The Inside Edge

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA® speaks with David McCombie — boutique investment banker, advisor to middle-market entrepreneurs and author of Selling Your Business With Confidence. In this conversation, David shares thoughtful and practical insights into the realities of preparing for and navigating a business sale. Drawing from his experience advising founders and investors, he discusses why a successful exit is about far more than achieving the highest valuation. The episode explores the importance of preparation, choosing the right buyer, managing the emotional side of a transition and building a business that is both valuable and transferable. David also offers perspective on common mistakes owners make during the sale process, why so many entrepreneurs regret selling to the wrong partner and how emerging technologies like AI are beginning to impact middle-market businesses and valuations. Whether a transition is years away or already on the horizon, this conversation provides meaningful guidance for business owners thinking strategically about their future. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, sits down with Nafis Azad, a young entrepreneur who has already built and exited multiple ventures, to discuss his journey and the lessons he's learned along the way. Nafis offers a candid perspective on how his early curiosity in technology evolved into a career in entrepreneurship, including his decision to leave a traditional academic path to pursue building a business. He shares insights into scaling a company quickly, navigating the challenges of growth, and ultimately making the decision to exit — highlighting why the terms of a deal can matter just as much as the headline valuation. The conversation also explores broader themes shaping today's business landscape, including the rapid rise of Miami as a technology hub and the growing influence of AI on both investing and new market opportunities. Nafis provides a thoughtful view on how founders can position themselves in this shifting environment, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

A historic generational shift is reshaping entrepreneurship. As Baby Boomers exit their businesses at unprecedented scale — trillions of dollars changing hands — Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z are stepping in with fundamentally different views on ownership, risk, purpose and what an "exit" even means. In this episode, NewEdge Wealth Partner Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA® and Wealth Strategist Alyssa Kaiser, CFA® explore how each generation approaches entrepreneurship, growth and transition, drawing on insights from their latest white papers and previewing key themes from the upcoming Onward Conference. From identity-driven founders to tech-enabled, capital-light builders, this conversation offers valuable perspective for entrepreneurs navigating today's evolving landscape. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gourage, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, continues our broader focus on the full entrepreneurial journey — spotlighting how innovation, resilience and AI are reshaping what it takes to build a business. This episode features Richard Ou, a young entrepreneur whose story reflects the speed and possibility of the modern startup era. Richard shares how entrepreneurship was ingrained early on, how he began building software as a teenager and how that passion ultimately led him to San Francisco, where he lived on $10 a week, slept on a friend's couch and networked relentlessly to build his first product and secure initial funding. Richard walks us through his rapid path: early traction, an angel investment from unexpected places, multiple pivots and ultimately a successful exit just a year after raising his first round. He also explains why the Bay Area's ecosystem enables this kind of velocity and why it's so difficult to replicate elsewhere. Now, Richard is focused on his next venture: AI "agents" designed to co-pilot people's work and free up time so they can pursue what matters most. It's a return to his original mission of empowering people to follow their passions. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

From academia to global leadership, Dr. Scott Massey has spent his career exploring how economic growth and human flourishing can move together. As Chairman & CEO of Global Action Platform, he brings universities, businesses, and investors together to build scalable solutions in food, health, and prosperity—from Tennessee to communities around the world. Rich Ina talks with Dr. Massey about the values that ground his work, the mentors who shaped his path, and the habits that keep him sharp. They also dig into the next generation of leadership, the pitfalls of a "check-the-box" education, and why courage, curiosity, and real human thinking matter even more in an AI-driven era. Want to learn more about The Executive Edge series? Visit newedgewealth.com/nashville.

In our latest episode of Onward, Ghislain Gourage, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, shares an exciting update about the evolution of the Onward series. We're expanding our focus beyond exit strategies to explore the entire entrepreneurial journey, partnering with founders and innovators at every stage of their growth. To kick off this new chapter, Ghislain sits down with Haven Lough, a dynamic 19-year-old entrepreneur and content creator who's redefining what it means to build and scale in the Gen Z era. Haven shares his story of starting on social media at just 13, the lessons learned from early ventures and how he turned his passion for skincare and health into a thriving business that sold out its first product line within 24 hours. He also discusses how AI and digital tools are reshaping what's possible for young entrepreneurs and why engagement and authenticity matter more than ever in today's creator economy. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, sits down with Christopher Ayer, Principal at NewEdge Wealth, to explore one of the most critical — and often overlooked — parts of a successful business exit: proactive tax planning. Christopher walks us through real examples of how entrepreneurs can reduce or defer millions in taxes through early preparation. From using bonus depreciation and generating passive losses to setting up trusts like SLATs and asset protection strategies, this episode is packed with valuable insights. We also cover the difference between stock and asset sales, the role of timing, and how relatively small legal and accounting investments can lead to enormous long-term savings. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, sits down with Paul Emrick, CFP®, CIMA®, CEPA®, Principal at NewEdge Wealth, who is a specialist in business valuation. The two unpack why understanding the value of your business is important, whether you're thinking about an exit, estate planning or future-proofing your company. In this episode, you'll learn why valuation is more than just a single number and what really drives it — from revenue growth and customer diversification to recurring income and succession planning. Paul breaks down the key levers that can increase your company's worth, explains how valuation ties directly into personal wealth planning and legacy decisions and shares the tools we use at NewEdge Wealth to assess value accurately and strategically. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

We're pleased to welcome Steve Zuckerman, a seasoned entrepreneur, former attorney and investment banker, for a compelling conversation with Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Parter at NewEdge Wealth. Steve's professional journey from corporate law to investment banking to building and exiting multiple ventures offers a rare blend of strategic insight and real-world experience. In this episode, he reflects on the early life experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the cross-disciplinary lessons gained from practicing law and structuring complex deals in banking and what it truly takes to build an institutional-grade business that commands investor interest and premium valuations. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

We’re pleased to welcome Steve Zuckerman, a seasoned entrepreneur, former attorney and investment banker, for a compelling conversation with Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Parter at NewEdge Wealth. Steve’s professional journey from corporate law to investment banking to building and exiting multiple ventures offers a rare blend of strategic insight and real-world experience. In this episode, he reflects on the early life experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, the cross-disciplinary lessons gained from practicing law and structuring complex deals in banking and what it truly takes to build an institutional-grade business that commands investor interest and premium valuations.  Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth meets with Laurie Barkman, a Business Transition Advisor and adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Laurie is host of the podcast series, Succession Stories, and author of the Business Transition Handbook. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth meets with Laurie Barkman, a Business Transition Advisor and adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Laurie is host of the podcast series, Succession Stories, and author of the Business Transition Handbook. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Geoff Eliason, CEO & Principal at SDR Ventures, and Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, as the two discuss what a roll-up is and some of the areas where they see them happening. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Geoff Eliason, CEO & Principal at SDR Ventures, and Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®, Partner at NewEdge Wealth, as the two discuss what a roll-up is and some of the areas where they see them happening. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Karen Glassman, Managing Director at NewEdge Wealth, meets with Josh Kanter, CEO of leafplanner, to share his experience running his family office. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Karen Glassman, Managing Director at NewEdge Wealth, meets with Josh Kanter, CEO of leafplanner, to share his experience running his family office. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

From his humble beginnings in Lewisburg, Kentucky, to his transformative experiences in the U.S. Air Force and beyond, Bob Higgins, President and CEO of Barge Design Solutions, shares valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and continuous learning. Join host Rich Ina as he navigates through Bob's career trajectory, highlighting pivotal moments such as his foray into generative AI and his innovative approaches to talent retention and recruitment. Bob's commitment to personal growth and community impact shines through as he discusses his leadership philosophy, daily routines, and the challenges and opportunities facing his industry today. Want to learn more about The Executive Edge series? Visit newedgewealth.com/nashville.

From his humble beginnings in Lewisburg, Kentucky, to his transformative experiences in the U.S. Air Force and beyond, Bob Higgins, President and CEO of Barge Design Solutions, shares valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and continuous learning. Join host Rich Ina as he navigates through Bob’s career trajectory, highlighting pivotal moments such as his foray into generative AI and his innovative approaches to talent retention and recruitment. Bob’s commitment to personal growth and community impact shines through as he discusses his leadership philosophy, daily routines, and the challenges and opportunities facing his industry today. Want to learn more about The Executive Edge series? Visit newedgewealth.com/nashville.

Partners and advisors across NewEdge Wealth share stories about the importance of finding your financial quarterback and the significant role they play. Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.

Partners and advisors across NewEdge Wealth share stories about the importance of finding your financial quarterback and the significant role they play.  Whether you're building a company or preparing to exit, this conversation offers a real-world perspective on what it takes to navigate major business transitions. Want to learn more about the Onward series? Visit newedgewealth.com/onward.