If your business can’t function without you, it may not be sellable, and that’s exactly what host Sharon DeKoning explores in this episode with Lori Power, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CPA, and founder of MP Benefits. Together, they dive into what it truly means to build a business with value beyond the owner. Lori shares why the first step isn’t financial; it’s personal. Business owners need to be emotionally and mentally ready to let go, and have a clear vision of what life looks like after the exit.
From there, Lori breaks down the practical foundations of a sellable business: strong systems and processes, leadership delegation (no micromanaging), and a business model that isn’t dependent on one or two major customers or industries. They discuss why risk mitigation creates value (from insurance to regulation to cash flow and banking relationships), and why most transitions fail when the people and culture aren’t protected through the handoff.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that exit planning isn’t something you do “later.” It’s a business strategy that protects your employees, preserves your community impact, and gives you more options—whether that’s selling to a competitor, transitioning to family, or exploring employee ownership. Lori encourages entrepreneurs to start early, bring the right advisors into the room, and build an exit plan that’s as unique as a fingerprint.
About Lori Power
Lori Power is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CPA, and the founder of MP Benefits. She supports business owners across Canada with strategic exit planning, helping them build businesses that are sustainable, valuable, and prepared for transition.
With deep experience in business advisory and human-capital strategy, Lori focuses on the often-overlooked truth behind business value: people, culture, and leadership continuity. She collaborates with exit-focused professionals to help entrepreneurs protect what they’ve built, create real options for succession, and confidently step into their next chapter.
Book: "Succession Planning for Insurance Professionals" by Tami Romanchuk, CFP, CLU, and Lori Power
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