What does life look like after selling the business you’ve poured decades into building? How do you prepare for one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy are joined by Mark Bradford, Director of Wealth Planning at Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors, to explore the critical process of exit planning for business owners. They discuss why understanding enterprise value matters more than cash flow, the importance of assembling the right advisory team, and the stark differences between internal and external transitions. The conversation also covers common pitfalls, emotional challenges of letting go, and what happens when business wealth suddenly converts to liquid assets.

Key takeaways:

• Why 70-80% of small businesses put up for sale fail to sell, and how proper planning changes outcomes

• The difference between building a job versus building transferable enterprise value in your business

• How internal family transitions require different strategies than selling to private equity or third parties

• Why the personal side of exit planning often creates more challenges than the financial aspects

• What to do before the sale to maximize value and avoid costly mistakes during due diligence

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust:

• 833-973-7633
• LinkedIn: Bryn Mawr Trust
• Website: Bryn Mawr Trust

Connect with Kate Duffy:

• LinkedIn: Kate Duffy

Connect with Jamie Hopkins:

• LinkedIn: Jamie Hopkins

Connect with Mark Bradford:

• LinkedIn: Mark Bradford
• MBradford@bmt.com

About our Guest:

Mark Bradford is the Director of Wealth Planning, where he leads the wealth planning team. He collaborates closely with advisors to develop and implement the company’s long-term vision for wealth planning, which focuses on enhancing client relationships by providing an exceptional client experience through comprehensive and personalized planning.