Partners & Pours Podcast

In this episode of Exit Is Now: Partners & Pours, Josh Koza sits down with Mason McKinnie, Senior Director of Business Owner Solutions at Principal, to explore how financial advisors can deepen relationships with business owner clients through proactive planning and strategic collaboration. Drawing on his experience in financial services, Mason shares how Principal is expanding its approach to business owner solutions and equipping advisors with the resources, education, and expertise needed to support clients throughout the business lifecycle.
 
Josh and Mason discuss the challenges financial advisors face when moving beyond traditional wealth management into conversations about enterprise value, business continuity, and exit planning. They highlight the importance of understanding a company's value, reviewing foundational documents such as buy-sell agreements, and identifying planning gaps before a transition becomes imminent. The conversation also explores how Principal's complimentary informal business valuations and access to experienced professionals can help advisors initiate meaningful conversations without adding unnecessary complexity for business owners.
 
This episode reinforces the importance of collaboration in creating successful business transitions. By connecting financial advisors with specialized resources, multidisciplinary professionals, and the broader exit planning community, Principal and the Exit Planning Institute are working to help advisors deliver more comprehensive solutions. For advisors looking to strengthen client relationships and expand their role in business owner planning, the discussion offers practical insights into building trust, creating value, and remaining an essential partner before, during, and after an owner's exit.

In this episode of Exit Is Now: Partners & Pours, Josh Koza sits down with Drew Watkins, Founder of ELLA, to explore how technology is transforming the way advisors deliver exit planning services. Drawing on his background in customer experience design and digital product development, Drew shares how Ella was created to help advisors turn their expertise, methodologies, and processes into more consistent and scalable client experiences while maintaining the flexibility needed to serve each business owner's unique goals.
 
Josh and Drew examine the challenges advisors face when moving from knowledge to execution, particularly as they look to grow their practices and deliver more comprehensive services. They discuss how technology can help organize information, coordinate workflows, and create repeatable processes without sacrificing personalization. The conversation also explores the evolving role of artificial intelligence in advisory services, highlighting where AI can improve efficiency and where human judgment, relationships, and trust remain essential.
 
This episode reinforces the importance of balancing technological innovation with the human side of exit planning. For advisors looking to scale their expertise, strengthen client relationships, and implement the Value Acceleration Methodology more effectively, the discussion offers a practical perspective on using technology to support better execution and sustainable practice growth. Rather than replacing the advisor, the right tools create more opportunities to focus on what matters most: helping business owners make informed decisions and achieve meaningful outcomes.

In this episode of Exit Is Now: Partners & Pours, Josh Koza sits down with Shina Culberson, President of Quist Valuation, to explore how understanding business value can drive better decisions, strengthen advisory relationships, and create more successful business transitions. Drawing on her experience in financial analysis, business valuation, and business ownership, Shina shares how her approach has evolved beyond traditional valuation services to helping owners understand the factors that influence enterprise value and long-term performance.

Josh and Shina discuss the concept of valuation as a continuum, highlighting why different stages of the exit planning process require different levels of analysis. From early estimates of value to certified valuations supporting ownership transitions, employee incentive plans, and other strategic decisions, the conversation emphasizes the importance of matching the right valuation approach to each owner's needs. They also explore how advisors can navigate difficult conversations when an owner's perceived business value differs from reality and why addressing those gaps early creates opportunities for meaningful improvement.

This episode reinforces the importance of collaboration, education, and proactive planning in helping business owners prepare for their eventual exit. For financial advisors, CEPAs, and other professionals working with business owners, the discussion offers practical insights into using valuation as more than a financial measurement. When paired with personal and financial planning, understanding business value becomes a powerful tool for identifying opportunities, closing wealth gaps, and helping owners make informed decisions about their future.