Shows
The Real Business PodcastGrowth with Purpose: Creating Measurable Business ValueIn this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes Jeff Armstrong, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Cultivate Advisors, to discuss ways business owners can begin building an effective value growth strategy. Research says value growth is the top success metric that owners track, and Jeff will share how to set realistic expectation about their growth potential with guidance on how to get there.
2025-10-2331 minThe Real Business PodcastKey Findings from MassMutual's Latest Research StudyIn this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes Micah Brandenburg, President, Legendary Exits to discuss key findings from MassMutual's latest Business Owner Perspectives Study. Brian and Micah discuss topics ranging from value growth to transition planning to coordinating business and personal planning. The results from the survey indicate there are lots of opportunities for owners to plan, grow and protect their most valuable asset.Guest: Micah Brandenburg of Legendary Exitshttps://legendaryexits.com/
2025-07-0945 minThe Real Business PodcastFor A Successful Sale, Owners Need To Put in the WorkJohn Bartlett, Founder of Brentwood Growth, joins MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski to discuss what every business owner should know about the process of selling a business. In this episode, John and Brian discuss not just best practices for the sale itself, but also the steps owners should take before and after the sale to ensure the business and the owner have an experience worthy of the sweat equity they've put in building a successful business.
2025-04-2232 min
The Exit Planning CoachBuilding Confidence in Owner Services with Brian Trzcinski ReworkFrom Insurance to Exit Planning: Building Confidence in Owner ServicesIn this episode of The Exit Planning Coach Podcast, John F. Dini interviews Brian Trzcinski, Director of Business Market Development at MassMutual, about the evolution of their business owner services. Brian describes his 18-year journey from traditional insurance planning to comprehensive exit planning, emphasizing how MassMutual helps financial advisors build confidence in serving business owners. He shares insights about their adoption of the Exit Planning Institute's CEPA designation and Value Compass valuation tools, explaining how these resources help advisors have deeper conversations with owners. The discussion...
2025-01-2127 minThe Real Business PodcastThe Decision Most Business Owners Aren't Making, and Why It's So ImportantThe decision to stay and grow your business versus the decision to leave and transition your business often puts a business owner at a crossroads. So rather than face the decision head-on, it gets delayed and ultimately made without much forethought or planning. In this episode, Brian Trzcinski welcomes Sam Mendelsohn of Value Builder to discuss why this decision is so important, why it must be made with sufficient lead time to be successful, and why considering your future personal and financial needs must be a part of the decision-making process.
2023-12-2229 minThe Real Business PodcastLet's Meet at the Intersection of Business and Personal PlanningIn this epidode, Brian Trzcinski is joined by fellow CEPA and financial planning consultant Jarrod DeSantis of MassMutual to discuss the role the business plays in an owner's personal planning picture. They discuss the three "gaps" all business owners should know--their profit, value and wealth gaps--as well as how planning for the business today can impact an owner's financial outlook in the future.
2023-11-1030 minThe Real Business PodcastBe Ready To Sell... Whether You Want To or NotMavrek CEO Martin Hanson has been in the business of selling businesses for over 30 years, coordinating thousands of transactions worth billions of dollars. In spite of all those deals, Hanson shares that not once, in all those years, has a business owner who called him actually been ready to sell their business. In this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski leads a candid conversation, and a wake-up call for business owners who anticipate an exit in the next few years.
2023-09-3033 min
Succession StoriesShould You Keep or Leave Your Business and Other Soul-Searching Questions, Brian TrzcinskiThis episode provides great questions to help you think about what can protect your business and create wealth. Brian Trzcinski, Director of Business Market Development with MassMutual, joins host Laurie Barkman to discuss questions business owners need to answer to enhance value and reduce risk. Like what would your business be worth today if you died 90 days ago? And why should exit planning begin the day your doors open? Head to SuccessionStories.com for the show notes and transcript to get all the questions you need to be considering. Enjoy this Succession Stories episode about soul-searching questions for exit...
2023-09-2431 minThe Real Business PodcastBe Ready For When the Business and the Personal CollideIn this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes veteran Financial Professional Rick Scruggs, of the firm Financial Designs, to discuss how life insurance can be an important component of not just a business owner's personal protection, but their business protection as well. They will share strategies that can help protect the owner and the business from unexpected and unplanned for circumstances.
2023-08-1531 minThe Real Business PodcastMitigating Risk: Insights from MassMutual's "Planning for the Unexpected" StudyIn this episode, Brian Trzcinski welcomes CEO Coach and author Abby Donnelly to discuss key findings from MassMutual's latest research study "Planning for the Unexpected". This rank conversation includes real stories about business owners who failed to mitigate risk, and the pitfalls associated with ignoring the details in business succession planning.
2023-06-3042 minThe Real Business PodcastInsights From The Business Transitions SherpaIn this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes Laurie Barkman, aka "The Business Transition Sherpa" to discuss some key topics from her book The Business Transition Handbook. Hear Brian and Laurie discuss why business owners view "transition" as a negative term and how an owner's mindset about transition--both positive and negative--can impact their business's value, transferability, and future success.
2023-05-1536 minThe Real Business PodcastThe Intersection of Business Growth and Transferrable ValuePotential value is something business owners are very keen on understanding. Taking a strategic approach to growing value can not just benefit the business for today, but also the owner's financial outlook in the future. In this episode, Brian Trzcinski welcomes George Sandmann, Founder and CEO of Growth Drive, to share his insight on how value growth can set the owner up for future success by making the business easier to run and ultimately more likely to sell or transition.
2023-04-3032 minThe Real Business PodcastCoordinating the Needs of the Business with the Needs of the FamilyTwo words: Family and Business. The two are intrinsically connected, but often operate on divergent planes. In this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes Martha L. Sullivan, a CPA and consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group, to discuss balancing a thriving business while creating a lifetime of liquidity for today and a legacy for the future.
2023-04-1434 minThe Real Business PodcastHow the 1% Budget is the Path to Effective Business PlanningBusiness planning is sound business strategy. Yet three areas often come between a business owner and the implemention of effective plans: time, perceived need, and money. In this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski focuses on how a lack of monetary resources can get in the way of effective business planning with Chuck Richards, CEO of ValuCompass. Chuck asserts that, if you would pay 1% of the value of your investments to have those managed then why wouldn't you do the same for your largest asset--your business?
2023-03-1531 minThe Real Business PodcastDecrease Business Risk, Increase Business ValueSelling a business is not easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it. And while, you may have built a profitable business, there's always inherent risks that could threaten the viability of the business and decrease your value. In this episode, MassMutual's Brian Trzcinski welcomes Chris Vanderzyden, Managing Partner at Legacy Partners, LLLP to offer practical advice on how to de-risk your business and make it more transferrable.
2023-02-2830 minThe Real Business PodcastNavigating Your Business Through Challenging Economic TimesThe Real Business Podcast, presented by MassMutual, is hosted by business exit planning expert Brian Trzcinski. In this episode, we welcome entrepreneur, author and leadership expert Richard J. Bryan to offer his expertise on ways to recession-proof your business. The year ahead may present challenges, but business owners who are prepared will be in position to seize opportunities and grow their businesses.
2023-02-1525 minThe Real Business PodcastMaking Yourself Redundant In Your BusinessCan you take a vacation without worrying about the integrity of your business? Have you delegated management decisions to your team? And if you plan to sell or transition your business to the next generation, will you or your presence be an obstacle in that process? It may be "your business". But if you are your business, statistics show that you will likely face significant challenges transitioning. In this conversation, Certified Exit Planning Advisor Brian Trzcinski welcomes John Dini, Founder & CEO of The ExitMap, who shares lessons learned in his 30+ years of helping business owners transition.
2023-01-3030 minThe Real Business PodcastFamily Business: What Comes First? The Family... or the Business?Mom & Dad built the business, often sacrificing time at home or missing key moments in their children's lives. The kids have literally lived in the business, and may work in the business- but is it really their business? In this episode, Certified Exit Planning Advisor Brian Trzcinski explores this sensitive topic with Lise Stewart, Partner in Charge of Eisner Advisory Group's Family Business Excellence Group. She reveals impactful, real-life stories of what business owners, together with their family, must do to find success in transition.
2023-01-1641 min
Build Value By ChoiceLatest Insights From MassMutual's 2022 Business Owner Perspectives Survey3 Evergreen Secrets to Grow Your Business...Without Succumbing to Market Changes! >>>>>>>>registration for free webinar HERE
2022-08-1029 min
Build Value By ChoiceIncome Replacement Value is Room For Scale & Growth with Brian TrzcinskiWith the familiar pattern of some form of a global crisis almost every decade, what should business owners be thinking about when it comes to the concept of income replacement of their business before this decade is over? This week on Build Value By Choice Nana is joined by Brian A. Trzcinski, Director of Business Market Development at MassMutual to discuss these critical topics around making sure your exit strategy is not just beneficial for your business, but beneficial for you too.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Income replacement value is about what the business owner needs t...
2021-12-0131 min
Defenders of Business ValueExit Planning with Brian TrzcinskiOne of the people that Ed's been hassling and trying to track down and get on the podcast is Brian Trzcinski of MassMutual. Ed's seen him speak probably three or four times, and each time he comes away shaking his head with such good information. MassMutual do some really great research. Brian is the director of the business market development over at MassMutual. He's in charge of all the marketing programs aimed at assisting business owners in the marketplace. He truly is one of the defenders of business value. He's making sure that all of the MassMutual guys across...
2020-06-1538 min