Valerie Vaughn at APEX Business Advisors

06/15/2026

Realizing much of the business would resist automation due to segmentation, Murray Kent made sure to invest in the right sorts of people.

06/12/2026

When I work with owners to help them sell their business, my top priority is uncovering what truly drives them.

If your broker or advisor doesn't ask—or understand—your deeper personal motivations, you might end up with a massive payout but a deal you ultimately regret.

👇 I’ve left a link to a piece that hits on the top questions a business owner who wants to sell NOW should be able to answer. LMK if I can help. 📧 [email protected] | 📞 (913) 433-2315

06/08/2026

This article captures a huge paradox: a business owner can achieve a phenomenal financial payout, but if they wake up the next day without an identity, routine, or purpose, that sale will still feel like a failure.

"Owner’s regret” is a massive and very real issue in the M&A world, and it almost always stems from a lack of personal transition planning.

(913) 433-2315 or [email protected]

When selling your business, a long lead time means a better chance of success – and a better business while you wait.

06/04/2026

A massive generational shift is on the horizon for small businesses, but are owners actually ready?

The data from a recent SBE Council article highlights a persistent challenge:
• 40% of small business owners plan to retire or transition in the next decade.
• The Catch: The vast majority still haven’t addressed core exit pillars like business valuation, tax strategies, or clear succession planning.

Surveys have shown this trend for years, and this latest report confirms it. It’s also exactly why I am incredibly glad we have the Exit Planning Institute Kansas City Chapter.

While M&A advisors, brokers, and bankers naturally know how to ask these questions, owners need to hear it from their entire circle. By getting local CPAs, attorneys, lenders, and other professional advisors in the same room, EPI KC is raising awareness across the board. We are equipping the broader advisory community to proactively ask their clients about their plans, helping more owners transition successfully and on their own terms.

We want to see the number of fully prepared owners skyrocket—and that starts with these proactive conversations.

Want to learn more about EPI KC, our upcoming events, or membership? Don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at [email protected] or (913) 433-2315.

By Rieva Lesonsky – One of the most consequential – and underreported – issues facing small businesses right now is succession planning. New Chase data reveals a striking gap between when owners expect to exit and how prepared they are to do so. ● 40% of small business owners plan to retire ...

06/01/2026

An important reminder that a successful business exit involves much more than just deal mechanics. True readiness entails developing a personal plan for life after the transaction and allowing yourself a 3- to 5-year runway to execute it effectively.

For business owners contemplating their next steps but unsure where to start, I'm always happy to have a casual, no-pressure conversation to help you navigate the early stages. [email protected] or (913) 433-2315

"Exit planning" may be the right description for what this work involves, but it is not a useful name for it.

06/01/2026

Death, disability, dispute, and divorce. When adding a business to the mix, it can make what was already a stressful situation unbearable.

05/26/2026

After more than 25 years serving business owners, Doug Hubler has made the decision to transition ownership of the firm.

05/26/2026

Celebrating the destination is common, but the emotional toll of the journey often goes unspoken. NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang openly admits he wouldn’t start the company again if he had known about the numerous setbacks he would encounter, showcasing a valuable lesson in transparency.

This brings to mind a key truth in business: Winners lose more often than losers do. The distinction is that winners continue to play.

To create something significant—whether it’s a multi-trillion dollar enterprise or a successful small business—you must cultivate a superpower: the ability to compartmentalize past failures, safeguard your mindset, and keep progressing.

Resilience is not a passive trait. It is the conscious choice to show up and confront challenges, even when others doubt you.


Valerie Vaughn | [email protected] | (913) 433-2315

The founder revealed the reason on an episode of the "How I Built This" podcast.

05/20/2026

What needs to be true for this business to run well without me?"

This Forbes article perfectly reframes succession planning. Instead of obsessing over timing or multiples, the focus should be entirely on transferability. Plus, a fantastic reminder that good governance actually accelerates business by removing ambiguity.

If a business can't run seamlessly without its owner today, they haven’t built a transferable asset yet. Something to think about.

Valerie Vaughn | [email protected] | (913) 433-2315

Owners love to talk about timing, markets and multiples. But the real driver of a successful transition is far less glamorous: transferability.

05/18/2026

Seller financing is a common and often effective component of a transaction. It's success depends on how it’s structured.