181: The ESOP Advantage: Wealth, Legacy & Business Transitions

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are one of the best-kept secrets in business succession planning. In this episode, Laurie Barkman sits down with Dan Zugell, Senior Vice President at Business Transition Advisors and a nationally recognized expert in ESOPs, to explore how these plans create financial value, enhance employee engagement, and offer unique transition options for business owners. Dan shares insights on the financial benefits of ESOPs—like tax advantages and wealth creation—as well as the often-overlooked social impact of employee ownership, including reduced turnover and stronger workplace culture. He also debunks common misconceptions, such as the idea that ESOPs require 100% ownership transfer or that they lack exit opportunities. If you’re a business owner considering succession strategies, or simply curious about how ESOPs can transform a company’s future, this episode is for you! 🎧 Tune in now to learn from one of the leading voices in ESOP planning. ____________________________________  This Show is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® 100 percent of owners will leave their business one day. But few are prepared. Are you? Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about making your business more scalable and sellable! ✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book ____________________________________  Connect with Laurie Barkman:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/ Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/ Book: https://btsherpa.com/book Course: https://btsherpa.com/course Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa   Connect with Dan Zugel: Website:  ESOPs & Succession Strategies | Business Transition Advisors LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-the-esop-man-zugell-a364b87/   For all episodes visit: https://successionstories.com  📣 Leave a Review on Rate This Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories  

Om Podcasten

Succession Stories is an award-winning podcast guiding entrepreneurs from transition to transaction hosted by Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa®. Succession Stories explores the entrepreneurial stages of a business from growth to maturity focusing on value creation, exit planning, succession, and M&A for owner-led companies. If you are an entrepreneur looking for inspiration to create a more valuable business, or an owner who wants to figure out the best way to transition or sell their closely held company, this podcast is for you. Hosted by Laurie Barkman, Amazon best-selling author of "The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Transition Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options." Learn more about Laurie's strategic business transition planning and M&A advisory services by visiting: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com