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The Deal Podcast

Joshua Wilson

Welcome to a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to reveal the human and financial side of building enterprise value. Hosted by M&A advisor and executive producer Joshua Wilson, this is The Deal Podcast, brought to you by FA Mergers. We're your front-row seat to the strategies shaping today's lower- and middle-market, from the family-run business to the multi-million-dollar portfolio.


Too often, the world of mergers and acquisitions is seen as a complex, numbers-driven game. We believe it's about the people behind the deals—the bold entrepreneurs, the savvy investors, and the dedicated teams who make it all possible. Each episode, we sit down with the real players in the M&A space: from private equity sponsors and family offices to strategic buyers, serial entrepreneurs, and commercial bankers. We’ll also hear from the crucial professional teams on the front lines, including CPAs, tax and corporate attorneys, and wealth advisors, to uncover the blueprints of success.


Our conversations will delve into every facet of the deal lifecycle. We'll explore the art of acquisitions, the science of scaling through bolt-ons, the complexities of divestitures, and the long-term thinking required for portfolio optimization.


This podcast is more than a stage for thought leaders; it's a collaborative hub for anyone looking to build, scale, or prepare for their next chapter. Whether you’re a business owner seeking a successful exit, an investor looking to grow your portfolio, or a professional advisor supporting clients on this journey, our content is designed to be both educational and actionable.


Join us as we decode the deal, one conversation at a time.


Disclaimer:

The views, opinions, and statements expressed by the guest are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Deal Podcast, its hosts, or affiliated organizations. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice.


Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. As a trusted connector among founders, family offices, and investment platforms, Josh brings a relational, strategic lens to SPACs, IPOs, M&A, and private placements—blending insight, curiosity, and communication to spotlight the people and deals shaping the capital markets.


The content of this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or compliance advice. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, employer, or organization.


Listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel, compliance professionals, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, including those enforced by the SEC, FINRA, and other regulatory bodies. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation, offer, or recommendation of any financial products, securities transactions, or legal services.


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  • Today · 46 min

    Zero Investors, All Sisterhood: Bootstrapping a Licensed Brand — Elise Colomb

    Elise Colomb was a nurse, a pharma rep, and a stay-at-home mom who sold art for fun. Then a friend saw her paintings and said, "We need to put these on products." Host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner of FA Mergers, sit down with Elise Colomb, Co-Founder, Designer, and Creative Director of Sorority and Sisterhood, the hand-drawn luxury pajama brand she built with co-founders Virginia and Kait. With zero outside investors, the three funded the business from their own earnings and reinvested every dollar back in. Elise explains how university and sorority licensing works, how royalties shape pricing, why every new product must clear a margin bar before it launches, and how three founders run a nationwide wholesale brand with no staff. It's a candid look at bootstrapped growth, faith, and knowing when to take the leap. 🎯 What We Cover - From nursing and pharma sales to founder - Turning hand-drawn art into a product line - Self-funding a business with zero investors - How university and sorority licensing works - Pricing around royalties and rep commissions - Killing ideas that don't make the margin - Three co-founders, no staff, a national rep network - The Good Morning America moment - Faith, family, and the leap of faith 🤝 Connect with Elise Colomb 🌐 Website: https://sororityandsisterhood.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecolomb/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sorority-and-Sisterhood/100090936670055/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 🌐 FA Mergers: https://famergers.com 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers advises lower-middle-market business owners on preparing for and navigating a sale. Start the conversation at https://famergers.com 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast 🌐 Website: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 Joshua Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast A One Iron Network production: Executive Producer Joshua Wilson Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • October 5 · 1 hr 1 min

    From Exit to Endowment: Building a Legacy That Outlives You — Monica Zuschlag & Margaret Trahan

    What happens to everything you've built after you sell — and after you're gone? Two Catholic foundation leaders share how owners turn a lifetime of work into a legacy that lasts. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with Monica Zuschlag, Board Chairman, and Margaret Trahan, Executive Director, of the Catholic Legacy Foundation of Acadiana. Monica shares the calling that led her to help launch the foundation, and Margaret draws on two decades leading United Way of Acadiana. Together they explain how donor-advised funds, endowments, and family legacy plans work, why stewardship starts long before an exit, and how faith-aligned investing keeps a family's values intact for generations. A practical conversation for owners and the advisors who guide them. 🎯 What We Cover: - Stewardship vs. ownership: rethinking what you've built - How legacy giving connects to selling a business - Donor-advised funds, endowments, and foundations explained - Two widows, one endowment, and the widow's mite - Why generosity is a lifestyle, not an event - Family legacy plans and naming the next generation - Values-aligned investing under USCCB guidelines - Building guardrails that outlast you - Why saying yes to your life's mission matters 🤝 Connect with Monica Zuschlag & Margaret Trahan: 🌐 https://www.catholiclegacyfoundation.org/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicazuschlag/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-trahan-7426a49/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-deal-podcast/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast A One Iron Network production: Executive Producer Joshua Wilson Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • September 28 · 46 min

    Relationships Are the Product: How an Engineering Firm Wins Work — Aaron Travasos

    Landing a two-year contract felt like a win. Aaron Travasos saw a deadline: "We have one to two years to replace this customer." In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner of FA Mergers, sit down with Aaron Travasos, P.E., Principal at Gregory Consulting and Controls in Lafayette, Louisiana. Aaron left a steady engineering career during the COVID slowdown to join a partner's firm, and together they grew it into a team with its own managers and business development. He shares why relationships are the real product in a project-based business, how partners divide roles, why an anchor client is a countdown clock, and what leading a team demands. It's a candid look at the employee-to-owner leap, grounded in faith, family, and keeping good jobs at home. 🎯 What We Cover: - Leaving employment to become an owner during COVID - Why joining a partner beat going solo - Managing the feast-or-famine cycle of project work - Why a big client starts a replacement clock - Operating agreements and dividing partner roles - Leadership: take the bullets, give the credit - Faith, prayer, and handling anxiety as an owner - A question left behind by his father, Marvin Travasos 🤝 Connect with Aaron Travasos: 🌐 https://www.gregorycc.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-travasos-p-e-098863118/ 🤝 Connect with Host Joshua Wilson: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 🌐 https://famergers.com 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://famergers.com 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-deal-podcast/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast A One Iron Network production: Executive Producer Joshua Wilson | Network Director Trisha Goddard Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • September 21 · 59 min

    Building Toward an Acquisition From Day One with Kelly Hebert

    She built her app with one end in mind from day one: get acquired. And she did it while owning 100% of the company and raising two kids under two. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-hosts Scott Shea and Jeremy Beyt sit down with Kelly Hebert, VP of Design & Media at Robert Hebert Media and co-founder of Project Dryve, a navigation app built to solve the messy, real-world problem of finding food and stops along a route. Recorded at ThreeSixtyEight in Baton Rouge, Kelly walks through the five-year journey of bootstrapping a tech startup: validating the idea through customer discovery, resisting feature creep, surviving three full rebuilds, and keeping a clear exit goal in view the entire time. It's a candid look at founder resilience, staying true to a core value proposition, and building a company designed to be acquired. 🎯 What We Cover: - Why an acquisition was the goal from the very first build - How customer discovery validated the idea before a line of code - Resisting feature creep to protect the core value proposition - Bootstrapping while keeping 100% ownership - Surviving three rebuilds and a $4,000 forced restart - Balancing motherhood and the founder grind - The TestFlight-to-App-Store approval gauntlet 🤝 Connect with Kelly Hebert: 🌐 https://www.roberthebertmedia.com/about-us 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyehebert/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🙏 Special thanks to our Co-Host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • September 14 · 54 min

    What Every Founder Gets Wrong About Building With AI with Justin Obney

    He built Lego-verifying software with his daughter and an AI chief of staff named Carl who texts his wife. Justin Obney has strong opinions about what founders keep getting wrong. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Justin Obney, CEO of Obney AI, for a candid conversation on how business owners should actually think about artificial intelligence. Recorded in Baton Rouge at ThreeSixtyEight, the discussion cuts past the hype to a simpler frame: AI is just systems that execute your intent. Justin unpacks what AI transformation really means for organizations, why the fear of job loss reflects a "finite mindset," and how founders can use these tools without drowning in endless tinkering. 🎯 What We Cover: - What AI actually is — and how to explain it to anyone - Why "AI makes people more capable, not less necessary" - The finite-mindset trap behind AI job fear - How organizations become AI-enabled and AI-native - Why founders should "pick one tool and go" - Operationalizing intent — the real point of AI systems - What an "agent" is, in plain English - Building personalized software vs. enterprise systems - Raising kids in an AI world without losing the human touch - The skills that matter most: systems thinking and communication 🤝 Connect with Justin Obney: 🌐 https://www.obney.ai/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinobney/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🙏 Special thanks to Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • September 7 · 1 hr 12 min

    The Deal Behind Sports Betting, NIL, Revenue Sharing, and the Portal with Charles Hanagriff

    33 years behind the microphone in Baton Rouge — and a master class on how college sports quietly became one of the biggest deal-making machines in America. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott Shea sit down with Charles Hanagriff — veteran sports broadcaster, co-host of "Live at Lunch" on 104.5 ESPN, and the voice of Eagle 98.1 Gameday for over two decades — recorded on the Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. Charles unpacks how sports betting, NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal reshaped college athletics, and why private equity is now circling conferences and programs. From a $125,000 wager that cost a coach his job to the $50M football roster, he ties the business of sports to the deal-making world business owners know. 🎯 What We Cover: - How sports betting changed what fans watch — and how leagues track every wager - The transfer portal as a free-agency bidding war for 18-year-olds - NIL, revenue sharing, and the $20.5M cap schools already blow past - Why staying in college now pays more than going pro for most players - Private equity's move into conferences — and the control that follows - Building audience trust over 33 years — and why honesty wins - Storytelling lessons from Omaha, Katrina, and Hurricane Andrew 🤝 Connect with Charles Hanagriff: 🌐 https://www.louisianasports.net/personnel/charles-hanagriff/ 🏢 https://www.guarantymedia.com/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/guests/scott-shea/ 🙏 Special thanks to Co-Host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • August 31 · 57 min

    Where Allocators and Dealmakers Actually Meet with Rip Reeves

    He got told no 2,000 times before Wall Street said yes. Rip Reeves cold-called his way off a borrowed New York City phone book — and four decades later runs the company whose magazine first taught him the business. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, recorded on the Baton Rouge Podcast Tour, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor and former CIO of AEGIS Insurance Services. Rip walks through how global capital actually moves — the allocator-manager ecosystem, why insurance companies, endowments, and family offices invest so differently, and the convergence of public, private, and wealth markets. A candid masterclass for anyone on the GP side of private equity asking whose door to knock on for capital — plus the grit and mentorship behind a 40-year career. 🎯 What We Cover: The borrowed phone book and 2,000 cold-call origin story How allocators decide where capital flows Why insurance, endowments, and family offices invest differently The Yale endowment model: equities, fixed income, alternatives Fee compression and the shift toward private markets Why single family offices now move like institutions The convergence of public, private, and wealth markets Knowing what you are — and what you're not 🤝 Connect with Rip Reeves: 🌐 https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rip-reeves-1b725717/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🙏 Special thanks to our Co-Host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • August 24 · 43 min

    From Folding Towels for Nick Saban to Owning a Bank with Scott Gaudin

    He cashed out everything during the pandemic — left a guaranteed paycheck to raise $30M and buy a bank that didn't exist yet. Five years later, it's quadrupled. In this episode, recorded live in Baton Rouge on our Louisiana Podcast Tour, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Scott Gaudin, President & CEO of Currency Bank. Scott traces his path from folding towels and parking cars under Nick Saban at LSU to acquiring a community bank charter and building it into a $260M concierge business bank owned by 143 shareholders. It's a story about mentorship, "the process," and the math of buying, growing, and selling banks in the lower middle market — for founders, family operators, and the advisors who guide them. 🎯 What We Cover: - Why he left a secure role to raise $30M and buy a bank during COVID - The "acquire a charter" strategy vs. starting a bank from scratch - How 200+ Zoom meetings built a 143-shareholder base - The economics of buying a $62M bank at 15x earnings - Choosing your own boss — and getting a "PhD" in banking - Buying and selling branches: the b1BANK and Commercial Capital deals - Why he treats employees as the asset in every acquisition - Acquisition lending for advisors and insurance books of business - Lessons on mentorship, confidence, and serving your community 🤝 Connect with Scott Gaudin: 🌐 https://www.currency.bank 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-gaudin-56606760 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🙏 Special thanks to Venue Host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting our Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • August 17 · 1 hr 6 min

    Playing Offense or Defense With Your Company's Value with Ben Vance

    Should you grow your business or protect it? The answer depends on one number — and most owners don't know theirs. In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-hosts Scott Shea (FA Mergers) and Jeremy Beyt (CEO, ThreeSixtyEight) sit down with Ben Vance, CPA, Director at Faulk & Winkler, who brings nearly 20 years in business valuation, transaction advisory, and family office work. Ben unpacks the difference between "playing offense" and "playing defense" with enterprise value, why the legacy bill-by-the-hour CPA model leaves owners exposed, and how starting the exit-planning process seven years out beats scrambling at the ninth hour. A candid, operator-level conversation on selling your business, deal readiness, and building value that survives due diligence — from the Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🎯 What We Cover: Offense vs. defense: when to grow value and when to protect it The "windshield vs. rearview mirror" shift every owner needs Why the bill-by-the-hour CPA model fails growth-minded owners Organized planning vs. controlled chaos in a sale process The add-backs owners don't realize they're sitting on How buyers actually value people vs. systems Why most deals die — and how early prep keeps them alive Using AI to build a real-time data room and Q of E model Reading momentum: when to take chips off the table Preparedness as a founder's superpower 🤝 Connect with Ben Vance: 🌐 https://fw-cpa.com/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🙏 Special thanks to Co-Host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting our Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • August 10 · 1 hr 8 min

    We're Not a Construction Company, We're a People Company — Lenny Lemoine

    He built a national construction firm out of a town of fewer than 1,000 people — then sold it without feeling like he sold out. In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Lenny Lemoine, founder of LEMOINE, the Louisiana services company he and his brother Tim grew from a family lumberyard into a 1,500-person leader in building, infrastructure, and disaster response. Lenny walks through decades of building enterprise value: the early hard-bid years, the choice to drop hard-bid work to protect culture, the Bernhard Capital Partners deal that let him scale through M&A, and a succession where the organization chose his successor. A candid talk on relationships, grit, and building people over buildings — for any lower middle market owner weighing an exit. 🎯 What We Cover: - Starting a commercial construction company where none existed - Why bonding and liquidity are the lifeblood of the business - Walking away from hard-bid work to build a relationship-driven model - The Bernhard Capital Partners deal and scaling through acquisition - "Selling without selling out" and protecting company culture - The weight of leading thousands of employees and their families - Running a year-long, employee-driven succession process - Why relationships are the real engine behind every deal 🙏 Special thanks to Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, for hosting The Deal Podcast's Baton Rouge Podcast Tour. 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 🤝 Connect with Lenny Lemoine: 🌐 https://1lemoine.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-lemoine-66465054/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • August 3 · 44 min

    The Hidden Asset Smart PE Firms Protect at All Costs with Jeffrey Koonce

    What separates the PE firms that build lasting companies from the ones that destroy them? Jeff Koonce says it comes down to one asset that never shows up cleanly on a balance sheet. Jeffrey Koonce is a Partner at Bernhard Capital Partners, a Baton Rouge-based services and infrastructure-focused private equity firm with more than $6 billion in AUM. A recovering CPA and former tax attorney at Phelps Dunbar, Jeff joined BCP as General Counsel and has been part of the firm's growth from its first fund close through its fifth. Co-host Scott Shea and special guest co-host Jeremy Beyt, CEO of ThreeSixtyEight, join Joshua Wilson for this conversation recorded live at ThreeSixtyEight's studio in Baton Rouge. 🎯 What We Cover: What private equity actually looks for beyond EBITDA and cash flow Why the highest offer rarely wins in a founder-owned deal How BCP uses a "blueprint" strategy before approaching any target Why safety records are a leading indicator of service company quality The role of culture in buy-and-build platform success Why founders who roll equity almost always outperform on the back end How BCP managed 23 portfolio companies through reporting and technology The difference between a PE firm and a family office Why brand and goodwill matter even in industrial M&A What Jeff asks every founder at the deal table 🤝 Connect with Jeffrey Koonce: 🌐 https://www.bernhardcapital.com 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 🤝 Connect with Jeremy Beyt | ThreeSixtyEight: 🌐 https://www.threesixtyeight.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-beyt/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • July 27 · 1 hr 4 min

    The Family Office Playbook for Lower Middle Market Acquisitions — Erik Billet

    Erik Billet and Jude David built a family office that's done 12 acquisitions in five years — without outside investors, without a fund clock, and without ever planning to flip a single company. In this episode, Erik Billet, CFO of Kin Capital Partners and CEO of Stately Doors and Windows, joins Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner at FA Mergers, to walk through how a two-man partnership grew into a multifamily office acquiring lower middle market businesses. Erik shares the operating playbook behind their model — why they evaluate 1,000 companies to buy one, why control matters more than capital, why the Buffett model beats the Koch brothers' model for them, and how a late-night phone call turned into one of the best deals of their career. 🎯 What We Cover: - Why a family office beats traditional PE for lower middle market acquisitions - The acquisition filter: 1,000 deals reviewed for every one bought - Why control investments matter more than passive capital - The Buffett model vs. the Koch brothers model - Red flags in lower middle market financials - Why three-year PE hold periods destroy good companies - Succession and the family-business question every acquirer must ask - Building a CFO function across a portfolio of companies - The deal that closed a year after the offer 🤝 Connect with Erik Billet: 🌐 https://kincp.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikbillet/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • July 20 · 43 min

    Stuck in the Founder Trap? How to Free Yourself From the Day to Day with Jeff Martin

    What happens when a buyer looks at your business and says, "The owner is too involved — we can't pluck him out"? That's the moment your exit value collapses. And it's the moment Jeff Martin has spent a career helping founders avoid. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with Jeff Martin — serial entrepreneur, four-time exiter, and founder of Company Growth Academy. Jeff shares hard-won lessons from building and selling companies across real estate, paramedical services, and DNA testing (where he was a true first mover in the franchising space). Today, Jeff coaches second-generation owners and founders running service-based businesses in the $1M–$5M range, helping them push past the development stage into real growth — and building companies that are actually sellable. Jeff, Joshua, and Jude unpack owner dependency, the value-first mindset, the difference between a business and a company, and why the biggest obstacle to growth is almost always the person at the top. 🎯 What We Cover: Why business strategy starts with exit strategy — not two years before close The "value first" mindset and why revenue and profit follow How to spot the choke points buyers will use to devalue your company Owner dependency, customer concentration, and other risk factors that crush multiples The four stages of company development — and where most owners get stuck Why "build a business to sell a company" beats "build a business to sell" The vacation test: what really happens if you disappear for 90 days Coaches vs. consultants vs. advisors — and why every operator needs one Lessons from being a first mover in DNA testing franchising How to develop your team so the company can outgrow you 🤝 Connect with Jeff Martin: 🌐 https://www.companygrowthacademy.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/companygrowthtv/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@CompanyGrowthTV 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • July 13 · 1 hr

    From Ministry to Real Estate: Lessons From a Career Pivot with John Ray Perkins

    He spent over two decades as a full-time Catholic minister. Then four kids, a tight bank account, and a global pandemic forced a pivot that would reshape everything. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with John Ray Perkins, a top-producing Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana. After 20+ years in youth and parish ministry at St. Peter's in Carencro and St. Pius X, John Ray launched a real estate side hustle in late 2019 — just months before COVID redrew the map. Six years in, he's running a growing team and rebuilding his business as a system, not a job. This is a story about identity, calling, provision, and the shift from operator to owner — told through the lens of a guy who walked it. 🎯 What We Cover: Why he left full-time ministry after 20+ years — and the surrender moment that opened the door Hustling through financial pressure with four kids and "more month than money" How COVID reshuffled both careers in the same six months The Costco conversation that became a six-year client relationship Selling a service in a relationship-driven market without leading with religion The mindset class that rewired how he thinks, talks, and parents "You have a high-paying job — not a business" — the wake-up call from his coach Building systems, processes, and models so the business runs without the operator How he vets seller motivation before taking a listing Why he changes coaches when he hits a plateau — and how to find the right one Quality Time Remaining: the framework Jude uses with founders weighing an exit Why the best businesses to sell are the ones that don't need to sell 🤝 Connect with John Ray Perkins: 🌐 https://johnrayperkins.kw.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyheyitsjohnray/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/user/johnrayperkins 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • July 6 · 46 min

    Scaling a Law Firm Without Losing the Mission with Blake David

    What does it take to scale a plaintiff's law firm to 17 attorneys across three offices — without losing the mission, the culture, or your sanity? Blake David has done it, and he's still trying cases. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Blake R. David, founding partner of Broussard, David & Moroux in Lafayette, Louisiana, alongside co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner at FA Mergers — and Blake's younger brother. Blake is one of the most decorated trial lawyers in the country: ranked #3 on the 2026 Top 10 Louisiana Super Lawyers list out of more than 22,000 attorneys, four-time recognized lead counsel on Top 100 jury verdicts, board-certified in Civil Trial Advocacy, and a Trial Advocacy professor at the LSU Law Center. He's also an active operator — co-owner of Titus Crane Services and Stately Doors & Windows — and a force in Louisiana economic development as past Chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the business behind the practice: how Blake grew from two lawyers and a stack of files to a 17-attorney firm, why he implemented EOS, how he selects cases (and why he turns down 19 out of 20), and what it really takes to be a credible operator inside a courtroom and a boardroom. 🎯 What We Cover: Why "excellence is a habit" became the firm's operating principle How EOS transformed a high-performing firm into a scalable one The mentorship model that built every senior partner at the firm How Blake evaluates a case the way an investor evaluates a deal Building a referral-driven business without billboards or mass advertising Lessons from his biggest verdict — and the loss that humbled him right after Investing alongside his brother Jude across crane, door, and millwork businesses Why the Louisiana Board of Regents matters to anyone investing in the state The Litany of Humility and what it teaches founders and dealmakers Why honesty wins the long game in trials, deals, and partnerships 🤝 Connect with Blake David: 🌐 https://bdm.law/ ⚖️ https://justiceobtained.com/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • June 29 · 42 min

    How Founders Use Community Foundations to Protect Their Legacy with Missy Andrade

    What if the smartest move before your liquidity event isn't talking to your banker — it's talking to a community foundation? In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Missy Andrade, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA), to unpack one of the most overlooked tools in middle market dealmaking: the community foundation. Missy leads a 26-year-old organization stewarding more than $253 million in assets across roughly 1,000 component funds, working alongside CPAs, attorneys, and wealth advisors to turn liquidity events into multi-generational legacies. From donor-advised funds and complex asset gifts — appreciated stock, real estate, mineral rights, art collections, even ownership of operating companies — to the conversation founders should be having before they sign an LOI, Missy walks through how community foundations function as a strategic partner for entrepreneurs, families, and the advisors who serve them. 🎯 What We Cover: How community foundations actually work (and why they're like "a bank for donors") Why CPAs send clients to community foundations before a sale closes The case for charitable planning before liquidity — not after Donor-advised funds vs. private foundations: when each makes sense How a billion-dollar Baton Rouge company was transferred to a community foundation Complex asset gifts: stock, real estate, mineral rights, IP, art, and more Donor intent and how to protect a founder's legacy across generations The G2 and G3 succession question every fund holder should ask Why the most successful philanthropists are obsessive — and team-builders Trust-based philanthropy and why neutrality is a community foundation's superpower 🤝 Connect with Missy Andrade: 🌐 https://www.cfacadiana.org/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/missy-bienvenu-andrade-81363b65/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Scott Shea: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/escottshea/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • June 22 · 53 min

    Eat What You Kill: The Bet-On-Yourself Model — Mark Weber

    Mark Weber made $12,000 his first year in business. He never hired an employee. Three decades later, he's built a portfolio across life insurance, real estate, and mortgage lending — all on strategic partnerships and commission-only hustle. Mark Weber is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and CEO of Mark Weber Enterprises — a multi-layered company spanning real estate, investments, insurance, and mortgage lending. In this episode, Mark sits down with host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, Managing Partner at FA Mergers, to break down the "eat what you kill" operating model that's carried him through 30+ years of entrepreneurship without a single W-2 employee. From his first $28,000 townhouse in 1994 to co-inventing the GreatCatch soft hands trainer (licensed to Cutters Gloves and SKLZ, now sold globally), Mark shares how strategic partnerships, faith-led discernment, and old-fashioned grit built a durable boutique business — and what the next generation of dealmakers needs to hear. 🎯 What We Cover: The eat-what-you-kill model and how Mark scaled without fixed payroll How AI is reshaping life insurance underwriting (policies issued in minutes) Strategic partnerships vs. hiring — how to structure transactional back-office support Turning a $200 prototype into a $3.33 global retail product (the GreatCatch story) Why grit and work ethic matter more than credentials for the next generation How faith and discernment shape Mark's go/no-go decisions on deals The rental property playbook that started with a single $28K townhouse Teaching kids to hustle: lessons from laying sod and cutting grass Inefficient markets, value creation, and why sales skills always win Walking away from the wrong deals — and why the walk-aways matter most 🤝 Connect with Mark Weber: 🌐 https://www.leadprofessionalsgroup.com/our-team 🌐 https://donedealnow.com/staff/mark-weber/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-a-weber-a220999/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@GreatCatch08 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA — Managing Partner, FA Mergers: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • June 15 · 1 hr 1 min

    Mergers and Acquisitions in the Nonprofit World

    What if the smartest growth strategy in your community wasn't being run by a private equity firm — it was being run by a charity? Kim Boudreaux and Sarah Clement of Catholic Charities of Acadiana have spent the last two decades quietly executing one of the most disciplined nonprofit roll-up strategies in Louisiana — growing from a $1.2M agency with 23 employees into a $15M, 90-person, 14-organization platform serving eight civil parishes. In this episode, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with Kim Boudreaux, Chief Executive Officer, and Sarah Clement, Chief Administrative Officer and 2023 recipient of the Catholic Charities USA National Management Excellence Award, for a candid look at how mission-driven organizations apply real M&A principles — economy of scale, sub-10% administrative rates, EOS implementation, and rigorous due diligence — to expand impact rather than profit. They open up about merging six nonprofits in a single day, navigating boards, integrating cultures, and the hard call to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour before it was cool. 🎯 What We Cover: The bishop's challenge that launched a 20-year roll-up strategy Why economy of scale matters more in nonprofits than most people think The day they closed six mergers — and what they would do differently now How to approach a nonprofit board about a merger without bruising egos Using EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to scale a faith-based enterprise How they grew FoodNet 110% and Rebuilding Together Acadiana 290% post-acquisition The succession-planning angle that opens nonprofit M&A conversations Hiring people smarter than you — and the test Kim used to vet Sarah Building a culture of mutual accountability, honest feedback, and "start/stop" exercises Why the $15 minimum wage decision changed how the whole organization operates 🤝 Connect with Kim Boudreaux: 🌐 https://catholiccharitiesacadiana.org/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-boudreaux-186094175/ 🤝 Connect with Sarah Clement: 🌐 https://catholiccharitiesacadiana.org/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-clement-562b7913/ 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • June 8 · 51 min

    From Career to Calling: Inside Family Missions Company with Saul Keeton & Kevin Granger

    What if the Lord interrupted your career at the peak of the American dream? Saul Keeton walked away from 25 years in commercial real estate. Kevin Granger left nursing and music behind. Both said yes to something bigger. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Saul Keeton and Kevin Granger of Family Missions Company — the largest lay Catholic foreign missionary organization in the world — alongside co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers. Saul and Kevin share how the Lord rerouted their lives, what it takes to run a mission organization sending 200+ missionaries into 11 countries, and how business owners and stewards of capital can become the shaft of the spear that pushes the gospel into the world's most underserved places. This is a conversation about legacy, kingdom ROI, and what happens when ambition meets surrender. 🎯 What We Cover: Why Saul left a 25-year commercial real estate career for the mission field Kevin's journey from music major to nursing to global missions How Family Missions Company became the largest lay Catholic foreign missionary organization in the world The "tip of the spear" model — and why business owners are the shaft Running a mission organization with 20–30 staff and 200+ missionaries in 11 countries Kingdom ROI: how to think about return when souls are the metric Why 3.6 billion people have never heard the name of Jesus Gospel poverty, transparency, and how missionary funds actually flow Working yourself out of a job — building self-sustaining missions Identity rooted in being a son of the Father, not a to-do list 🤝 Connect with Saul Keeton & Kevin Granger: On IG: Saul + https://www.instagram.com/saulkeeton Kevin + https://www.instagram.com/kevinjgranger Family Missions: https://www.instagram.com/fmcmissions/ Web: 🌐 https://www.familymissionscompany.com/ 👥 https://www.facebook.com/FamilyMissionsCompany/ 🎙️ Go You Are Sent Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/3as5fmjounyu6588WGO8Ek ▶️ Go You Are Sent (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@GoYouAreSent 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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  • June 1 · 1 hr 4 min

    From Law to the Priesthood: Discerning the Call with Father Jim Brady

    What does it actually take to walk away from a thriving career at the top of your game — and how do you do it without leaving wreckage behind? In this special episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA — Managing Partner at FA Mergers — sit down with Father Jim Brady, JCL, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. Before entering the priesthood, Father Brady spent eleven years building a regional law practice as a litigation partner. He earned a BS in Accounting from Spring Hill College, a JD from the University of Mississippi, and later a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America. His story is a master class in discernment, responsible transition, and the kind of stewardship every founder, partner, and operator eventually faces. Whether you're contemplating a sale, a career change, or the next chapter, this conversation will reframe how you think about calling, exits, and what it means to run toward something rather than away. 🎯 What We Cover: How a 29-year-old trial lawyer started hearing a different call The Holy Thursday moment that changed everything Why he gave his partners a full year to unwind the practice responsibly Building your own succession plan before you exit The "99% pay cut" — what's actually hard about a major career transition How to tell the difference between running toward something vs. running from it Discernment frameworks that apply to founders, sellers, and career changers Bringing trusted advisors into your decision instead of going it alone Running a large parish like a business — service, solutions, and the customer experience Why "small things with great love" outperform grand ambition over time 🤝 Connect with Father Jim Brady: 🌐 https://stpiusxchurch.org/staff/fr-jim-brady/ 📧 pastor@stpiusxchurch.org 🤝 Connect with Co-Host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/ 💼 Thinking About a Transaction? FA Mergers helps founders, investors, and business owners navigate the full M&A process — from valuation to close. If you're exploring a sale, acquisition, or capital raise, let's talk. 🔗 https://www.famergers.com/ 🎙️ Follow The Deal Podcast: 🌐 https://www.thedealpodcast.com/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@dealpodcast Curious what your business is worth? Request your free valuation at famergers.com Disclaimer: Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The Deal Podcast is presented by FA Mergers and is produced for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes investment advice, legal or tax advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to pursue or avoid any transaction. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of FA Mergers, One Iron Network LLC, any regulatory agency, or any employer. Listeners should consult their own legal, financial, and tax professionals before making any business, financial, or transaction decision. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.thedealpodcast.com/contact/

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