EP323 The Tax-Smart Exit - Why Employee Ownership Trusts Are Gaining Ground
Release Date: 06/17/2025
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, host sits down with Muneer Feeroze and Clark Steffy of Canadian Benefits Associates to unpack two powerful retirement tools for incorporated entrepreneurs: individual pension plans (IPPs) and retirement compensation arrangements (RCAs). Together, they walk through where these plans can outperform an RRSP, what “tax smart” really means in practice, and the operational realities founders need to understand before setting anything up. In this conversation, they cover: Who an IPP is for, and when it starts to beat an RRSP Muneer...
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Host breaks down the basics of individual pension plans (IPPs) for Ontario incorporated business owners and professionals. She explains what an IPP is, who it fits best, and why it can be a powerful tool for turning corporate success into predictable personal retirement income as part of a cash rich exit strategy. Episode overview If you are incorporated in Ontario, this is a practical primer on how an IPP works as a defined benefit pension plan set up by your corporation. Colleen covers why IPP contribution room can outpace RRSP room after age 40, how contributions are...
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It’s time for an annual tradition on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast: the Fun Frank Advice montage. In this special episode, host curates a fast-moving mashup of “wisdom, wit and wonderfully unfiltered moments” from this year’s guests. It’s designed to be easy to consume when you’re driving, between meetings, or out for a walk. This montage is both a recap of the year and a highlight reel of the mindset shifts, practical realities, and straight talk leaders wish more founders heard earlier. Colleen also shares a key message that anchors the show: every business owner...
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“Too Much Money Chasing Too Few Good Businesses” - Candid Insights from M&A Veteran Chad Morissette This episode dives deep into what actually drives a successful business sale - from the emotional readiness of the founder, to internal due diligence, to navigating PE firms and family offices. Key Highlights Chad’s journey from tech entrepreneur to M&A specialist The difference between Main Street vs lower middle-market businesses Why personal readiness is more important than business readiness The 2-year preparation window that can make or break a deal ...
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In this episode of ‘The Cash-Rich Exit Podcast’, host welcomes back serial entrepreneur and M&A advisor Scott Duke, founder of Business Succession Group. Scott talks about his latest innovation - The Value Acceleration Calculator (VAC) - a practical, data-informed tool to assess sellability, estimate value, and identify key levers to increase enterprise value over time. This conversation covers: Why 80% of businesses never sell, and why most founders never realize the enterprise value they hoped for. How the VAC can score your business’ sellability and identify...
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In part two of this insightful two-part conversation, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell reconnects with Elizabeth Kilvert, founder of ‘The Unrefined Olive’, to go deeper into how she built, grew, and ultimately exited a purpose-driven business. Elizabeth shares her candid reflections on: Transitioning from founder to seller - and how she knew the timing was right. The emotional side of stepping away from a business built around community and values. How staying connected to purpose helped her navigate both growth and exit with integrity. What she learned about...
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In this episode, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with , the founder and owner of The Unrefined Olive, an award-winning olive-oil and balsamic tasting bar in Ottawa. Elizabeth shares how she transitioned from a career in environmental policy to running a thriving retail business rooted in quality, sustainability, and community connection. She and Colleen unpack the realities of small-business ownership - from managing risk and growth to understanding what a “cash-rich” exit looks like when your brand is deeply personal. Key Highlights From public service to...
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💡 Episode Summary In this episode, host sits down with - Managing Director at Shaughnessy Group and a seasoned corporate finance and M&A expert. Karl brings decades of experience helping mid-sized, often family-owned Canadian businesses (with revenues between $5 million and $50 million) navigate their most important transition: the sale of their company. They explore what makes this “overlooked middle” of the market so unique, why selling isn’t like selling your house, and how strategic planning years in advance can unlock both legacy and liquidity. Karl also shares...
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In this episode of the Cash Rich Exit Podcast, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell welcomes Joanna Track, serial entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Good Eggs & Co. Joanna has launched and exited multiple businesses - including Sweet Spot, eLuxe, and The Bullet - and now leads Good Eggs & Co., a consultancy focused on content and context marketing. Known for her candid, no-nonsense approach, Joanna shares what she’s learned about building brands with staying power, navigating exits, and avoiding common pitfalls that entrepreneurs face. Key Highlights: Redefining...
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Serial entrepreneur Ed Hansen joins host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on the Cash Rich Exit Podcast to share his decades-long journey founding, scaling, and selling multiple businesses - including Hanson Lawn and Gardens and . In this episode, Ed reveals how mindset, adaptability, and a focus on relationships have shaped his entrepreneurial path. Key takeaways: The early entrepreneurial spark - from cutting grass to building a multi-million-dollar company. Buying vs. selling a business - why every transaction is unique and how to make sure both sides win Building for a future exit...
info_outlineIn part two of this three-part series, Colleen welcomes back Jennifer Williams to explore the financial power behind Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). This isn't just a values-based feel-good exit. EOTs now offer significant tax advantages that can rival, and even exceed, traditional business sale routes. From how to qualify for the new $10M lifetime capital gains exemption to why Canada introduced this legislation, Jennifer breaks it all down - plus, the importance of doing it right with guidance from experts.
✨ Key Highlights and Timestamps
🕓 02:35 Why the federal government introduced EOTs in Canada
🕓 06:10 How the $10M capital gains exemption works (vs. the regular $1.25M)
🕓 10:20 What kind of business owners should explore this option now
🕓 13:45 Why most accountants and lawyers don’t yet understand EOTs
🕓 17:30 Risks: Why you shouldn’t just “DIY” this kind of exit
🕓 21:15 How EOTs help employees grow their personal wealth
🕓 25:30 The role of wealth distribution in a healthy society
🕓 28:00 Fun Frank Advice: Don’t let tax drive your decisions - just inform them
👉 Curious how an Employee Ownership Trust could benefit your financial future?
Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen on LinkedIn or reach out via email to bridge the gap between business success and personal wealth 📩
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