clients.   "If you take a $60,000 school and you get 35,000 of scholarships and you're down to 25, that's about where the state school probably is going to be. Either way, you still have to pay 30,000. So that's the next step, right, is how do we pay that efficiently?"   Key themes included: 1. Financial planning strategies for businesses and families 2. Multiple paths to success beyond college 3. Complex situations require early, specialized planning 4. Entrepreneurial lessons from "The King's Fly Swatter" 5. College costs, aid, and efficient payment options 6. Financial aid challenges for entrepreneurs' income assessment 7. Importance of specialized advisors for college planning — Website: www.tamingthehighcostofcollege.com   Contact: https://tamingthehighcostofcollege.com/contact/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradbaldridge/    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Tommy Vincent is a dynamic entrepreneur with a rich background in sales, technology, and mental health businesses. Passionate about finance, his latest venture, Hub Analytics, focuses on automating repetitive accounting tasks and enhancing financial management for small businesses. By prioritizing customer feedback and maintaining a lean approach, Tommy aims to guide entrepreneurs in exit planning and achieving their financial goals. His journey from successful exits to innovative startups underscores the high-risk, high-reward nature of entrepreneurship, inspiring others with his commitment to long-term success.   Key themes included: 1. Customer-Centric Approach 2. Entrepreneurship Journey and Insights 3. Financial Reporting and Accuracy 4. Importance of Strong Networks 5. Long-term Success Planning 6. Automating Accounting Tasks with AI 7. Exit Planning and Succession — Website: https://hub-analytics.com/   Email: tommy.vincent@hub-analytics.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hub-analytics-software/?viewAsMember=true  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554597001535  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hub.analytics/    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Michael Frew worked for two decades as an engineer, developer, and software architect on hundreds of consulting engagements with corporations, including Lockheed Martin’s Artificial Intelligence Labs, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, and FireEye/Mandiant. He received his B.S. and MBA in Business and Economics while studying in China, Hong Kong, and The Netherlands, as well as several post-graduate information security certifications.   Following his corporate career, Michael pivoted to Acquisition Entrepreneurship, acquiring software/SaaS companies and using his boot-strapped funds to purchase multiple 6 and 7-figure businesses from brokers such as Empire Flippers, FE International, and Quiet Light Brokerage.   Currently, Michael manages a growing 8-figure portfolio of cloud-based software companies, collectively generating a 7-figure pre-tax income annually. Michael’s insights on digital business acquisitions and operations have been featured in dozens of media outlets like FE International, Indie Hackers, and Empire Flippers. Key themes included: 1. Business Lifecycle Understanding in SaaS 2. Financial Literacy in M&A 3. Small to Large Acquisition Journey 4. Importance of CPA in Acquisitions 5. Challenges in Accounting Reconciliation 6. Seller-Buyer Relationship Importance 7. Diverse Team for Scaling Businesses — Website: www.michaelfrew.com/   Email: podcast@michaelfrew.net  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrew/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelfrew  X: https://twitter.com/point_of_frew  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/point_of_frew/    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!

Joining us is Dr. Mark Stiving, a passionate advocate for empowering B2B organizations to win more business at higher prices by unlocking the secrets of their buyers’ minds. As a published author, beloved professor, and sought-after speaker, Mark shares invaluable insights on how to strategically price, package, and sell products based on the value they deliver. With a wealth of experience working with organizations of all sizes, he brings practical tools and simple concepts to help businesses understand the value they bring and get paid accordingly. Get ready for a conversation with actionable strategies for achieving better pricing and profitability.  For over 25 years, Dr. Mark Stiving has been a guiding force for private equity firms and SMB organizations, unlocking the path to increased profits through strategic pricing, packaging, communication, and value-driven sales. Holding a Ph.D. in pricing from U.C. Berkeley, he authored three influential books: “Impact Pricing - Your Blueprint for Driving Profits,” “Win Keep Grow - How to Price and Package to Accelerate Your Subscription Business,” and “Selling Value - How to Win More Deals at Higher Prices.” Mark’s diverse career spans pricing, marketing, product management, and private equity dynamics, offering a unique perspective for companies of all sizes and stages. His deep knowledge of buyer behavior informs his understanding, empowering businesses across industries to deliver invincible profits. With a wealth of experience, Mark continues to assist organizations in comprehending their value propositions and securing equitable compensation through practical tools and concepts. Key themes included: 1. Articulating customer value and pricing. 2. Solving customer problems effectively. 3. Value table exercise components. 4. Price segmentation and strategies. 5. Market segmentation understanding. 6. Raising prices with confidence. 7. "Will I" decision importance. — Website: www.impactpricing.com/   Email: mark@impactpricing.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKnZPFHa_GIDSKlHv_jdYgQ  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/impact-pricing/id1449435549  Blog: https://impactpricing.com/blog/    — Follow Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabrobinson/  Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danarobinsonofficial/  Subscribe to Dana’s weekly newsletter at https://www.danarobinson.com  — If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you! *Some of these links might be affiliate links.  Thank you in advance if you choose to work with one of the companies I believe in.  The money I make from your purchase helps to keep the content you enjoy, and rely on to grow your own business, free to you. Thanks for tuning into this episode of Exit Plan!