Why ESOPs Beat Private Equity for Purpose-Driven Founders

What if you could sell your company, reward your team, and preserve your culture—all at once?

In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Kelly Finnell, President of Executive Financial Services (EFS ESOP Consultants) and one of the nation’s top experts on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

Together, they unpack how ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) can help business owners protect their legacy, care for their people, and exit on their terms—without selling out to private equity.

If you lead a professional services, engineering, or environmental consulting firm, this episode will help you rethink how to transition your business, sustain culture, and multiply impact for decades to come.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
• What exactly an ESOP is — and how it differs from selling to private equity
• How “compassionate capitalists” use ESOPs to care for their employees and their families
• The mindset shift required for owners who want to transition their company without losing culture
• Why engineering, environmental, and consulting firms are ideal ESOP candidates
• The tax and financial advantages that make ESOPs a powerful exit strategy
• Common myths and misunderstandings that hold owners back from exploring ESOPs

RESOURCES & LINKS:
The ESOP Coach by Kelly Finnell → Available on Amazon
Learn more about EFS ESOP Consultants → www.execfin.com

Take the free 5 Voices Assessment → stewardyourbusiness.com/5voices

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Kelly Finnell is President of EFS ESOP Consultants, a national firm specializing exclusively in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Since 1981, Kelly has guided hundreds of business owners through successful ESOP transitions across 19 states, helping them achieve liquidity, reward employees, and protect company legacy. He’s also the author of The ESOP Coach, the go-to book for owners exploring this powerful strategy.

ABOUT THE HOST:
David W. Carr is the founder of Steward Your Business, host of the Business Roundtable Podcast and Intelligent Human Leadership Podcast, and a leadership coach for AEC and professional service firms. David helps founders and executives align people, process, and purpose to scale confidently and sustainably—without losing what makes their business great.
Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

If you’re a founder or executive looking to:
• Transition your business without losing culture
• Build a high-trust leadership team
• Create systems that scale sustainably

Start by scheduling a clarity conversation with David W. Carr at www.stewardyourbusiness.com

Let’s build the kind of business that endures—where your people, purpose, and profits thrive together.