Most professionals in the M&A space have been closing deals for decades. But being young doesn't mean you can't bring value to the table.

Morgan Tate, founder of Breakwater M&A, has built a reputation as one of the younger voices in the industry. He has helped facilitate over $250 million worth of deals and is now using automation to make the process faster and more efficient. From the lessons learned in those transactions, he created the Breakwater Blueprint to keep deals from falling apart. Morgan offers a glimpse at the future of exits, where human connection and technology go hand in hand.

In this episode, you will:

• Hear how younger advisors are closing more transactions

• Learn how AI is speeding up the deal process

• Understand why advisory fees are declining and how brokers can protect their value

Highlights:

(00:00) Meet Morgan Tate

(02:36) The Breakwater Blueprint

(04:29) Earning trust as a younger advisor

(10:42) Will AI lower advisory fees for business owners?

(15:47) Let AI be your junior broker

(19:06) Where human judgment matters most in business sales

(21:30) The future of M&A

(26:18) AI can solve this mistake that hurts deals

Resources:

For past guests, please visit https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/

Follow Morgan:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgantate

Learn more about Morgan's company:

Breakwater M&A: https://www.breakwatermna.com

Follow Ed:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmysogland/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders

Owning a business can feel isolating. Entrepreneurs face daily challenges and tough decisions without others who truly understand their experience. A strong support network makes it easier to create long-term success and prepare for a smooth exit.

In this episode, Jared Luegers and Kevin King, co-founders of OWN Indiana, share how they're helping business owners in Indiana create a supportive community and build lasting business value. They discuss the importance of overcoming the loneliness of entrepreneurship, the power of connecting with other operators, and how small businesses can leverage tools like AI to thrive.

In this episode, you will:

• Learn how building a community of operators can support business growth

• Gain insights into the challenges of creating long-term business value

• Understand how leveraging AI can help small businesses become more efficient

Highlights:
(00:00) Meet Jared Luegers & Kevin King

(02:41) What is OWN Indiana?

(06:34) The 600,000 small businesses at stake in Indiana

(17:37) Why business owners don't think strategically

(23:49) The loneliness of ownership

(32:08) What to expect at an OWN Indiana event

(45:32) How AI will save small businesses in America

(55:40) OWN Indiana's vision for the next 10 years

(42:47) One piece of advice to increase business value

Resources:
For past guests, please visit https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/

Follow Jared Luegers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredluegers/
Follow Kevin King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-king-tn/
Learn more about OWN Indiana: https://ownindiana.org/

Follow Ed:
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmysogland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders

Managing a business is tough enough on its own. But add family dynamics in the mix, and things get even more challenging.

As a strategic advisor at The Family Business Consulting Group, Amy Wirtz shares her expertise on navigating ownership transitions in multigenerational families.

Amy discusses the challenges of balancing family relationships with business goals, offering insights on how to manage both for a successful transition. She also shares tips to help prepare the next generation for leadership to ensure that both the business legacy and family harmony are preserved.

In this episode, you will:

• Learn how to create a clear succession plan

• Discover strategies for managing conflict within the family

• Understand how generational wealth planning works

Highlights:

(00:00) Meet Amy Wirtz

(02:57) The responsibilities of an exit planner

(07:00) From family law to family business advising

(12:55) Parallel planning for families and businesses

(16:22) Family ownership dynamics

(19:34) How next generations "pay" for family business transfers

(22:19) Navigating complex family communication

(26:29) The biggest problem in ownership transitions

(29:33) What family businesses teach about legacy and long-term thinking

Resources:

For past guests, please visit https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/

Follow Amy:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywirtzcepa/

Email: wirtz@thefbcg.com

Learn more about The Family Business Consulting Group: https://www.thefbcg.com/

Follow Ed:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmysogland/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders