The Cash Rich Exit Podcast

Colleen O'Connell-Campbell hosts The Cash Rich Exit Podcast dedicated to business owners planning for a crucial financial step - exiting your business. Featuring a diverse array of guests from various industries and ideologies, each episode dives into strategies for building not just an exit, but a cash-rich one. Topped off with 'fun, frank advice,' this podcast is your roadmap to a successful business exit.

EP353 Know your Story: Intentional Exits, Rural Legacy, and the Permanent EOT Exemption 08/11/2026

EP353 Know your Story: Intentional Exits, Rural Legacy, and the Permanent EOT Exemption Host sits down with fellow Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Board Member of Employee Ownership Canada. Peter Walker - a proud Prince Edward Islander whose eighth-generation family farm shaped everything he believes about ownership, community, and legacy. Peter shares the story of the first business transition conversation he ever had (at 14, at the kitchen table, with his father) and how the eventual wind-down of the family farm rippled through his small community. The episode also marks a milestone for Canadian succession planning: the federal government has made the EOT capital gains exemption permanent, removing the sunset clause that had left owners and advisors uncertain. Peter and Colleen unpack why so many Canadian business owners - especially in rural and Atlantic Canada - avoid succession planning, the access-to-capital challenges outside major cities, the research behind employee ownership's financial and social benefits, and the single most important piece of internal due diligence a founder can do: knowing their own story before someone else writes it for them. Key Takeaways: The EOT capital gains exemption is now permanent - and it's law. After years as a temporary measure set to expire at the end of 2026, the federal government moved in its spring economic update to make the up-to-$10 million capital gains exemption on qualifying sales to an Employee Ownership Trust permanent. That change has since passed into law (Bill C-30, Royal Assent June 18, 2026), removing the previous sunset clause and giving owners and advisors long-term certainty to plan around the structure. Peter, a board member of Employee Ownership Canada, was involved in the advocacy toward this outcome. Peter's roots run deep in St. George, PEI (population 90), on a potato and cattle farm in his family since the 1790s - he would have been the eighth or ninth generation. His father sat him and his brother down when Peter was 14 to tell them they would not be taking over the farm. His father operated another 10 years, wound it down in a way that kept the land in the family (now approaching 300 years), but the closure cost about 15 neighbours their seasonal work, local businesses a customer, and the community a piece of its tax base. Peter frames this as his third act - after Parliament Hill and a career at one of the big five banks. His work now has two halves: helping normalize the transition conversation for business owners, and advocating to grow employee ownership in Canada. Two structural problems he sees, especially outside major cities: first, access to capital is severely limited - in his experience, capital does not flow easily east of Montreal or into rural regions. Second, the emotional, identity-driven avoidance of succession planning. Owners who strongly identify with being an owner resist planning for a day they can no longer be one, pushing it off until a crisis (death, divorce, disability) forces a rushed outcome. A recurring insight: many owners can build a long-term strategic roadmap for their business in their sleep, but have never been taught to build one for themselves. The internal due diligence - deciding what you actually want your outcome and legacy to be - is the work most people skip. The research behind employee ownership (five decades in the U.S., over a decade in the U.K.) is compelling: 8-12% productivity increases, more profitable and resilient companies, loans repaid faster, fewer closures in downturns, and employees retiring with roughly twice the retirement wealth of those at comparable non-employee-owned firms. Employee ownership is a spectrum, not one thing: worker co-ops (fully democratic, one member/one vote), management buyouts, Employee Ownership Trusts (designed specifically as a transition vehicle), and Employee Share Ownership Plans. EllisDon - one of Canada's largest construction companies - is 100% owned by the people who work there. Peter's framework for owners: stress-test your thinking across two axes - how much you care about the money, and how much you care about legacy. Conventional wisdom says maximize money and ignore legacy, but Canadian Federation of Independent Business research shows most owners feel genuine internal conflict between the two. If you land in the "maximize value, legacy doesn't matter" quadrant, you have earned the right to sell to a third party - go for it. If legacy matters, then employee ownership, ETA, family transition, or a mix deserve real consideration. Start early - much earlier than most people think. Peter's father was 38 when he had that kitchen-table conversation, wrestling with 200 years of legacy. Most owners wait until they have decided to sell, which Peter considers far too late; the preparation should begin three to five years prior, at minimum. A cash-rich exit is not only about maximizing the dollar value - it is about being intentional about what happens next for you, your business, your people, and your community. For many Canadian owners, especially in rural communities, the real opportunity is to begin planning early enough to create options that preserve local jobs and legacy - and, now that the exemption is permanent, to give employee ownership a serious look. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Reach out on LinkedIn or email. Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and build their path to an intentional, cash-rich exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/42330825

EP352 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, a New Path to Buying and Selling a Business 07/28/2026

EP352 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, a New Path to Buying and Selling a Business Most conversations about exits focus on the seller. This one flips the lens. In this episode, sits down with Liz MacRae, a serial entrepreneur who has both exited and acquired multiple businesses, and who is now co-founder of Village Wellth - a tech-enabled platform helping aspiring entrepreneurs buy established businesses and helping founders exit well. Liz introduces the growing movement known as Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA): buying a profitable, established business rather than starting from scratch or buying a franchise. She explains how the model works, who it attracts, what buyers actually look for, and why acquisition entrepreneurs - people who intend to roll up their sleeves and run the business themselves - may be exactly the right buyers for owner-dependent small businesses that private equity would walk away from. With a massive wave of business transitions coming over the next decade, this episode offers founders a fresh perspective on who might buy their business, and why starting early is everything. Key Takeaways: Liz's path is unconventional - a fine arts degree and training in creative thinking, not accounting or law. After exploring family succession (which did not work out), she and her husband bought a franchise, then she became a business broker, moved into exit planning advisory, took over the firm she worked with, sold it after about four years, and founded Village Wellth on the buy side. She has spent nearly 10 years in business advisory and six years focused exclusively on helping buyers. Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is the act of buying an established business, usually leveraging senior debt or outside investment, and in most cases acquiring 100% of the business so the previous owner can retire. It lets a buyer skip the startup stage by three to five years and acquire something already profitable - able to service debt and pay a living wage. ETA attracts people later in their careers - often leaving corporate roles - with management or leadership experience and established personal finances. They typically combine personal savings with bank debt or raised capital (family and friends, angel investors, or funds) to acquire and grow businesses from retiring owners. Village Wellth was founded six years ago as a two-sided marketplace, then substantially rebuilt about two years ago with deal-management tooling and an AI layer. It has a team of 10, including a former RBC/TD commercial banker and a strong CTO. The platform showcases anonymous buyer profiles so sellers can see there are real buyers - answering the anxious question Liz heard constantly as a broker: "Is there even anyone out there to buy my business?" The platform equips first-time buyers with tools to analyze opportunities, assess risks, and model deal structures - cash in, cash at closing, bank financing, seller financing, free cash flow, and return on investment - so they can move toward a lender application. The goal is a start-to-finish, self-serve experience on a monthly subscription, with hands-on services available when needed. The sweet spot: profitable companies showing at least $100,000-$150,000 in profit after paying the operating owner, typically valued between $500,000 and $5 million (under roughly $2 million EBITDA), with five to 30 employees. These fall below the threshold where investment bankers and mid-market M&A firms - and private equity - typically engage. Village Wellth is Canada-wide and expanding into the U.S. Village Wellth is especially valuable in rural communities, which often lack access to the M&A community. The platform matches buyers and sellers on geography (buyers set travel radii), and connects rural sellers with the right sell-side advisors and a pool of buyers they could not otherwise reach. A key differentiator: because acquisition entrepreneurs plan to operate the business themselves, owner-dependency is not necessarily a deal-breaker - unlike with private equity or strategic buyers who want a management team that stays. What matters most is a solid transition period, a previous owner willing to transfer knowledge and relationships, and a genuine match between the buyer's background and the business. Owner-dependency still needs managing. Red flags include an owner working 80 hours a week as the bottleneck for every decision, no chain of command, no contracts, and project-based revenue. Reasonable owner hours, contracts with assignment clauses, and understandable customer pipelines make a business far more transactable. Buyers mitigate remaining risk by bringing in a salesperson, or through deal terms like higher seller financing. A successful exit is about understanding your options early enough to protect your value, legacy, and choice. Sometimes the best path forward is not the most obvious one, and selling to an acquisition entrepreneur may be exactly the thoughtful transition you are looking for. If today's episode sparked questions about your readiness, your business value, or your personal wealth gap, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with - and tap into a whole ecosystem of professionals she'd be happy to introduce you to. Reach out on LinkedIn or email. Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more business owners discover the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/42198270

EP351 100 Years of Sharing the Wealth. The Rise of Employee Ownership in Canada 07/14/2026

EP351 100 Years of Sharing the Wealth. The Rise of Employee Ownership in Canada Episode Summary: If you want to understand where employee ownership in Canada is going, it helps to talk to a company that has been living it for the better part of a century. In this episode, host sits down with Chad Friesen, CEO of Friesens Corporation - a $120 million book manufacturer and publishing company based in Altona, Manitoba (population 4,500) - to trace one of the most remarkable ownership stories in the country. Founded in 1907, Friesens has moved through nearly every ownership form imaginable: sole proprietor, family business, ESOP, hybrid, and today a 100% Employee Ownership Trust. Chad shares how the founding family turned down dozens of offers to sell because they believed the business belonged to the people and community who built it, how the company "backed into" broad-based employee ownership during the 2007-2008 crisis, and how the Friesens model went on to influence Canada's actual EOT legislation. He also introduces Tall Grass Employee Owner Equity Fund, a new venture that provides patient capital and a proven playbook to help other founders exit to their employees. It is a story about print, yes - but really about legacy, community wealth, and doing succession on purpose. Key Takeaways: Friesens Corporation was founded in 1907 and is a roughly $120 million company based in Altona, Manitoba, a community of 4,500. It operates three book-related businesses: trade books (working with the largest and smallest publishers in the world), school yearbooks (a business defined by constant customer turnover, since students graduate every year), and Friesen Press, a self-publishing services business working with around 1,000 new authors annually. The company's mantra: helping others share their best story with the world. Fun fact: all five leaders in the company's history have shared the last name Friesen - the first three from the founding family, the last two (including Chad) unrelated to it. The company has been owned in nearly every form: sole proprietorship, family-owned, ESOP, hybrid ESOP/EOT, and today 100% Employee Ownership Trust. The founding family's roots in the cooperative, credit union, and mutual movements of the 1940s and 50s framed their path toward employee ownership. The founding family had opportunities to sell dozens of times - Chad keeps a file folder of historic offers from companies and equity funds - but chose employee ownership because they believed the business served a greater purpose than enriching one family, and they wanted to preserve the company and its economic impact in the community. Employee ownership started organically in the 1970s and 80s, with shares given in lieu of bonuses or raises. Over time, share values rose, and the ratio between new employees able to buy shares and retiring owners needing to sell became unbalanced. The first Friesens Employee Trust was created in the 1980s as a "market of last resort" to buy shares from retiring employees and redistribute them. By 2007-2008, a "trifecta of challenge" - the U.S. economic downturn, Asian supply/distribution pressure, and the introduction of the Kindle e-reader - left employee-owners nervous, with a drying-up internal share market. The company financed the trust to buy back all employee shares over a five-year period, freezing share values, paying cash, and keeping everyone as a trust beneficiary. Friesens effectively "backed into" being a 100% EOT as a defensive move that became a lasting strength. The Friesens model influenced Canada's federal EOT legislation. Chad's team worked with four people in the finance department building the legislation, sharing governance structures and practices as a real-world case study - evidence that broad-based employee ownership works at scale. A major, initially unintended benefit: the EOT became a great equalizer. Over 40% of Friesens employees were not born in Canada, many immigrating with the company's support and without excess cash to buy shares. Under the trust, every employee becomes a beneficiary three months after joining - no capital required. This equal-access principle became a tenet the federal government wanted to emulate. Distributions use two formulas baked into the legislation's guidance: roughly 70-80% based on compensation (last five years of an individual's pay relative to the pool) and the remainder on years of service. Friesens deliberately uses a dividend model rather than equity, distributing value three times a year - including a physical cheque handed to each employee-owner at a celebration, to make ownership tangible and immediate. The community impact is profound: Friesens generates an estimated $60-80 million in annual local economic spin-off. Retailers can tell when a distribution has happened because foot traffic spikes the next day. Chad estimates the company would likely have been sold 20-30 years ago without employee ownership - and all that recurring community wealth would have left with it. Tall Grass Employee Owner Equity Fund: Born from Friesens' search for diversification, Tall Grass is a separate entity that puts Friesens' surplus capital to work helping other founders transition to employee ownership. It targets stable, long-term, proven companies (not startups or turnarounds) whose owners are motivated to preserve legacy. Tall Grass provides patient capital - investing with little expected return in the early years to de-risk seller financing - and a proven structural playbook, taking a minority position. The goal: modest long-term diversified passive income for Friesens' stakeholders, with an enormous return on social impact. When Chad brought the idea to his employee-owner council, he braced for pushback about risking their capital; instead they embraced it, saying they would not be where they are if someone had not paid it forward to them. Employee ownership can be more than a structure - it is a strategy for community wealth, long-term resilience, and legacy. If today sparked questions about your own exit - what you will need financially, how to protect your people and values, and what a true cash-rich transition could look like - book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Reach out on LinkedIn or email. Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and have their best exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/42019715

EP350 How Bright Spot Climate Became One of Canada's EOT Pioneers 06/30/2026

EP350 How Bright Spot Climate Became One of Canada's EOT Pioneers A Note of Gratitude: 🎉 This episode marks a milestone - 350 Episodes of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’! And I am genuinely humbled. What began as a microphone, an idea, and a deep belief that business owners deserve better exits has grown into a community of founders, CEOs, and dreamers I get to call the Self Made Nation. Three hundred and fifty conversations. Hundreds of guests who showed up with honesty, hard-earned scars, and the kind of wisdom you cannot find in a textbook. And thousands of you who keep listening, sharing, and building your own paths to a cash-rich exit. Thank you. Truly. Here is to the next 350. Colleen Episode Summary: For a milestone episode, a milestone story. In episode 350, host sits down with Aaron Schroeder, founder and CEO of Bright Spot Climate, a greenhouse gas consulting and emissions strategy firm that has become one of the first companies in Canada to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust. Aaron grew up on a dairy farm in rural Saskatchewan, studied engineering, and built Bright Spot from a one-person consultancy into a 40-plus-person firm with offices in three cities. From the very beginning, he carried a conviction that the people who built the company alongside him should share in its rewards. This episode traces his "Jerry Maguire moment", the late-night letter to his team, the lightbulb realization when EOT legislation appeared on the horizon, and the real, unvarnished work of building governance, adjusting accounting systems, and letting go of control. It is a candid, refreshing look at what a values-aligned exit can look like in Canada - and why the EOT may be one of the most important succession tools founders have ever been given. Key Takeaways: Bright Spot Climate works with large industry, government, municipalities, and universities to quantify, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions, and to implement technologies that reduce them. Aaron describes his team as the behind-the-scenes engineers helping Canada move toward its net-zero-by-2050 goals. Aaron's entrepreneurial roots trace back to the family dairy farm in Saskatchewan. He started Bright Spot as a solo consultant just over 10 years ago and grew it organically; his sister Michelle, a professional agrologist, joined early and they had long shared the idea of broad ownership. In 2022, before any mechanism existed, Aaron wrote a late-night letter to his team - his "Jerry Maguire moment" - sharing his conviction that the concentration of wealth among a few is one of the world's biggest problems, and that in their corner of the world, they could address it through employee ownership. The team received it positively, though with some understandable trepidation given there was no clear pathway yet. The company already had a project-level profit-sharing program - a kind of de facto employee ownership - but the EOT represented a bigger commitment. The lightbulb moment came when Aaron learned the EOT mechanism would include every employee without anyone having to put money up front. Bright Spot officially transitioned to the EOT structure on April 1, 2025, once the legislation had passed. Aaron worked with a partner at Blake's who specialized in trusts and had been following the legislation closely, and with accounting firm MNP to update accounting policies and prepare for financing. Aaron's biggest lesson for other founders: sequence the changes. He had to establish a board, change governance, update accounting systems, and transfer ownership all at once - while still running the business during a turbulent year for the climate sector. Ideally, he would have put the board and accounting changes in place earlier so each could settle before the ownership transition. An EOT requires governance by a board of directors. Aaron went from being the sole decision-maker (with an advisory senior leadership team) to being governed by a board while simultaneously giving his senior leadership team real decision-making authority. He recruited the board through his network and a public posting, looking for complementary skills and board experience. The two hardest aspects of letting go were not the loss of final say - Aaron had made peace with that - but the difference in risk appetite between a sole owner and a board, and the slower speed of board decision-making. He now builds buffer time into decisions to bring board members up to speed. The most surprising upside: a co-benefit of heightened entrepreneurship across the team. Younger employees and new grads have stepped up to help run and innovate the company with enthusiasm beyond what Aaron expected. A senator at the employee ownership conference framed the EOT as an opportunity to build more wealth in the country - not only by creating more entrepreneurs inside companies, but by freeing founders to exit and go start something new. Succession does not have to mean retirement; it can mean liberation to build again. If you are thinking about long-term succession, or how to build a legacy that lasts without sacrificing your team or your impact, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with host . Reach out on LinkedIn or email. 📩 Help us celebrate 350 episodes - leave a five-star rating and review, and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur. It is the best gift you could give the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/41795040

EP349 From $300 to a Multi-Million Dollar Exit 06/16/2026

EP349 From $300 to a Multi-Million Dollar Exit Bobbie Racette started with $300 at her kitchen table. Nine years later, she became the first Indigenous woman in Canada to build, scale, and sell a tech startup. In this episode - the first time Bobbie has dug into the details of the sale on a podcast - host sits down with the founder of Virtual Gurus, an AI-powered inclusive talent marketplace that matched underrepresented talent with businesses including Mastercard, Telus, and BMO. Bobbie shares the full arc: bootstrapping to $1.8 million in revenue before raising a cent, hearing 170 no's before closing a seed round, scaling through three funding rounds during COVID, becoming the first Indigenous woman in Canada to close a Series A, navigating founder fatigue, stepping down as CEO before the exit, and ultimately selling to a U.S. private equity firm that rolled Virtual Gurus into North America's largest virtual assistant platform - with the AI sold separately to a Calgary company. This is a conversation about what it takes to build something from nothing, what it costs personally, and what comes next when the mission is bigger than the transaction. Key Takeaways: Bobbie created Virtual Gurus in 2016 after being laid off in oil and gas and unable to find a job. She is Cree Métis, queer, and covered in tattoos - and nobody would hire her. The business started as a way to create a job for herself and evolved into a platform providing remote work to marginalized talent across Canada and the U.S. She bootstrapped to approximately $1.8 million in annual revenue before seeking external funding. The seed round took over two years and 170 investor rejections before closing at $1.25 million. The Series A, two years later, was significantly easier. Virtual Gurus scaled past $40 million in revenue and closed three funding rounds during COVID. Total capital raised was $14-20 million. The exit was not originally planned. For the first four years, Bobbie intended to keep the company as a legacy business. The shift came around 2022 when the scale of the operation began to outpace the original mission. The board recognized that an acquisition was likely the best path forward. The company was simultaneously pursuing a Series B and fielding acquisition offers - a dual-track process. The data room was already built for the fundraise, which accelerated due diligence to approximately five months. The acquisition by a U.S. private equity firm closed in November 2025. The AI platform was sold separately to a Calgary-based company - effectively a double sale. The core business was rolled into the acquirer's larger virtual assistant platform. Bobbie had stepped down from CEO to president in May 2025, with her COO becoming successor CEO. The successor stayed with the company through and after the acquisition. Bobbie's role during due diligence was primarily support - being available for the team mentally, emotionally, and strategically, while the finance team and executive team drove the process. Founder fatigue and decision fatigue were real and significant. Bobbie emphasizes that founders need to talk about this more openly, and that boards and investors need to be supportive during those low periods rather than adding pressure. Retention of employees during due diligence was one of the hardest parts. Bobbie's culture at Virtual Gurus was built on honesty and transparency, and not being able to tell her leadership team about the acquisition felt deeply uncomfortable. Post-exit, Bobbie has retired her parents (her mother was her first angel investor, contributing her last $20,000), bought a new home, and is investing time and capital into the next generation. She is now an angel investor in five businesses - all founded by people from underserved communities, including Indigenous and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. She has launched Tapwe (Cree for "truth"), a platform to support underserved founders with financial literacy, mentorship, AI-powered matching, and startup scaling resources. A documentary is in production. Her newsletter, The Fire Report, scaled to 4,000 subscribers almost immediately. She is also doing regular paid advisory sessions each week through her website. Bobbie's story is a reminder that a cash-rich exit can be deeply values-driven, inclusive, and barrier-breaking - and still set you up for whatever comes next. If today's episode has you thinking about your own journey, whether you are at the kitchen table, scaling fast, or quietly eyeing your exit, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with via LinkedIn or email Please leave a five-star rating and review to help more founders find this show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/41607425

EP348 80% of Small Businesses Never Sell 06/02/2026

EP348 80% of Small Businesses Never Sell Here is a stat that should keep every small business owner up at night: approximately 80% of businesses never change hands. The owners simply close the doors, walk away, and leave decades of effort and equity on the table. In this episode, host sits down with Markian Pergat, an Ottawa-based entrepreneur who has lived the full arc - from student painter, to burnt-out sole operator sleeping five hours a night, to building a business that runs without him - and who is now on a mission to help service-based, trades, and Main Street business owners do the same. Markian walks through his EXITS Method, a five-part framework covering the emotional, strategic, and structural work required to build a business that is actually sellable. The conversation is a candid look at what happens when technical excellence masks business fragility, and what it takes to shift from self-employed technician to business owner with real options. Key Takeaways: Approximately half of Canadian businesses are still owned by baby boomers, and roughly 80% of small businesses never successfully transition to a new owner. They simply close. Markian started with College Pro Painters at 19 (winning Rookie of the Year for Eastern Ontario), then founded Sand and Stain, a seasonal wood restoration business in Ottawa. He spent years as a one-man operation - doing all sales, production, and emails - before hitting a breaking point and trying to sell. A broker told him the business was essentially unsellable because it was entirely dependent on him. That wake-up call launched a four-to-five-year transformation. Markian systematically removed himself from every role, built an online quoting calculator that replaced in-person estimates (going from 8-10 quotes per day to over 100), hired for sales and production, and turned the business into something that runs with minimal owner involvement. The irony: once it became sellable, he no longer wanted to sell. The EXITS Method is a five-part framework: E (Equanimity) - the emotional and mindset work of letting go of identity, title, and control. X (X Factor) - differentiation plays including micro M&A, where small businesses merge or acquire to reach a size that attracts larger buyer pools. I (Independence) - separating the owner from the business, and reducing dependency on any single employee, supplier, or customer. T (Transferability) - building the value levers that make a business attractive to a buyer: systems, recurring revenue, documented processes, and scalable operations. S (Strategy) - creating multiple exit pathways rather than a single plan, because life, markets, and technology can change overnight. The most common problem Markian sees: technically brilliant tradespeople and service providers who are thinking like technicians, not like business owners - and certainly not like buyers. The shift from "How do I do this work better?" to "How do I build an asset that works without me?" is the fundamental unlock. Markian's sweet spot is businesses in the zero to $5 million revenue range (up to $10 million), typically below the threshold where private equity would show up with a cheque. These businesses have the most room to pull levers and create value - and the most to lose if the owner does nothing. The best deals often happen off-market. When a business is visibly well-run, systematized, and not dependent on the owner, unsolicited offers start showing up - just like the best real estate deals happen before a listing goes live. Exit preparation is synonymous with business building. Start before you are ready. Even if you decide not to exit, going through the process of making your business sellable will make it better to own. Be part of the 20% who exit on purpose and on their own terms. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Let us talk about your time frame, your value, and your vision. Reach out on LinkedIn or email. Please leave a five-star rating and review to help more founders find the show. Thank you! *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/41455975

EP347 From Basement Labels to a $12 Million Exit 05/19/2026

EP347 From Basement Labels to a $12 Million Exit What happens when four moms start making labels in a Hamilton basement and, 14 years later, get a call from a global industry giant? In this episode, host sits down with Julie Cole, one of the four co-founders of Mabel's Labels, to trace the full arc: from masking tape and permanent marker frustrations in the early 2000s, to building a fiercely loved e-commerce brand, to a reported $12 million acquisition by Avery Labels that closed in under six months. What makes Julie's story unique is the fact that she is still at Mabel's Labels a decade later, now as Senior Director of Public Relations, championing the brand she helped build. The conversation covers what buyers actually look for, why keeping your house in order is non-negotiable, how four co-founders (who were also family) navigated decisions without destroying relationships, and why selling your business does not have to mean falling out of love with it. Key Takeaways: Mabel's Labels was founded approximately 23 years ago by Julie Cole, her sister, and two university friends who married into the family. It started in a Hamilton basement solving a simple problem - kids were losing their gear, and there was no good labelling solution beyond masking tape and marker. The four co-founders divided responsibilities by department (production, IT and finance, marketing, PR), which worked well early on but eventually created silos. Each founder became protective of their team's priorities, and the business reached a point where it needed one person overseeing the whole operation rather than four co-CEOs pulling in different directions. Managing a co-founding team that is also family requires deliberate effort. The founders brought in a coach to navigate difficult growth decisions and to separate business disagreements from personal relationships - a practice Julie compares to Midday Squares' weekly "family therapy" sessions. The acquisition by Avery Labels (a publicly traded company) happened fast - the initial call came in July, and the deal closed on New Year's Eve of the same year. Julie emphasizes this timeline is not normal and should not be expected. Due diligence is where you can lose money. A letter of intent might come in at one number, but if the buyer finds problems, the offer shrinks. Julie's advice: keep your housekeeping in order from the start, not just when a deal appears. The exit process is a full-time job. Having four co-founders meant one could focus on the transaction while the others kept the business running - a luxury solo founders do not have. Julie has seen entrepreneurs take their eye off operations during a sale, get left at the altar, and end up with a year of lost sales and deal fatigue. Because Avery is publicly traded, the founders could not tell their staff about the potential acquisition. They told the team it was a tax audit - which felt terrible given their culture of transparency - but was necessary for regulatory compliance. Once the deal was announced, the founders led with reassurance: no one was losing their job, the brand was staying, and the team would be supported through the transition. Two co-founders left immediately after the sale, one stayed as general manager for a couple of years, and Julie has remained for 10 years. She now reports to a former direct report who became GM - and is fully at peace with that dynamic. Her role is to be the brand's voice, its public face, and its connection to the community. The brand's longevity is built on community. Julie was one of the original "mom bloggers", has attended Mom 2.0 conferences for 18 years, and has continuously followed her audience from blogs to Facebook to Instagram to Reddit. Mabel's Labels looks like a low-tech product but is a high-tech, e-commerce-driven business that has adapted to every platform shift for over two decades. Julie is also the author of ‘Like a Mother: Birthing Businesses, Babies, and a Life Beyond Labels’, a bestseller covering her parenting and entrepreneurial journey. Julie Cole's story is a reminder that a cash-rich exit does not have to be the end - sometimes it is the start of the next chapter in the same business. If her story has you thinking about your own entrepreneurial journey, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Reach out on LinkedIn or email Could you leave a five-star rating and review please? It helps more founders find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/41286020

EP346 Profit Pays Your Bills, Value Gives You Options 05/05/2026

EP346 Profit Pays Your Bills, Value Gives You Options Episode Summary: What is the difference between a business that generates income and one that creates wealth? In this episode, host sits down with husband-and-wife team Krystyn and Matt Harrison of Horizon Advisors, who bring complementary perspectives from different sides of the deal table. Krystyn is a five-time founder who learned the hard way what happens when you run your own sale process, lose competitive tension, and have a seven-figure LOI collapse in eight weeks. Matt spent his M&A career watching owners come to market for the wrong reasons - cancer diagnoses, divorces, sudden deaths - and seeing how lack of preparation cost them millions. Together, they now work with founders at a million dollars or more in EBITDA to build businesses that are more valuable, less founder-dependent, and full of options - whether that means scaling further, stepping back, or selling. The conversation covers founder psychology, the control trap, why your best seller being the owner is a red flag to buyers, and how to flip the mindset from working in your business to working on it. Key Takeaways: Krystyn built Prosper, a coaching platform with 30,000 users and clients including RBC and Lululemon. When a close competitor raised $150 million, she pursued a sale. Running her own process without an M&A advisor, she lost competitive tension, watched a seven-figure LOI fall apart, and ultimately exited on far less favourable terms. Lesson one: do not run your own process. Lesson two came after the deal closed - Krystyn had no plan for what came next. An empty calendar and an identity crisis followed. The exit is not a headline. It is a phase of the business, and personal readiness is part of it. After Prosper, Krystyn operated within a U.S. private equity roll-up in the e-commerce ecosystem, where she learned to build value through the enterprise value lens - not just revenue growth, but moving the multiple by putting systems, process, data, and assets in place. Matt's M&A experience revealed that most owners came to market for difficult reasons - health crises, divorce, death. Very few were proactively prepared. The most common gaps were financials with small errors that eroded buyer trust, tax planning that should have started two years earlier, and founder dependency that made the business look risky. Founder dependency is one of the biggest destroyers of enterprise value. Matt saw owners proudly declaring themselves their company's best salesperson - which is exactly what buyers do not want to hear. Buyers want a sales engine, not a sales hero. Client concentration of 85% held by the founder is pure risk in a buyer's eyes. Profit pays your bills. Value gives you options. A profitable business with heavy founder dependency may generate strong income but will not command the valuation or optionality the owner is hoping for. Krystyn's two litmus tests for founder dependency: First, in the last two weeks, how many of your leaders came to you with problems versus solutions? If they are bringing problems, you may have created a culture where you solve everything for them. Second, imagine you are on a desert island for four weeks with no devices - what would break? The answers reveal where the business is too dependent on you. Horizon Advisors works with founders at a million or more in EBITDA. They start with a complimentary 90-minute value baseline assessment covering approximately 24 value drivers, then move into long-term one-on-one advisory engagements (bi-weekly two-hour sessions with the founder, quarterly strategic planning with the leadership team). All advisors are former operators and owners themselves. They track enterprise value monthly and view everything through the lens of building optionality - not just preparing for a sale, but making the business more valuable regardless of what the founder decides to do next. Krystyn also hosts the podcast ‘Worth Owning’, exploring what it means to build businesses and lives worth owning - with a focus on the emotional journey, not just the transaction. If this episode has you wondering whether your business is building enterprise value or simply generating income, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen O'Connell-Campbell. Let us connect today's decisions with your future cash-rich exit. Reach out on LinkedIn - - or email 📩 Leave a five-star rating and review. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/41066260

EP345 Exit Lessons from Across the Atlantic 04/21/2026

EP345 Exit Lessons from Across the Atlantic Episode Summary: Canada's Employee Ownership Trust legislation is relatively new. The UK's has been in place since 2014. In this episode, host crosses the Atlantic - virtually - to sit down with Christine Nicholson, a UK-based exit strategist who has spent her career founding, selling, and helping others exit businesses. Christine brings 12 years of firsthand perspective on what happens when EOTs work, when they fail spectacularly, and what separates the two. The conversation covers the three phases of exiting a business (the day-to-day, control, and ownership), why the EOT structure has been fastest-growing among professional services and architecture firms in the UK, a good-bad-ugly breakdown of real EOT outcomes, the psychology of letting go, and three practical steps any business owner can take in the next six to 12 months - whether they pursue an EOT or not. Christine also shares a powerful client story about a founder who was afraid his team would succeed without him, and what happened when he finally let them try. Key Takeaways: Christine frames every exit as three separate transitions: exiting the day-to-day operations, exiting control and decision-making, and transferring shares. Most founders fixate on the third while neglecting the first two - which are often the real barriers to a successful outcome. The UK introduced EOT legislation in 2014, offering zero capital gains tax when a business owner sells shares to an employee trust. The owner is paid out of the future profits of the business up to the value at the time of transfer. Canada's legislation was modelled in part on the UK's structure. In the UK, professional services firms - particularly architecture, engineering, and other talent-dependent businesses - have been the fastest-growing adopters of the EOT model, because it serves as both a succession vehicle and a powerful talent retention tool. The good, the bad, and the ugly of UK EOTs: The bad involved an owner who completed the transaction without telling employees, threw his keys on the desk Monday morning, and said "don't muck it up". The ugly involved an owner who gave employees only two weeks' notice, disappeared on day one, never got paid, and the company went into liquidation within 14 months. The good involved two burned-out owners who built a strong team, communicated clearly, elevated their employees, and are now working part-time in a business that has become the market share leader in its sector - with employees actively driving efficiency because they understand the link between performance and their bonus pool. The common thread in failures is not the EOT structure itself - it is the absence of preparation. An owner who disappears without building bench strength will see the business fail regardless of the ownership model. The typical timeline from owner disappearance to liquidation is about 12 months. Christine's three practical steps for any owner considering an EOT (or any exit): First, write down every decision you make and every thought you have about the business that would not happen without you - be ruthlessly honest, like keeping a food diary. Second, get your team to do the same, and identify who the "self-levelling cement" person is - the fixer who papers over every crack and prevents others from knowing they would have failed. Third, join those two pictures together and begin empowering employees to make decisions incrementally - millimetre by millimetre, not all at once. These three steps will increase the value of your business whether you pursue an EOT or not. Removing the owner as the sole decision-maker is the single most important thing a founder can do to make their business survivable, sellable, and scalable. Christine shared the story of a client who built a brilliant team over 25 years but could not see a successor because none of them looked like him. The breakthrough: he did not need another version of himself. He needed someone who could take what he built and elevate it. That business is now worth many multiples of what it was, runs without him, and has a queue of potential buyers - but his wealth advisor told him to keep owning it, because no investment could match the return. Culture eats strategy for breakfast - and Christine has watched PE buyers destroy great businesses within two years by gutting the culture and losing every employee. EOTs, by contrast, create alignment between ownership, performance, and retention. Whether you are exploring an EOT or simply thinking about your eventual exit, the work starts the same way: building a business that does not depend entirely on you. Book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with to map the gap between what you have built and what you need personally to fund your life after the exit. Reach out on LinkedIn or email. Please leave a five-star rating - it helps more founders find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40888975

EP344 Canada's Largest Employee Ownership Trust (Inside Taproot's Transition from ESOP to EOT) 04/07/2026

EP344 Canada's Largest Employee Ownership Trust (Inside Taproot's Transition from ESOP to EOT) What happens when a company that is already employee-owned realizes its ownership model is not built for the next chapter? In this episode, host sits down with Michael (Mike) Fotheringham, CEO of Taproot, and Robert MacDougall, Board Trustee. Taproot is a 42-year-old national social enterprise with 775 employees and over $65 million in annual revenue. They unpack how and why the organization became Canada's largest Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Taproot's journey runs from its founding by a laid-off public servant in British Columbia, through a management buyout that created an ESOP with seven shareholders, to the realization that the next succession needed a cleaner, broader, and more scalable structure. Mike and Robert walk through the real story: how a LinkedIn podcast discovery sparked the conversation, why the EOT legislation provided a template that other structures could not, what governance looks like four months into the new model, and why transparency with employees started years before the transaction - not after. Key Takeaways: Taproot was founded 42 years ago by Bill Stelmachek, a former British Columbia public servant, and operates in two domains: children and youth services (including group homes) and direct support for adults with diverse abilities, across BC, Alberta, and Northern Ontario. When Bill decided to exit 18 years ago, he had interest from U.S. private equity and real estate buyers, but chose to sell to employees. Seven employees purchased the company and paid him out over several years, forming an ESOP. That ownership group grew to 30 shareholders over time. The succession challenge resurfaced as major shareholders began approaching retirement. The board explored multiple options - another management buyout, private equity, gifting share certificates to all employees, trust company arrangements, and buy-co structures - but each had significant drawbacks, particularly the administrative burden of managing shares across nearly 800 employees. The EOT conversation began when Mike heard a podcast from Social Capital Partners about the employee ownership trust model, shared it with the board, and connected with Tiara LeTourneau at Rewrite Capital Advisors. A feasibility study confirmed Taproot was a strong fit, and the board green-lit the transaction in January 2025. The EOT's capital gains tax exemption was not the primary driver of the transaction, but became a strong motivator during the process and contributed to 100% of shares being transferred into the trust. The more fundamental appeal was that the EOT legislation provided a clear template - parameters, structure, and guidance - that other models lacked. Governance under the new EOT structure includes three employee trustees (staggered three-year terms, elected by employees), an independent board of directors (confirmed by the trustees), and the management team. These three groups are now more distinct than the previous model, where senior management, majority owners, and the board overlapped heavily. Day-to-day operations have not changed dramatically. Taproot had already been practicing quarterly all-staff financial updates for two years before the transaction - a transparency habit that made the cultural transition smoother. Employees are now waiting for the first year-end to see what dividend distribution looks like. The design and governance work began before the transaction closed, with joint sessions between trustees-to-be, the incoming board, and management to establish how the groups would work together. Four months in, the structure is still being refined - but the right mix of continuity and new perspective is in place. Rewrite Capital Advisors guided the feasibility study, due diligence, and transaction design. Previous Cash Rich Exit Podcast episodes with Rewrite Capital and Firefly Insights cover the technical structure of EOTs in more detail. Taproot's story shows that selling your company does not have to mean selling out your values. A thoughtful process - including governance at the board level - can create both liquidity and long-term stewardship. If today's episode sparked questions about your own transition, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Reach out on LinkedIn or email. 📩 Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders and business owners find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40706105

EP343 After the Exit - Identity, Reinvention, and the Next Chapter 03/24/2026

EP343 After the Exit - Identity, Reinvention, and the Next Chapter What happens after you sell the business that defined you? In this episode, host sits down with Candace Sutcliffe, who spent nearly 20 years building The Chef's Paradise (CA Paradis) - a 104-year-old Ottawa retail institution - from employee to president to co-owner, and then made the bold decision to sell to Quebec-based industry leader Doyon Després and step into a corporate executive role. This is a candid conversation about what it actually looks like to navigate a multi-generational business transition: the operational preparation, the culture clash considerations, the identity crisis that comes with letting go, and the unexpected lessons of moving from entrepreneur to executive. Candace shares why protecting her team was non-negotiable, how she learned to detach her identity from the business, and why the exit she never imagined turned out to be exactly the right move. Key Takeaways: Candace started as a retail manager at CA Paradis in 2005, became president in 2013 before acquiring the business, and co-owned The Chef's Paradise from 2017 until selling to Doyon Després about two years ago. She now serves as a corporate executive within the acquiring company. The business had two distinct sides - retail (profit-driven) and food service (volume-driven) - that acted as natural checks and balances. When one side was up, the other was typically down, creating more consistent overall performance. The decision to sell was not originally in the plan. An interested party prompted the conversation, and the ownership team set a number that made sense. When it was met, they moved forward. As Candace puts it: everything is for sale if the price is right. Culture fit was the deciding factor in choosing a buyer. Another interested party from the GTA was considered, but the culture clash would have been too significant. The Doyon Després team shared a similar francophone heritage and family business DNA - and half the acquiring company had originally started their careers at CA Paradis. Protecting the existing staff was a non-negotiable condition of the sale. The owners needed assurance that employees would be kept on, kept whole, and given opportunity for growth. The transition from owner to executive required learning patience, letting go of control, and accepting that decisions are no longer yours to make. Candace describes an identity crisis that comes with selling - the realization that you are not your business, even when you have been the face of it for two decades. Rebranding from CA Paradis to The Chef's Paradise was in itself a major strategic decision that took nearly a year, with deliberate thought given to logo, colour, and market positioning. The subsequent absorption into the Doyon Després brand has created new challenges in the Ontario market, particularly with Anglophone customers and staff. In the current economy - trade wars, cost of living pressure, daily uncertainty - Candace believes it was the right time to sell. The business needed either a new location or significant infrastructure investment to continue growing, and the deeper pockets of the acquiring company made that possible. The business still operates its experience kitchen in Ottawa, hosting wine tastings, themed dinners, and chef-led events - designed as a marketing and community-building tool rather than a profit centre. Selling your business is not necessarily the end - it can be a stepping stone into a new chapter. If you are a business owner thinking about your own transition, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Let's make sure your exit is intentional and aligned with your values. Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40530565

EP342 How SheBoot is Solving the 2% Problem 03/10/2026

EP342 How SheBoot is Solving the 2% Problem Host: Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities Guests: Sonya Shorey (CEO, Invest Ottawa), Jennifer Francis (Chair, Capital Angel Network), and Julia Elvidge - Co-founders of She Boot Episode Summary: Only 2% of venture capital flows to women-founded companies - yet women start roughly 15% of all companies. In this episode, Colleen sits down with the three co-founders of SheBoot, a national nonprofit that is tackling this gap from both sides of the table - making women tech founders investment-ready and mobilizing women angel investors to fund them. What started in 2020 with 10 investors putting in $10,000 each has grown into a national program with a waitlist of investors, $300,000 in annual investment prizes, and $54 million catalyzed in follow-on funding. The conversation covers how SheBoot's dual mandate works, the special purpose vehicle structure that simplifies the cap table, real stories of founders who have scaled from pitch competition to million-dollar raises and beyond, and why getting more women investing is just as critical as getting more women funded. Key Takeaways Women receive approximately 2% of venture capital despite founding roughly 15% of companies. Women founders are far more likely to bootstrap - and research shows that is often by necessity, not by choice. She Boot was born in 2020 when the co-founders noticed women were not showing up to pitch competitions. The program now operates nationally (incorporated as a national nonprofit in 2022) with founders from coast to coast. The model has a dual mandate - helping women tech founders become investment ready, and activating women angel investors. Both sides are essential - founders need to see women in the room when they pitch, and investors need practical, hands-on education in how to evaluate deals. Each year, 30 investors contribute $10,000 each for a total of $300,000 in investment prizes ($150K first, $100K second, $50K third). The investment is structured through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), so only one name appears on the founder's cap table while 30 partners share in the investment. Investors receive practical angel investing education - including writing investment memos, conducting due diligence, and evaluating data rooms - paired with more experienced investors in a mentorship structure. The program has catalyzed $54 million in follow-on funding across its portfolio of women-founded companies. Notable alumni include Cinareo (customer support software, raised over $1M within six months of graduating), Ayrton Energy (hydrogen carrier technology for residential use, raised $10M), The Growcer (hydroponic shipping containers growing fresh produce in temperatures as low as minus 50°C, deployed in Indigenous and remote communities), and Flutter Care (med-tech wearable to detect early warning signs of stillbirth, beginning clinical trials at the Ottawa Hospital). 50% of SheBoot founders identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ+. The co-founders are actively working to build that same diversity into the investor group. Capital Angel Network, one of the founding partner organizations, has grown from having two women members to roughly one-third women - with a goal of reaching 50/50. In Canada, CRA data shows 90% of women-owned businesses file as self-employed, meaning most are not incorporated and not building a sellable asset. Solving the 2% problem takes a multi-pronged approach - more women investing, more women-founded startups funded, and real-world impact that multiplies across our economy. If today's conversation sparked ideas for your own growth-to-exit path, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with onLinkedIn or via email. 📩 Leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40318570

EP341 Cash Confidence is the Missing Piece in your Exit Strategy 02/24/2026

EP341 Cash Confidence is the Missing Piece in your Exit Strategy Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Cash flow is sovereignty. In this episode, host sits down with Melissa Houston - CPA, business finance coach, fractional CFO, and author of ‘Cash Confident’ - to explore why so many business owners are working hard but not building wealth. Melissa shares her mission to close the business financial literacy gap, particularly for women entrepreneurs, and explains how a few key changes in pricing, expense management, and cash flow can completely change a business's trajectory. The conversation covers the emotional side of money (including both Colleen's and Melissa's personal money stories), the alarming stats on women-owned businesses, and why understanding your numbers is the foundation for building a business that is not just profitable, but sellable. Melissa also previews Profit Buys, her AI-powered tech platform designed to put a fractional CFO in every business owner's pocket. Key Takeaways: Financial literacy is not optional for business owners. Your accountant, bookkeeper, and financial advisor are partners - but they do not give you permission to check out of your own numbers. Revenue and profit are not the same thing. Melissa has seen seven- and eight-figure businesses go bankrupt because they were not managing cash well. Volume does not equal profitability. The three changes that move the needle fastest are ensuring your pricing is profitable, managing your expenses deliberately, and understanding that cash balances and profit are two different things. Many business owners do not know which of their products or services is most profitable - and often assume it is their best seller, which is not always the case. Promoting your most profitable offer can change the trajectory of the business. Money mindset is a muscle, not a one-time exercise. Everyone carries a money story from childhood, and those stories show up in business decisions - from hesitating on sales to underpricing services. The stats on women-owned businesses are sobering: of 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., only 1.9% generate over $1 million in revenue, roughly 68% make under $50,000 per year, less than 2% of women have a financially successful exit, and less than 2% of venture capital goes to women. In Canada, CRA data shows 90% of women-owned businesses are filing as self-employed - meaning they are not incorporated and likely not building a sellable asset. Whether you are a startup, scaling, or thinking about your exit, your business should be an asset that supports your long-term goals and legacy. If this episode has inspired you to rethink your exit path, book a one-on-one Wealth Gap Analysis with . Reach out on LinkedIn or email. 📩 Please leave a five-star rating and review - it helps more founders find the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40155765

EP340 The Pension Playbook 02/10/2026

EP340 The Pension Playbook Episode Summary: Forget everything you thought you knew about pension plans being just for government workers. In this episode, pension lawyer Jean-Pierre (JP) Laporte, Pension Lawyer and Founder, Integris Pension Management, joins host to share a series of powerful, real-life case studies showing how registered pension plans - including Individual Pension Plans (IPPs) and Personal Pension Plans - are quietly and dramatically transforming the wealth trajectories of incorporated business owners across Canada. From a 73-year-old founder who saved his family $4 million in a single phone call, to a lawyer who discovered his pension was exempt from departure tax when relocating abroad, these are stories of what happens when the right strategy meets the right advisor. JP also breaks down the seven tax deductions available through a registered pension plan, the 2020 Ontario regulatory changes that removed the biggest barriers to entry, and why the only thing standing between most business owners and better retirement outcomes is awareness. Key Takeaways Since December 8, 2020, Ontario eliminated provincial registration requirements for connected persons, removing mandatory contributions, locking-in rules, and provincial fees - a major change for business owners. Registered pension plans offer up to seven corporate tax deductions, compared to the single annual RRSP contribution - including past service recognition, higher annual contributions (up to ~30% by age 64), special catch-up payments, investment management fee deductions, loan interest deductions, and terminal funding contributions for early retirement. Family business owners can add children to the pension plan once they are employed, creating a multigenerational wealth transfer vehicle with no 21-year deemed disposition rule (unlike family trusts). Business owners holding passive investments inside their corporation can sell capital properties to fund the pension plan, offset the capital gain with the pension deduction, and generate tax-free capital dividends - creating a "corporate TFSA" effect. Pension assets are exempt from departure tax when a business owner becomes a non-resident of Canada, and cross-border pension income is taxed at just 15% under most tax treaties (versus 25% for RRSP withdrawals). Upon death without a spouse, pension plan assets can be split among multiple beneficiaries (including charities), with each taxed only on what they receive - a significant income-splitting advantage over RRSPs. Pension plan assets enjoy creditor protection in Ontario, unlike RRSPs held outside of insurance companies. Ideal Candidates: Family business owners with multiple generations, C-suite executives earning high T4 income, and incorporated professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, pharmacists). If you are an incorporated business owner An IPP can be a tax smart retirement engine for the right incorporated owner, but it comes with rules, admin, and costs that need to be understood up front. You can fund with more flexibility as you age, but access is not as instant as an RRSP unless you plan for wind-up timing and implications. The structure can support creditor protection and estate or succession planning in ways many founders do not consider early enough. Book a one on one Wealth Gap Analysis with to pressure test whether your personal plan is aligned with your exit and retirement strategy. 📩 Leave a five-star rating and review please. It helps more founders find the show and build their path to a cash-rich exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/40023875

EP339 The ABCs of IPPs and RCAs 01/27/2026

EP339 The ABCs of IPPs and RCAs 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 explains that IPP contribution room increases with age, and outlines a crossover point where the IPP can become more compelling than the standard RRSP approach. The income detail founders often miss If you want to build contribution room, the plan is tied to T4 income rather than dividend income. This becomes part of the “prep phase” for incorporated owners who have flexibility in how they pay themselves. The alphabet soup explained: why RCAs show up in the same conversation They position an RCA as a way to fund retirement benefits beyond the IPP’s cap, and discuss how these tools can work as a broader strategy for lowering tax burdens and boosting retirement outcomes. Flexibility versus access: what you can (and cannot) do with IPP assets They discuss the reality that IPPs can be funded with flexibility, but accessing the assets is more rigid unless you wind the plan up, which takes time and has costs. Creditor protection as a strategic feature They explain how an IPP is funded into a beneficiary trust structure, and why that can provide meaningful creditor protection relative to keeping assets inside the corporation. What it costs to run an IPP Unlike an RRSP, IPPs require actuarial and regulatory filings, including valuation reports filed periodically. Muneer shares a concrete annual fee example for 2025 and what it covers. What happens to the IPP if you sell your business They explain that an IPP needs a sponsoring corporation, and outline common paths business owners can take (including sponsorship through a Holdco, or winding up the plan). They also flag that wind-ups can trigger maximum transfer rules, which may force a portion to be paid out as taxable cash in the year of wind-up. Family and succession planning use cases They discuss how an IPP can be used in a family succession context, including why some people refer to it as a “family pension plan” and how intergenerational wealth transfer can become part of the strategy when a business remains the sponsor over time. Key takeaways for incorporated founders An IPP can be a tax smart retirement engine for the right incorporated owner, but it comes with rules, admin, and costs that need to be understood up front. You can fund with more flexibility as you age, but access is not as instant as an RRSP unless you plan for wind-up timing and implications. The structure can support creditor protection and estate or succession planning in ways many founders do not consider early enough. Book a one on one Wealth Gap Analysis with to pressure test whether your personal plan is aligned with your exit and retirement strategy. Please leave a five star rating and a short review to help more founders discover The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/39838855

EP338 IPPs 101 (Ontario Edition) - A Practical Guide for Ontario Business Owners 01/13/2026

EP338 IPPs 101 (Ontario Edition) - A Practical Guide for Ontario Business Owners 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 generally tax deductible to the corporation, and how IPP planning supports personal income clarity after a sale or as part of succession planning. What you will learn What an IPP is, in plain english, and how an actuary sets the funding math under Canadian rules Why IPPs can allow bigger deductible contributions as you get older, especially after age 40 How IPP contributions move value from corporation to personal income, in a structured way The common fit profile (Ontario corporation, T4 income, age 40–71, profitable business that can fund contributions) How IPP funding can include current service, past service, make-up contributions, and terminal funding near retirement What your options can be at retirement or if you sell (start pension income, commute value, or annuitize) The tradeoffs: IPPs are not “cash jars,” and they come with cost, complexity, and an ongoing contribution commitment Key highlights Why IPPs show up in exit planning Colleen frames IPP planning as part of the “personal income clarity” that founders want after an exit, while still interacting with tax strategy and transferable business value decisions (including how you pay yourself). Governance and guardrails An IPP sits inside a trust structure with investment rules and periodic actuarial valuations, adding oversight designed to keep the pension on track. Family and legacy considerations Colleen notes you can design a multi-member IPP that includes a spouse and adult children who actually work in the business and receive t4 income, with survivorship dynamics that can support intergenerational planning. Connect with on LinkedIn. Book a one-on-one wealth gap analysis with Colleen to discuss whether an IPP fits your exit timeline and plan. Subscribe on YouTube here: and follow on your favourite podcast platform, and leave a five star rating and review to help more founders find the show. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/39655055

EP337 Fun Frank Advice 2025 - The Annual Montage 12/30/2025

EP337 Fun Frank Advice 2025 - The Annual Montage 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 will exit, and the real question is whether yours will be intentional. She frames a well-planned exit as more than a transaction. It can be a transformation for your family, wealth, and life after the sale. What you’ll get from this episode is a quick, high-signal listen that helps you: pressure-test how intentional your current plans really are pick up patterns and principles that apply across industries hear how experienced operators think about preparation, risk, and legacy Also announcing a new space to watch Colleen! The Cash Rich Exit Podcast has expanded to YouTube. You’ll find video versions of recent interviews, plus new conversations and content to help you plan, prepare, and profit from an intentional cash-rich exit. Please subscribe here: As you hit play on this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and review to help the show reach more founders and CEOs. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/39476875

EP 336 Why you Won’t Sell Until you’re Personally Ready 12/16/2025

EP335 Turning your Business Into a Sellable Asset 12/02/2025

EP335 Turning your Business Into a Sellable Asset 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 where risk lives inside your operations. The three levers every founder must understand: revenue, profit efficiency, and multiples - and how each affects your future exit. Key Highlights Most businesses aren’t sellable in their current state. Scott explains that many founders assume every business can be sold at some price - when in fact, buyers will simply walk away if the future cash flow risk is too high. Sellability comes down to risk reduction. The most critical factor? Dependence on the owner. If a founder is the primary relationship-holder, salesperson, or decision bottleneck - buyers see future cash flow uncertainty. Future cash flow is everything. Buyers don’t buy past success - they buy the probability of future earnings repeating. Historical financials are just the rearview mirror. Three levers drive valuation: Revenue EBITDA efficiency (“how many pennies you keep per dollar”) Multiple Scott emphasizes that many owners obsess over revenue (the “vanity number”) rather than profitability and valuation mechanics. Energy matters. A founder’s personal capacity to implement change can determine whether the strategy should be: a buildup to sale, or a multi-year harvest of cash flow instead. You can request the Value Acceleration Calculator by contacting directly via Linkedin If this episode sparked your curiosity about: increasing enterprise value reducing exit risk preparing for a sale in 3-10 years or planning a personal Cash-Rich Exit Reach out to for a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis. And don’t forget to follow and rate the podcast - five stars appreciated! *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/39193190

EP 334 Purpose, People, and the Art of Letting Go 11/13/2025

EP 334 Purpose, People, and the Art of Letting Go 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 leadership, legacy, and letting go after years of being deeply hands-on. This episode highlights the rarely discussed human side of business transitions - what happens when a mission-led founder has to hand over the reins, and how to do it in a way that preserves both value and vision. If you’ve ever wondered how to make sure your exit aligns with your personal and professional purpose, this episode is a must-listen. If you haven’t heard it yet, catch for the full origin story of ‘The Unrefined Olive’. Connect with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on Book your complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen to understand how your business values translate to enterprise value. If you enjoy this conversation, please ⭐ leave a 5-star review. Your feedback helps the show reach more founders preparing for their own cash-rich exit. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/39015655

EP333 From Olives to Ownership - Finding Purpose in Entrepreneurship 11/04/2025

EP333 From Olives to Ownership - Finding Purpose in Entrepreneurship 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 entrepreneurship: How Elizabeth took a leap from government to business ownership and built a loyal following from scratch. Lessons in resilience: The role of adaptability and creativity when facing economic changes, global supply-chain shifts, and market pressures. Community over competition: Why Elizabeth believes relationships - not just revenue - define a business’s long-term success. Defining legacy as a founder: What it means to build something that reflects your values, supports local economies, and still allows you to plan for the next chapter. Preparing for transition: Elizabeth’s reflections on creating optionality - how to design a business that can run, evolve, or sell on your own terms. 🎧 Tune In To Learn How to apply a mission-driven lens to small-business ownership Why emotional connection can still align with financial value What founders can do early to create transferable, resilient businesses If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to grow your company with both heart and value, this episode is for you. 💬 Connect with Colleen If you’re a Canadian business owner planning your own cash rich exit, it’s never too early to start. Connect with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on Request a complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis to see where you stand on your exit timeline 🎧 Subscribe and Share If you enjoy this conversation, please: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review 🔁 Share the episode with a business owner who needs to hear it 🎙 Follow The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for more insights from founders, investors, and exit experts /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/38849425

EP332 Unlocking Legacy and Liquidity - Exit Strategies for $5M-$50M Businesses 10/21/2025

EP332 Unlocking Legacy and Liquidity - Exit Strategies for $5M-$50M Businesses 💡 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 behind-the-scenes insights from real client success stories and demystifies the role of private equity in today’s business transitions. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why $5M-$50M companies are underserved in traditional M&A processes The importance of long-term planning and education before an exit Why you should start exit preparation 2-3 years in advance - or earlier How cultural fit between buyer and seller drives long-term success How private equity can protect rather than destroy value The difference between a transaction and a journey Why you shouldn’t fall in love with your business - and how to prepare it for its next owner 💬 Fun, Frank Advice from Karl “Don’t fall in love with your business. It’s a tool - not your identity. Treat it like a prized vintage car. Maintain it, polish it, and when it’s time to sell, make sure it goes to someone who’ll care for it as well as you did.” 🔗 Connect with on LinkedIn 💬 Connect with Colleen If you’re a Canadian business owner planning your own cash rich exit, it’s never too early to start. Connect with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on Request a complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis to see where you stand on your exit timeline 🎧 Subscribe and Share If you enjoy this conversation, please: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review 🔁 Share the episode with a business owner who needs to hear it 🎙 Follow The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for more insights from founders, investors, and exit experts *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/38597390

EP331 Be the Owner, Not the Renter - Building Brands That Last 10/07/2025

EP331 Be the Owner, Not the Renter - Building Brands That Last 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 success in an exit: why an exit doesn’t always equal success, and how legacy plays a role. From Sweet Spot to The Bullet: Joanna’s journey of launching and scaling digital-first businesses in Canada, often ahead of the curve. The capital gap for women entrepreneurs: reflections on raising millions in funding and the systemic challenges women still face. Don’t build on rented land: Joanna’s hard-won philosophy on creating assets you own (like email lists and websites) versus relying on platforms you don’t control. Content with context: why brands need to serve before they sell, focus on the long game, and create authentic, relatable voices. Personal brand vs. business brand: why people buy from people, and how leaders can use thought leadership to strengthen both. Growth mindset: why Joanna shifted from saying she wanted to keep Good Eggs small, to embracing its rapid growth trajectory. Fun, frank advice: be yourself, be authentic, and test - because the biggest risk is never putting your ideas into the world. Whether you’re scaling, selling, or starting fresh, Joanna’s story offers lessons in resilience, ownership, and building a brand that thrives beyond you. If Joanna’s insights sparked ideas for your own business or exit strategy, connect with host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on LinkedIn or to schedule your complimentary Wealth Gap Analysis. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/38429035

EP330 Building, Selling, and Thriving Beyond Business 09/23/2025

EP 329 Strategic Partnerships and Real Estate Insights 09/09/2025

EP 329 Strategic Partnerships and Real Estate Insights In this episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with Ashley Hopkins, President & CEO of Paradigm Commercial Group, and Sarah Vandenbelt, Broker of Record & Founder of Paradigm Commercial Real Estate. Together, they share how their unexpected journeys into real estate led to a powerful partnership under the Paradigm brand. We discuss: The winding career paths that brought them into real estate. Why building strategic partnerships and strong networks is critical in a male-dominated industry. How property management is more than collecting rent - it’s finance, legal, emergency planning, and community-building rolled into one. The importance of due diligence and long-term planning in both investing and property ownership. Practical insights for business owners who want to use real estate strategically - whether as an operating base or an investment vehicle. How adaptability, collaboration, and leveraging trusted relationships drive success in real estate. Their stories highlight what’s possible when business owners align passion with purpose, and when professionals join forces to provide full-service real estate solutions tailored to client needs. Fun Frank Advice: Ashley: “Don’t take no for an answer. An obstacle is just an opportunity in disguise. Keep pushing, keep looking for resources, and surround yourself with the right people.” Sarah: “Don’t wait until you feel ready. Bet on yourself, take the leap, and trust that you’ll figure it out.” Connect with Ashley & Sarah 🌐 **** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/38081595

EP328 Intentionality, Identity, and the Exit Journey 08/26/2025

EP328 Intentionality, Identity, and the Exit Journey What happens when your exit strategy is about more than just money? In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell talks to April Harbottle, a highly experienced M&A advisor and business transition specialist. April has spent years helping small and mid sized business owners unlock the value of their companies and transition successfully, whether through exits or by scaling with new partnerships. Together, they explore how values, identity, and leadership evolution shape the founder journey - especially when it's time to let go. 🔍 Key Highlights Start with an assessment - April stresses the importance of getting a business assessment early. It gives clarity on what drives value and highlights the risks buyers will zero in on. Value is only half the story - Beyond valuation, founders need to understand buyer concerns: risks, gaps in operations, and financial vulnerabilities that could affect deal structure. Sell when you don’t need to - April draws the parallel to borrowing: just like a line of credit, the best time to sell is when you’re not desperate. Selling while you’re in control leads to better outcomes. The danger of waiting too long - April shares examples of deals where illness, poor results, or market shifts forced sales under pressure - leading to renegotiated terms and lower valuations. Control = leverage - Sellers who plan early and prepare properly can dictate more of the terms, protect value, and secure a better legacy. Why Listen If you’re a business owner considering an exit now or in the future, this episode is packed with practical insights into when and how to start preparing. April’s advice can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure you sell on your terms, not someone else’s. Want Help Planning your Own Exit? Colleen offers a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to help you bridge the space between your business and your financial freedom. It’s a strategic conversation to ensure your exit supports your long-term wealth. Book your call here: Email Colleen Help us Reach More Entrepreneurs If you found this episode valuable, please leave a 5-star rating and a short review. It helps us get discovered and bring on more amazing guests. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/37903160

EP327 Rethinking Succession - Why Employee Ownership Might Be your Legacy Move 08/12/2025

EP327 Rethinking Succession - Why Employee Ownership Might Be your Legacy Move With over $2 trillion in business assets at stake and 91% of Canadian business owners without a succession plan, we’re facing a real crisis. In this episode, host chats with Charlie Iscoe, whose venture - CommonShares - is flipping the script on business exits. Charlie brings Wall Street investment experience and a mission to keep Canadian businesses local by transitioning ownership to employees. He explains how their model allows retiring owners to receive fair market value while protecting their teams and communities. If you’re a founder who says, “I’ll deal with it eventually” - this episode is your wake-up call. 🔑 Key Highlights The succession gap in Canada: 91% of business owners have no plan in place. The CommonShares model: Founders get paid a fair price, and ownership transitions gradually to employees. Why it matters: Preserves legacy, protects jobs, and keeps Canadian companies Canadian. Types of businesses they acquire: Light manufacturing, professional services (architecture, engineering, accounting), property services, etc. The people factor: How a bench of 100+ operators helps ensure continuity post-exit. What founders can do now: Start documenting what matters - financial goals, legacy values, level of future involvement. 💬 Fun, Frank Advice from Charlie “If you’re listening to this, it’s probably because you’ve built something remarkable. So don’t let your exit be an afterthought. Take time. Get it right. This isn’t just a transaction - it’s your legacy.” Want to explore your own succession plan? Colleen offers a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis - to bridge the gap between your business success and personal financial freedom. 👉 Connect on LinkedIn - - or email to book your session. 📝 Enjoying the podcast? Help us grow! Leave a 5-star rating and a short review. Every review helps more entrepreneurs find us. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/37674700

EP326 Identity, Reinvention and Entrepreneurial Grit 07/29/2025

EP326 Identity, Reinvention and Entrepreneurial Grit In this candid and energizing episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host sits down with author, educator, and tech entrepreneur . From academia to publishing to leading a fast-scaling SaaS platform, Lindy shares her story of transformation and what it really takes to walk away from one professional identity to build another. Together, they dig into what motivates bold career pivots, the value of knowing your numbers (and knowing your worth), and how to preserve optionality - especially as a woman founder in Canada. 🔑 Key Highlights Why letting go of sunk cost thinking opened up a path from tenured professor to successful startup founder What women entrepreneurs need to know about being acquisition-ready - even if they aren’t looking to sell yet The importance of shared values between co-founders when building something high-growth and high-impact The role of structure, scale, and strategy in creative and academic transitions to tech Lindy’s fun frank advice on knowing when it’s time to move on - and why you don’t need to apologize for growing beyond a role, title, or institution is the co-founder and CEO of EssayJack, an edtech company acquired by Wizeprep. She’s also a published author, former professor, and fierce advocate for equity in entrepreneurship. 🔗 Connect with Dr Lindy on LinkedIn: 📩 Want to unlock the next chapter of your business story? Book your complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with to explore how to turn business success into personal financial freedom. DM on LinkedIn or visit ⭐️ Enjoying the podcast? Leave a quick 5-star rating and review. Your feedback helps more ambitious founders discover these powerful conversations. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/37522440

EP325 A Scenic Exit - How Peter Deitz Turned an Eight-Year Journey into Shared Prosperity 07/15/2025

EP325 A Scenic Exit - How Peter Deitz Turned an Eight-Year Journey into Shared Prosperity In this episode, host chats with Peter Deitz, social entrepreneur and founder of Canada’s first-ever employee ownership trust (EOT) transition at Grantbook. Peter shares how his scenic, eight-year exit journey created space for new ventures, empowered employees, and protected the company’s B Corp values. The episode is a roadmap for any founder looking to exit with both financial return and community impact. 🔑 Key Highlights The Long Game: Peter’s exit took 8 years - twice the time he spent actively running the business. He stayed in a governance role and planned a patient, values-aligned transition. First in Canada: Grantbook became the first Canadian company to officially transition to an Employee Ownership Trust on Jan 1, 2025. This structure ensures lasting impact and local wealth-building. The Emotional Return on Exit: For Peter, legacy outweighed liquidity. He prioritized a fair price while choosing a structure that would protect jobs, uphold mission, and keep culture intact. Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned: He reflects candidly on tax structuring choices that impacted capital gains exemptions - and offers advice for others planning ahead. New Chapter with Unwrapit: Peter is now growing a digital gifting company, Unwrapit, which aligns social impact with user choice and sustainability. Fun, Frank Advice from Peter Deitz: “Start early. The longer the runway, the more control you have. And if you go the employee ownership route, you’ll be met by very happy employees - and a thriving community.” ☕ Curious if an Employee Ownership Trust might be your best path forward? Book a 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with and map out your strategy. 👉 Connect via or email to get started. ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a 5-star review. Your feedback helps more founders discover how to exit on their own terms. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/37353075

EP324 Community Impact and Resilient Legacies Through Employee Ownership 07/01/2025

EP324 Community Impact and Resilient Legacies Through Employee Ownership In this final segment of a powerful three-part conversation, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell and Jennifer Williams explore the community-level impact of employee ownership for Canadian business owners - beyond the dollars and deal terms. If you're a founder who wants to leave behind more than just a net worth number, this episode offers compelling reasons to consider how your exit plan could strengthen your community, not just your portfolio. Key Highlights 💼 Employee-Owned Companies = Stability During Volatility Data shows these businesses are more likely to retain staff during tough times. That means healthier communities and more resilient local economies. 📉 Real Talk: Why Shared Ownership Drives Results From reducing turnover to solving problems like lost cutlery (literally - a $72K savings story), employee-owners think and act like stakeholders. 🏠 Keeping Businesses in the Community Selling to employees often keeps operations rooted locally, unlike third-party sales or private equity buyouts that risk relocation. 🔍 The Importance of Financial Transparency Employees who understand even basic financials make better day-to-day decisions. Jennifer breaks down why open-book thinking leads to stronger businesses. 🏛️ What Government and Economic Agencies Should Be Doing There’s a big opportunity for local development offices and boards of trade to help more founders explore employee ownership as a transition path. 📈 Canada’s First EOT Is Here - and More Are Coming With a wave of Employee Ownership Trusts launching, Colleen and Jennifer predict this model will catch fire in the next few years - just like in the UK. 🔁 The Legacy that Sticks This isn’t charity. Employee ownership allows founders to sell at value and leave a business in the hands of people who care. It’s a win-win. 🚀 Ready to Explore your Exit (whether in 2 or 10 years)? Are you a founder without a clear succession plan? Wondering how to turn your business into a legacy? Host is offering a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis to help you understand your current state - and design a personal plan for your next move. 📧 Message her on or email to get started. Let’s make sure your exit is cash-rich, values-aligned, and future-ready. ⭐ Enjoying the podcast? Please take 60 seconds to leave a 5-star review and short review. Your support helps more entrepreneurs find the show and plan smarter exits. *** The Cash Rich Exit Podcast is brought to you by O’Connell-Campbell Wealth Management at RBC Dominion Securities. All opinions expressed by the host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of RBC Dominion Securities. This podcast is for informational purposes only before taking any action based on information in this podcast you should consult with a qualified professional. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. /episode/index/show/iamamillionairesonowwhat/id/37168205

The Cash Rich Exit Podcast

TOPICS