Journey to an ESOP & Beyond
ESOPs are gaining traction. In the "Journey to an ESOP & Beyond” podcast, Doeren Mayhew's Jason Miller and Makenzie Ragland explain the ESOP transaction process and address ESOPs from a business owner's perspective. They illuminate the simplicity of ESOPs and debunk common misconceptions that ESOPs are immensely costly and complicated.
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“Doeren Mayhew" is the brand name under which Doeren Mayhew Assurance, PC and Doeren Mayhew Advisors, LLC and its subsidiary entities provide professional services. Doeren Mayhew Assurance, PC and Doeren Mayhew Advisors, LLC (and its subsidiary entities) practice as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations and professional standards. Doeren Mayhew Assurance, PC is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients, and Doeren Mayhew Advisors, LLC and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business consulting services to their clients. Doeren Mayhew Advisors, LLC, DM Payroll Solutions, Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors and their subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms.
Episodes
272 episodes
S7EP36 - Interview with Lord and Sons Construction, Inc.
How do you protect a legacy without selling out the people who built it?In this episode, Jason Miller interviews Spike Lord, President of Lord and Son Construction, Inc. and Ryan Chavers, Director of Operations, about a Fort Walton Beach...
S7EP35 - Foundations of Transition: Value Creation, Protection & Risk Awareness
Your business might be profitable and still be worth less than you think. In this episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Ragland continue their Foundations of Transition series by discussing value creation, protection and risk awareness. They explo...
S7EP34 - A Year From Now: What Will Exist Because You Started Today?
What can happen in one year when you stop waiting for the perfect moment and start taking action? In this episode, Jason Miller looks back at a year of personal and professional progress—not as a victory lap, but as evidence of what happens whe...
S7EP33 - Forecasting for an ESOP: Planning for a Future You Can’t Predict
Determining if an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, is right for your company starts with a straightforward but sometimes challenging question: Where do you see your business heading, and why? In this episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Ra...
S7EP32 - Interview with NCEO's Corey Rosen: The Future of Employee Ownership
Washington is sending new signals about employee ownership, but the headlines don’t help much if you’re a business owner trying to decide whether an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is actually feasible. In this episode, Jason Miller and Ma...
S7EP31 - Foundations of Transition: Process Maturity & Operational Strength
Your processes may be well documented, but your operations can still be fragile. In this episode of the Foundations of Transition series, Jason Miller and Makenzie Ragland explore process maturity and operational strength. They discuss why stro...
S7EP30 - S Corp vs. C Corp ESOPs: Which Structure is Right for You?
The most common question we hear may seem simple, but it can significantly change the outcome of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction: Should you remain an S corporation or convert to a C corporation? In this episode, Jason Mille...
S7EP29 - The ESOP Mandela Effect
In this episode, Makenzie Wirth delves into the Mandela Effect and how memory can shape the stories we tell ourselves. Many business owners explore an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, with fragmented information gathered from other owner...
S7EP28 - Your Algorithm is a Mirror
Your feed feels personal for a reason, and it’s not magic. Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth explore the idea that the “algorithm” isn’t a villain with a secret agenda, but rather an objective system shaped by subjective inputs—with attention as ...
S7EP27 - Foundations of Transition: Financial Fluency and Clarity
In this episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth continue the Foundations of Transition series by exploring the importance of financial fluency and clarity. This workshop-style conversation helps business owners better understand the numbers be...
S7EP26 - Don't Be Dangerous to the Wrong Thing: A 14-Minute Field Guide for Professionals on What to Say Next
In this episode, Jason Miller explores how advisors can recognize when an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) deserves a place in a client’s transition planning conversation. Rather than positioning ESOPs as a one-size-fits-all solution, this ...
S7EP25 - Employee Benefit Plan Audits: What ESOP Companies Need to Know
In this episode, Makenzie Wirth sits down with David Thrush, principal in Doeren Mayhew’s audit department and national ESOP practice leader, to explain why Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) audits are essential for companies with an Employee Stock O...
S7EP24 - 10 Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask Before Planning an Exit
Most business owners can name the exit they think they want. Far fewer can clearly explain the problem they are trying to solve. Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth explore 10 powerful questions every owner should ask before choosing an Employee St...
S7EP23 - Foundations of Transition: Building Leadership Capacity
In this episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth continue the Foundations of Transition series by exploring capacity building. They explore why a business can only be successfully transferred when leadership, decision-making and organizational ...
S7EP22 - Interview with Art Smith of DB Engineering
In this podcast episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth interview Art Smith, president of DB Engineering, about the company’s transition to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The conversation explores the ...
S7EP21 - What Happens After Closing?
In this episode of the Journey to an ESOP and Beyond podcast, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth discuss the full lifecycle of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. The conversation covers what changes during the first 90 days after an ...
S7EP20 - The Negotiation Process in an ESOP Transaction
In this episode of Journey to an ESOP and Beyond, Makenzie Wirth breaks down the negotiation process behind an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction. From purchase price and seller note terms to governance, SARs, board composition, a...
S7EP19 - Interview with A.W. Farrell
In this episode of the Journey to an ESOP podcast, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth interview brothers Marc and John Farrell about their company’s transition to employee ownership and the multi-generational legacy behind it. The Farrell brothers...
S7EP18 - Foundations of Transition: Strategy into Execution
In this Journey to an ESOP podcast episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth continue the Foundations of Transition series by exploring how turning strategy into execution plays a critical role in preparing for a successful Employee Stock Owners...
S7EP17 - Interview with Steve Baker on Financial Literacy
In this episode, Jason Miller speaks with Steve Baker of The Great Game of Business about the critical role of financial literacy in building successful employee ownership and ESOP cultures. They explore why ownership alone does not automatical...
S7EP16 - Financial Literacy and Employee Ownership
In recognition of April as Financial Literacy Month, this episode explores a critical question in employee ownership—why financial literacy matters when employees are given ownership but do not fully understand its value. Jason Miller and Maken...
S7EP15 - The Right First Question
What’s the right first question when an owner starts exploring an ESOP? It may not be “Can my company do one?” In this episode, we unpack why technical possibility and strategic fit are not the same thing. Using the metaphor of the kitchen in a...
S7EP14 - Foundations of Transition: Communication, Culture & Trust
In this episode of the Foundations of Transition series, Jason and Makenzie focus on the theme of Communication, Culture & Trust, exploring how these elements shape the success of an ESOP transaction. Each workshop-style conversation in thi...
S7EP13 - What Could Go Wrong?
This week, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth examine what could go wrong in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction. From concerns about overpaying for shares to the burden of debt service, unrealistic projections, and the momentum th...
S7EP12 - Step-by-Step Guide to an ESOP Transaction
In this episode, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth walk listeners through the step-by-step process of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction, breaking down what can often feel like a complex and overwhelming journey into a clear, app...