Ramp Up to Retirement

Ramp Up to Retirement


Are Business Owners Ready for the $14 Trillion Exit Wave? (Ep. 22)

December 24, 2025

Most business owners say they feel prepared to step away, but available data suggests gaps in readiness.

In this episode, Dan Reese breaks down insights from the National State of Owner Readiness Report and explains common areas where small and mid-sized business owners may lack preparation for a significant financial transition. With a large portion of many owners’ net worth tied up in their business, exit planning often involves business, personal, and financial considerations.

Dan walks through common elements often associated with readiness, including understanding business value, identifying wealth gaps, and planning considerations for life after the business following a transaction.

Dan discusses:

  • The role small and mid-sized businesses play in the U.S. economy
  • The commonly referenced three legs of exit planning: business, personal, and financial considerations
  • The role formal business valuations can play in exit planning
  • The wealth gap and how lifestyle expectations may affect a transition
  • And more

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