Insights & Resources

The McFarland Group Blog

Practical guidance for business owners navigating ownership transition, succession, and equity compensation.

John Bruckner, Managing Partner of The McFarland Group
Featured
Leadership & Succession

The McFarland Group Names John Bruckner Managing Partner

John Bruckner, who has led the firm's M&A advisory practice for four years and been in partnership with Byron for over a decade, takes on firmwide leadership. Byron McFarland continues as Guide.

September 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Connor Lacy, John Bruckner, and Byron McFarland fly fishing on the Snake River
Exit Planning

Owners Let Go in an Order: First Findings From the Transferable Value Index

August 13, 2026 · 8 min read

Equity compensation plan design for a closely held business
Equity Compensation

Equity Compensation for Closely Held Businesses: A Practical Guide

January 8, 2026 · 7 min read

Business owner mapping out exit planning options for a closely held company
Exit Planning

Exit Planning for Closely Held Business Owners: Where to Start

January 1, 2026 · 7 min read

A thin listing sheet beside a thick tabbed deal file on a walnut conference table
Exit Planning

Listing Service, or Running the Deal?

A plain-English guide to the difference between a business broker and an M&A advisor, and how that choice affects price, terms, and what an owner keeps after closing.

September 15, 2026 · 8 min read

John Bruckner, Managing Partner of The McFarland Group
Leadership & Succession

The McFarland Group Names John Bruckner Managing Partner

John Bruckner, who has led the firm's M&A advisory practice for four years and been in partnership with Byron for over a decade, takes on firmwide leadership. Byron McFarland continues as Guide.

September 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Business owner reviewing sale terms at a quiet table
Exit Planning

7 Business Sale Negotiation Challenges Owners Should Prepare For

The hardest parts of selling a business rarely show up on the price. Here are seven negotiation challenges closely held owners face, and how to prepare for each before you reach the table.

September 1, 2026 · 8 min read

A tabbed leather binder closed on a walnut desk beside a fountain pen
Equity Compensation

The Equity Plan That Makes a Sale Possible

Incentive plans are usually pitched as a way to keep people. Connor Lacy on the more useful frame: equity plans as groundwork for a transaction, and value that stays with the company.

September 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Two stacks of paper brought together and bound with a single band, hands squaring the edges
Business Continuity

8 M&A Integration Challenges for Mid-Sized Firms

Most acquisitions that disappoint do so after closing, in the integration. Here are the eight challenges mid-sized firms run into most, and where advisory support reduces the risk.

September 1, 2026 · 8 min read

Two people passing a bound document across a wooden conference table, a set of keys resting nearby
Selling to Management

A Management Buyout Is a Real Way to Sell Your Business

Most owners picture a stranger writing the check. Connor Lacy on selling to the people already running the place: how an MBO pays the owner, what it protects, and when it works.

September 1, 2026 · 5 min read

A blank sheet of paper on a wooden desk with a pencil in hand and a cup of coffee
Exit Planning

How to Navigate M&A Advisory for Mid-Sized Companies

Mid-sized companies sit in an awkward middle for M&A advisory: too large for a simple sale, too small for the firms built around billion-dollar deals. Here is how to navigate valuation, deal structure, and integration without getting lost in the gap.

September 1, 2026 · 9 min read

Two unlabeled folders set side by side on a wooden desk, a pair of reading glasses between them
Selling to Management

Selling to Your Team, or Selling to a Stranger: Two Honest Paths

A third-party sale and a management buyout lead to very different Mondays. Connor Lacy compares the two paths an owner can actually take, and how to choose with confidence.

September 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Three unlabeled folders fanned across a wooden desk beside a notepad and pen
Exit Planning

How to Choose an M&A Advisor for Owner Transition in 2026

Owner transition asks more of an advisor than a standard sale. Here is what to look for when choosing an M&A advisor for a closely held business, and the questions that separate the right fit from the rest.

September 1, 2026 · 8 min read