In this episode of Conscious Wealth with Brandon Hatton, the conversation begins with what’s unfolding right now in small business ownership and succession planning, what’s changing, what’s driving urgency, and what entrepreneurs need to be paying attention to.
Brandon sits down with Jason Ehrlich, Managing Partner of Fruition Capital, to explore the once-in-a-generation transition happening as baby boomer business owners retire and a new wave of entrepreneurial buyers step in. They discuss how AI is reshaping career paths, why more mid-career professionals are choosing acquisition over corporate ladders, and what makes a business truly ready to sell.
Rather than hindsight or theory, this conversation focuses on real-time patterns emerging in small business M&A and what they signal for entrepreneurs thinking about growth, exit, and legacy.
In this episode, they discuss:
These conversations are designed to slow things down. The goal is helping entrepreneurs think clearly about scale, exit, and stewardship in a changing economy.
Brandon 00:00
In this episode of Conscious Wealth with Brandon Hatton, the conversation begins with what’s unfolding right now in small business ownership and succession planning, what’s changing, what’s driving urgency, and what entrepreneurs need to be paying attention to.
Brandon 10:00
Brandon sits down with Jason Ehrlich, Managing Partner of Fruition Capital, to explore the once-in-a-generation transition happening as baby boomer business owners retire and a new wave of entrepreneurial buyers step in. They discuss how AI is reshaping career paths, why more mid-career professionals are choosing acquisition over corporate ladders, and what makes a business truly ready to sell.
Brandon 20:05
Rather than hindsight or theory, this conversation focuses on real-time patterns emerging in small business M&A and what they signal for entrepreneurs thinking about growth, exit, and legacy.
Brandon 20:10
In this episode, they discuss:
• Why millions of small businesses will change hands in the next decade
• The rise of acquisition entrepreneurship
• How AI is influencing both buyers and operators
• What makes a business attractive (or risky) to purchase
• Why “boring” businesses are often the most valuable
These conversations are designed to slow things down. The goal is helping entrepreneurs think clearly about scale, exit, and stewardship in a changing economy.

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