Healthcare M&A Market: Q1 2026 Update

Common Financial Mistakes During a Deal with CWA

Many doctors spend years building a successful practice but enter a transaction without fully understanding the decisions that can impact their long-term outcome. Brian and Michael sit down with Cain Watters & Associates, David Forbess and Zane Harris, to explore topics including cash versus rollover equity, tax planning, and the importance of aligning your transition with long-term personal and financial goals. They also discuss how post-sale regret often develops, and the proactive steps owners can take to better position themselves before entering the market. Throughout the episode, the focus remains on helping practice owners understand the decisions that can meaningfully impact both the transaction itself and life after the deal closes.

Investing for a Better Deal Outcome with Bernstein

“Wealth creation starts well before the transaction. If everything is tied to one asset, your timing gets dictated by market conditions, buyers’ interest, or personal circumstances rather than by choice.”  In this episode of The Advisor’s Table, Michael sits down with Wealth Advisor, Daniel Corello, from Bernstein to explore how business owners should think about investing before a sale, balancing wealth inside and outside of their primary business, and preparing financially years ahead of a transition. Whether you are years away from a transition or actively considering one today, this episode offers insight into why building personal wealth outside the business can be just as important as maximizing enterprise value inside of it. Additional Resources  Bernstein  [https://www.bernstein.com/] Learn More from 7 Pillars  [https://www.7pillarsadvisory.com/]

Tax-Loss Harvesting After a Liquidity Event with Earned

Few business owners take the time to plan for the tax impact after a deal closes. In this episode of The Advisor’s Table, Brian and Michael sit down with Senior Wealth & Tax Advisor, Carson Henderson, from Earned to understand tax-loss harvesting. This conversation explores how tax-loss harvesting strategies can help business owners navigate the impact of a significant capital gain and why planning well in advance matters. Carson shares real-world examples of both a private equity transaction and a doctor-to-doctor sale, highlighting how proactive tax strategies can significantly influence financial outcomes after a deal closes. Additional Resources: Earned  [https://www.earned.com/] Carson Henderson [https://calendly.com/earnedwealth/introductory-call-jessie-and-carson]  Learn More from 7 Pillars [https://www.7pillarsadvisory.com/]

Building the Right Advisory Team Before a Business Transition

When preparing for a healthcare practice or business transition, many owners focus primarily on finding the right buyer or maximizing their valuation. But a successful sale involves much more than just the transaction itself, and you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. In this episode of The Advisor’s Table, Brian and Michael discuss why healthcare business owners need a complete advisory team in place long before a transition begins. A team of industry-specific M&A advisors, financial planners, CPAs, and legal counsel are crucial to understanding your options, your timing, and your goals.

HR Red Flags That Can Derail a Deal with HR for Health

While HR regulations can feel seemingly minor, they can reveal deeper operational gaps during a transition, turning small oversights into deal delays or even risks to closing the deal. In this episode of The Advisor’s Table, Michael and Brian sit down with Jill Hasselmann, Chief Growth Officer at HR for Health to hear HR issues that commonly surface during a business transition and how they can quietly impact a deal. She also shares how healthcare-specific HR systems, like HR for Health, can help practice owners reduce risk, stay compliant, and better prepare for a successful transition. This episode is crucial for practice owners regardless of your transition timeline.   Additional Resources:   HR for Health [https://hrfh.hrforhealth.com/partner-lead-demo?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=demo&partner_source=7%20Pillars]    HR Risk Assessment [https://hrfh.hrforhealth.com/hr-assessment?hsCtaAttrib=209123607319]   7 Pillars Advisory Services [https://www.7pillarsadvisory.com/services/transition-advisors/]