{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Growth Without Referrals","title":"Episode 61 - Why Business Owners Wait Too Long to Plan Their Exit | Bill Stoddart","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1098,"description":"Most business owners spend decades building their companies—but far too many wait until the last minute to plan what happens when it's time to step away.\nIn this episode of Growth Without Referrals, host Mark Ferguson sits down with Bill Stoddart of McInnes Group, an experienced executive benefits and financial services advisor who has spent decades helping business owners navigate succession planning, leadership transitions, business continuity, and long-term financial strategies.\nBill shares why succession planning is a lot like landing an airplane: if you wait until you're approaching the airport to start thinking about your landing, your options become limited.\nDrawing on his experience working with business owners and executives, Bill explores the importance of planning ahead, developing future leaders, retaining key employees, and building organizations that can continue thriving beyond their founders.\nIn this episode, you'll discover:\nWhy business owners often wait too long to develop succession and exit strategies.\nHow early planning creates more options for selling, transferring, or transitioning a business.\nWhy the emotional side of retirement can be just as challenging as the financial side.\nHow retaining and rewarding key executives supports long-term business continuity.\nWhy successful leaders learn to step back and allow the next generation to lead.\nHow AI and emerging technologies may reshape business operations.\nWhy operational capacity and scalable systems are essential to sustainable growth.\nBill also shares lessons from his career, including working alongside his father, his years with Pacific Life, and his experience helping business owners through McInnes Group.\nOne of the biggest takeaways: Building a successful business is only part of the journey. Preparing the business—and yourself—for what comes next is just as important.\nWhether you're a founder considering an eventual exit, an executive planning leadership succession, or a business...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/NYwb67S6-1TluJIm7IWT5DNldCEIlXpN2yNDR9nHiiE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zODM2/ZWZlYjNmZjljYjZk/MTZhNzE0ZWFjY2Ri/MDkxOC5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}