Why your business might be your biggest risk Ft. John O'Dea

What the heck is a business valuation anyway? Ft. Jeff & Eric

What is a business valuation — and why can't you just Google it or ask AI? In this episode of Max Value Podcast, we sit down with business valuation experts Jeff Faust (Abbott Stringman Lynch CPAs) and Eric Sunheim (Marovous Valuations) to break down exactly what business appraisal is, why no two businesses are valued the same way, and what separates a defensible professional opinion from a cheap shortcut.  Whether you're a business owner planning an exit, a trusted adviser, or just curious about how your company's value is determined, this episode covers everything from valuation vs. appraisal, the role of AI in the field, what a professional valuation really costs and why, and the most common misconceptions owners have about the process.

Why your business might be your biggest risk Ft. John O'Dea

What happens to your business — and your wealth — when the unexpected strikes? In this episode of the Max Value Podcast, host Ben Towne sits down with John O'Dea, financial adviser at Summit Financial Group, for a deep dive into buy-sell agreements: what they are, why most business owners overlook them, and why that's a costly mistake. John breaks down the "5 D's" triggering events — death, disability, divorce, debtors, and departure — and explains how a well-structured buy-sell agreement acts like a prenup for your business, giving every shareholder a clear roadmap before things get complicated. Beyond the legal framework, John shares how buy-sell agreements fit into a broader wealth management strategy — especially when your business is your biggest (and most concentrated) asset. From insurance funding to valuation mechanics and the importance of regular reviews, this conversation is packed with practical insight for any business owner who wants to protect what they've built. Whether you're a sole owner or have multiple partners, this episode will change the way you think about business resilience and personal financial planning.

Recruiting for professional services Ft. John Borrowman

John Borrowman has been recruiting in business valuation and professional services since 1995—and in that time, he's seen what most firm leaders never will: the full talent market, not just the handful of roles they've personally hired for. In this episode, John brings his "forest vs. trees" perspective to one of the most overlooked challenges in the profession: why BV practices keep making the same hiring mistakes, and what it actually takes to fix them. John introduces his Unique Hiring Problem framework—a simple but powerful way to understand why leadership-level hires fail when firms treat them like entry-level ones. He walks through the three cyclical drivers of appraisal demand (tax, litigation, and M&A), explains why the BV talent pool is structurally limited at the senior level, and shares the top 3 mistakes firm owners make: storyless job posts, fuzzy compensation timelines, and applying the wrong evaluation process to the wrong type of role. He also covers the practical tools he uses to assess candidates—live case studies and platform-based skills tests—and the non-obvious insight about offer velocity that could be costing your firm top talent right now. Whether you're a firm owner actively hiring or just trying to build a stronger bench, this conversation will change how you think about finding and landing the right people.

Tell 'em Who you are Ft. Robert Friedman

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Friedman of Fearless Branding to explore how a well-defined brand can directly increase the value of your professional services firm. We dig into why so many firms struggle to attract their best clients — not because of the quality of their work, but because of how they're telling their story. Robert walks us through real examples, including our own branding engagement at Towne Advisory, and breaks down what it really takes to go from a mushy market position to one that works for you.  If this episode added value, subscribe to the Max Value Podcast and share it with someone in your network who needs to hear it. Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/

We are Growing... But something's Not Working ft. Laurence Whittam

What does it really take for an accounting firm to succeed with global staffing? In this episode, Ben Town sits down with Lawrence Whittam, founder of Suite Impact, who has helped 500+ US accounting firms build and integrate offshore teams. Lawrence breaks down why internal readiness matters more than vendor selection, how communication — not language barriers — is the #1 cause of failure, and what a step-by-step approach to outsourcing actually looks like. If your firm is considering global staffing or has struggled with it, this episode is your roadmap. Download our FREE EBOOK: https://ebooktowne.com/ Listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon Music:  LET'S CONNECT! Ben Towne LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-towne-advisory/ Web Pages: https://towneadvisory.com/ || https://assurentadvisors.com/ LAURENCE WHITTAM Impact Global Solutions: https://deal.csuiteimpact.com/igs-links-page Website: https://impact-global.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactglobalsolutions/ Laurence's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencewhittam/