Libsyn Directory

Ep 267 Profitable Exit Strategy and Succession Planning with Eric Brotman

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Release Date: 04/29/2025

Ep 288 Your P&L Is Lying—Here’s What to Track with Laresa McIntyre

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Your P&L Is Lying—Here’s What to Track with Laresa McIntyre Stop Chasing Revenue: How Fractional CFOs Clear the Financial Fog Most business owners measure success by one thing: revenue growth. The problem? Revenue isn’t cash—and it doesn’t always translate into profit. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Laresa McIntyre, founder of Rockbridge CFO, to uncover the blind spots that keep owners stuck in financial fog. Laresa brings over 15 years of CFO experience and now helps service-based businesses scale smarter with fractional CFO...

Ep 286 The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar Most business owners don’t lose profit because of one big mistake — it’s usually a thousand tiny leaks. From not knowing your why, to ignoring customer service, to failing to track the right numbers, the truth is this: profit slips away quietly while you’re busy working hard. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sit down with Lisa Hennigar, Vice President of Franchise Development at ERA Group and a nationally recognized franchise strategist with over 22 years in the industry. Lisa has worked with everyone...

Ep 285 Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner When profit is slipping, most businsess owners look to cut costs or push sales harder. But what if your biggest drain isn’t on the P&L at all—it’s in your people? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Pam Meissner—COO and CFO at CathCap—pulls back the curtain on why “right people, right seats” isn’t just an HR slogan. It’s one of the most powerful levers for profit growth that most companies ignore until it’s too late. The Gap: Why Profit Leaks Hide in Your...

Ep 284 Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh Most entrepreneurs start their journey with the dream of freedom—yet many quickly find themselves trapped by the very businesses they built. Revenue grows, responsibilities pile up, and the joy of entrepreneurship fades into overwhelm. In this Episode of the Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Michael Walsh, founder of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of Freedom by Design, to unpack how business owners can create companies that support—not suffocate—their lives. Michael has...

Ep 283 Boost Sales Without Spending a Dime with Tracy Beavers

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Boost Sales Without Spending a Dime with Tracy Beavers Why “More Sales” Isn’t Fixing Your Profit Problem (And What It’s Really Costing You) Ever wondered why your revenue is growing, but your bank account still feels empty? You’re not alone. Most business owners equate more sales with more profit, only to find themselves in the same cycle of financial stress. The truth? Sales without strategy create a dangerous illusion of success—and the hidden cost is your peace of mind, cash flow, and ultimately, your business’s survival. The pain goes deeper: Financial Cost:...

Ep 282 Profitable But Worthless? How to Build a Business Buyers Actually Want with Justin Goodbread

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Profitable But Worthless? How to Build a Business Buyers Actually Want with Justin Goodbread Why High Profit ≠ High Value—And How That Mistake Could Cost You Millions Most business owners are chasing profit… But what if the very thing you’re chasing is keeping you trapped? Imagine this: You’re running a “successful” business with strong margins and great income. You’re paying yourself well, your spouse is on payroll, and life feels comfortable. Until the day you try to sell… and no one wants to buy. This episode of Profit Answer Man reveals...

Ep 281 Why Most Marketing Fails—And How to Make Yours Finally Pay Off with Andrew Gregory

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Why Most Marketing Fails—And How to Make Yours Finally Pay Off with Andrew Gregory Why Most Marketing Fails to Deliver Profit—And How to Fix It Marketing agencies promise leads. But what if leads aren’t your problem? Thousands of small business owners are stuck in the same trap: they’re spending money on ads, but their bank accounts still feel tight. The real issue? Bad leads, broken follow-up systems, and a total disconnect between sales and profitability. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, marketing expert Andrew Gregory breaks down the hidden cost of poor...

Ep 280 How to Solve the Real Problem Killing Your Profit with Doug C. Brown

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

How to Solve the Real Problem Killing Your Profit with Doug C. Brown Why Sales ≠ Profit—And the Blind Spots That Bleed Cash The Profit Gap: Why More Sales Might Be Making You Broke You’re pushing for more revenue. Your team is grinding. But your bank balance isn’t growing. In fact, you're more stressed, your margins are tighter, and your team is overwhelmed. Why? Because most businesses chase symptoms—like “bad sales teams” or “slow growth”—instead of finding and fixing the true root cause. Doug C. Brown, a $900M revenue growth expert, exposes...

Ep 279 The Purpose of Business is to Make Money with David Schomer

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

The Purpose of Business is to Make Money with David Schomer Why Scaling an E-Commerce Brand Can Bankrupt You (Unless You Fix This First) The Hidden Cost of Growth Nobody Talks About It’s every entrepreneur’s dream: launch a brand, grow revenue, and finally fire your boss. David Schomer lived that dream—scaling a pet supply company on Amazon before going full-time in e-commerce. But what most business owners don’t realize (until it's too late) is that scaling too fast without financial structure can choke your cash flow and starve your business of profit. You can hit record sales...

Ep 278 How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin Why Visibility ≠ Growth—And How It’s Quietly Costing You Profits Most business owners think the next breakthrough in revenue will come from ads, funnels, or more hustle. But what if the real opportunity is getting in front of someone else’s audience—without spending a dollar on ads? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, we expose the costly visibility gap most owners don’t realize is bleeding their business. Seth Donlin shares why chasing attention isn't enough—and how strategic podcast guesting can...

More Episodes

Profitable Exit Strategy and Succession Planning with Eric Brotman

Are you building a business you can actually walk away from?

What if the problem isn’t how to exit—but how you think about it? This week on The Profit Answer Man, we sat down with the legendary Eric Brotman, CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, who’s flipping the script on succession planning. For him, retirement isn't the end—it's a graduation into a new, exciting chapter.

In this episode, we’re not just talking theory—we’re breaking down the actual moves Eric made over 15 years to build a business that thrives without him. If you’re serious about maximizing the value of your business and exiting on your terms (without private equity hijacking your legacy), this is the playbook you need.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why Eric hates the word retirement—and what mindset shift could unlock your next level.
How to start building your exit strategy a decade before you plan to leave.
The difference between building a sellable company… and just owning your job.
Real-world examples of internal succession done right—without sacrificing culture or control.
The one metric you’re probably not watching that could destroy your transition plan.

Key Takeaways:

Start Your Exit Long Before You Need It. Eric started building his succession plan at 38. Today, he’s gradually transferring ownership to internal partners—protecting culture, profitability, and legacy.
“Graduation” Beats “Retirement”. Instead of stepping away into boredom, Eric talks about moving into a chairman/advisory role, staying engaged with strategic vision without day-to-day stress.
Internal Buyouts Aren’t Always Lucrative—But They’re Often More Fulfilling. He could’ve taken a big check from PE. Instead, he chose continuity, values, and staying true to the mission.
Team Building Is Strategic Planning. This wasn’t just about creating a leadership team. It was about building equity, commitment, and a business that thrives without dependency on one person.
Succession = Culture + Cash Flow + Control. Get these right, and you’ve got options. Ignore them, and you’re the bottleneck holding the whole thing back.

About Eric Brotman:

Eric D. Brotman, CFP®, is the CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, founder of Brotman Media Group, and author of Don’t Retire…Graduate! With 30+ years in the financial planning world and over $700 million AUM, Eric is a true architect of long-term business and financial legacies. His firm’s unique internal succession model offers a rare roadmap for owners who want to graduate instead of retire.

Conclusion:

Will Your Business Outlive You?

Too many founders build a business that dies when they leave. Eric Brotman is living proof that with vision, systems, and intentional planning—you can build a company that survives and thrives without you.

If you're not exit-ready, you're not growth-ready. It's time to change that.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/BFGFinancialAdvisors/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bfgfa/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebrotman/

https://www.instagram.com/bfgfinancialadvisors/

brotmanmedia.com

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page

Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst

Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/

My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/