The Exit Planning Coach

Hosted by John F. Dini

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Exit Planning Coach, a podcast for financial consultants, advisors, and anyone who works with business owners. Hosted by John F. Dini CExP, CEPA, expect to hear tips and tricks from experts across many areas of business. This is a podcast for beginners just starting and those who have been active in this field for years. Expect episodes weekly across all podcast platforms, as well as YouTube.

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58 recent

August 17, 202626 min

Kelly Finnell - Keeping the Business in the Family

Kelly Finnell Podcast Summary: Keeping the Business in the Family: Kelly Finnell on ESOPs How ESOPs can create liquidity, preserve family ownership, and balance the competing needs of active and inactive children In this episode of The ExitMap Podcast, ESOP expert Kelly O. Finnell, J.D., CLU, AIF®, President & CEO of EFS ESOP Consultants, LLC joins John F. Dini, CExP, CEPA, CBEC to explore how ESOPs can help solve one of the toughest family business challenges: balancing the needs of active and inactive children. They discuss how an ESOP can provide liquidity for family members who are not involved in the business while allowing the next generation of leadership to maintain operational control and position the company for continued growth. The conversation also covers ownership, governance, estate planning, and the significant tax advantages that can make ESOPs a powerful family business succession strategy.

July 29, 202631 min

Mike Huey - From Founder-Led to Sale-Ready

Mike Huey: From Founder-Led to Sale-Ready Helping business owners build scalable companies buyers want to own. In this episode of the ExitMap Podcast, John F. Dini talks with Mike Huey, founder of Scalable Sales Solutions, about why scalable sales systems and exit planning should go hand in hand. Mike explains how reducing founder dependence, building repeatable sales processes, and increasing enterprise value prepare a company not only for growth but also for an eventual sale. The conversation also explores the importance of helping owners develop a meaningful vision for life after the business, effective referral-based marketing, maintaining exceptional client relationships, and practical advice for advisors entering the exit planning profession. Throughout the discussion, Mike emphasizes that owners should begin preparing for an exit long before they think they're ready to sell.

July 7, 202622 min

David Jean - Buy-Sell Agreements: Lessons from the Real World

This episode of the ExitMap Podcast focuses on one of the most overlooked—and potentially costly—aspects of exit planning: poorly written or poorly funded buy-sell agreements. John Dini, CExP, CEPA, CBEC, CEMC, the Exit Planning Coach, interviews CPA and Certified Exit Planner David Jean, who shares real-world stories illustrating how vague language, flawed valuation formulas, missing signatures, unfunded obligations, and outdated agreements can create significant financial and legal problems. Together they outline the key provisions every advisor should review to help protect owners, their families, employees, and the business itself.

May 13, 202636 min

Blair Koch Podcast- Blair Koch: From Owner Dependence to True Business Freedom

In this episode of the ExitMap Podcast with John F. Dini, Blair Koch, Managing Partner of TAB Denver West, shares her approach to helping business owners move from dependence to true independence by strengthening leadership teams and shifting decision-making away from the owner. She emphasizes that most barriers to transition are self-imposed—owners struggle to let go, even when their teams are capable. Through a coaching-based approach rooted in deep relationships and thoughtful questioning, Koch helps owners clarify both business and personal goals, often years before an exit. The conversation highlights key signals that owners are ready to step back, the importance of building the right advisory team, and the often-overlooked challenge of defining purpose after the business. Ultimately, successful exits begin long before a transaction—by helping owners create a business, and a life, that can thrive without them.

April 14, 202630 min

Beyond the Deal with Jeff Adam

Beyond the Deal with Jeff Adam: Why the Best Business Exits Start with What Comes Next In this episode, John F. Dini speaks with M&A expert Jeff Adam—President of Adam Noble Group and advisor on more than 800 business sales—about what truly defines a successful exit. Jeff shares why his process has remained grounded in listening first, how life after the business often matters more than the sale itself, and why advisors must sometimes walk away from lucrative deals that aren’t the right fit. From real-world examples of missed red flags to stories of dramatically increased valuations through preparation, this conversation highlights the difference between transactional thinking and long-term advisory impact.

March 3, 202630 min

Amanda Bussa - From Exit Planner to Exit Doer

In this episode of the ExitMap Podcast, John F. Dini interviews Amanda Bussa, CBEC, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Bussa Financial Partners, about her 24-year career serving business owners—beginning on September 11, 2001. Amanda shares how she entered financial services straight out of college with a focus on business owners from day one, developing an “approach talk” that identifies coordination gaps in estate planning, succession planning, wealth accumulation, and risk management. Rather than positioning herself as a business consultant who “does everything,” she emphasizes education, collaboration, and long-term accountability. The conversation explores: How to transition from being an “exit talker” to an “exit doer” Why referrals and centers of influence are her primary marketing engine What defines an ideal client (open, transparent, collaborative) The importance of professional designations to build credibility When to bring in outside specialists for valuation enhancement The entrepreneurial mindset required to serve business owners effectively Amanda’s story blends grit, discipline, and authenticity—highlighting the parallels between athletics and entrepreneurship, the realities of building a firm from scratch, and the importance of choosing clients intentionally as your practice matures.

February 10, 202630 min

Melinda Adams - The Exit Myth From Corporate Success to a Purpose-Driven Exit Spreaker

The Exit Myth: From Corporate Success to a Purpose-Driven Exit Why selling the business isn’t the finish line—and how real exit readiness changes everything. In this episode of the ExitMap Podcast, John Dini, The Exit Planning Coach, sits down with Melinda Adams to unpack the realities behind entrepreneurship, exit planning, and what truly happens after the sale of a business. Melinda shares her journey from corporate leadership at IBM and Oracle to owning—and eventually selling—a multi-location business, candidly discussing the costly mistakes she made by not being exit-ready. Together, they explore why so many owners underestimate taxes, overestimate proceeds, and fail to plan for life after the transaction. Melinda explains how her own exit experience reshaped her career, leading her to help owners identify their “freedom point” and avoid becoming part of the 75% who regret their exit. The conversation highlights the importance of holistic planning, assembling the right advisory team, and treating exit readiness as good business planning—not a last-minute event. For advisors and business owners alike, this episode reinforces a critical truth: a successful exit isn’t about selling the business—it’s about designing the life that comes next.

January 13, 202630 min

The Next Act: Helping Business Owners Find Purpose After the Exit

In this episode of the Exit Planning Coach Podcast, host John F. Dini welcomes back Joe Markovich, who shares both a personal and professional transition—from relocating from Vancouver to Maryland to launching a new collaborative effort with Ennis Legacy Partners. The conversation centers on a challenge many business owners face after exiting their companies: loss of identity, purpose, and structure. Joe introduces The Next Act, a structured program designed to help owners rediscover meaning in life after business using the Japanese concept of ikigai—the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and how you’re rewarded. Together, John and Joe explore why traditional retirement thinking often fails entrepreneurs, why “filling time” isn’t the same as fulfilling it, and how purpose-driven planning can dramatically improve post-exit satisfaction. The episode reinforces a powerful message for advisors and owners alike: a successful exit isn’t complete unless life after the business is intentionally designed.

December 2, 202530 min

Chris Snider and EPI-Creating Value Acceleration and Shaping an Industry

The Exit Planning Coach Podcast Guest: Christ Snider, CEO of The Exit Planning Institute Creating Value Acceleration and Shaping an Industry In this compelling edition of the ExitMap Podcast , hosted by John F. Dini, The Exit Planning Coach , EPI CEO Chris Snider shares the candid story behind the creation of the Value Acceleration Methodology and how it evolved into the leading standard for exit planning advisors nationwide. From his early career in process improvement and growth consulting to the breakthrough insights that shaped Value Acceleration, Chris reveals the principles that drive real, measurable results for business owners. He also explains how the Exit Planning Institute scaled this methodology into a national movement—building a thriving community of advisors, expanding professional development pathways, and elevating the quality of exit planning across the profession. CEPAs will gain valuable perspective on where the industry is heading, why Value Acceleration remains so effective, and how EPI is investing in deeper training, specialization, and long-term advisor success. Whether you're a seasoned advisor, CEPA or early in your practice, this episode offers insight, clarity, and motivation from the leader who helped define the modern exit planning landscape.

August 21, 202532 min

Beyond the Owner-How Family Systems Shape Successful Exits Compressed

Beyond the Owner: How Family Systems Shape Successful Exits Inclusive planning, legacy thinking and trusted advisory teams drive long-term success. In this episode of the Exit Planning Coach Podcast with John F. Dini, family business expert Amy Wirtz shares powerful insights on how family dynamics, collaboration, and clear communication shape successful business transitions. Drawing from her background as a collaborative divorce attorney and senior consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group, Amy discusses the importance of listening first, educating owners on their options, and engaging the full family system—not just the founder. She offers real-world examples of navigating generational shifts, avoiding conflict, and building governance structures that support long-term success. Whether you’re an advisor or a business owner, Amy’s perspective will change how you think about planning for the future.